The curriculum of this 15-month course focuses on the professional knowledge, skills and behaviours required of a SEND Teaching Assistant. These include:

• An overview of each area of SEND including the process from identification of needs through to EHCP and outline of school level support
• How to contribute to the overall ethos and aims of the organisation and promote diversity, inclusion, equality, and acceptance of all learners, including different models of inclusion, concrete examples of differentiation and personalisation in practice
• Understanding how pupils learn and develop including the need to provide feedback to support and facilitate an appropriate level of independence
• Recognise the importance of using appropriate technology to support learning
• Understanding the stages of development for children and young people. Consider the impact of transition on learners and strategies to support them as well as the vulnerability of young people with SEND
• Supporting the development of a stimulating and safe learning environment by developing knowledge of appropriate learning resources and how to adapt communication strategies to suit the audience and context

The Knowledge standard covers:

• Developing knowledge of different models of inclusion, how differentiation works and types of scaffolding that can be used to support the needs of the child
• Develop knowledge of the different neurodiverse conditions and strategies to support learners
• Understand how essential it is to gain the pupils’ voice within the target setting process to differentiate appropriately

The Skills standard covers:

• Demonstrate use of concrete examples of differentiation and personalisation in practice
• The application of restorative approaches to behaviour, i.e. ways of supporting and teaching behaviour
• Adapting resources to support all learners with appropriate differentiation for those with special educational needs e.g. ASD, Dyslexia, Irlen Syndrome
• Demonstrate the application of supporting the wellbeing and mental health of learners

The Behaviours standard cover:

• Consider vulnerabilities of young people with SEND within this and how they can be supported in line with Safeguarding policies and the Prevent strategy
• Develop awareness of transition strategies and how this can impact upon a learner
• Engage with research to develop best practice

Level 5. 20 Credits.
To enable the development of skills necessary to lead a team to achieve set objectives within resource and time constraints while mitigating potential risks.

Level 6. 20 Credits.
Developing an appreciation of ethics in an organisational context and how ethical leaders instil ethical principles throughout organisations in ways which promote responsible behaviour to stakeholders while taking into account that stakeholders may hold different, culturally-informed, sets of ethical values.