Vocational Qualifications

The Education Centre is a registered centre with OCR examining body for the Award/Certificate in Support Work in Schools. We are currently engaged with the pilot Level 2 qualifications but hope to be able to offer the Level 3 qualification in addition to Level 2 from September 2006.

What are these new qualifications?
The Award and Certificate in Support Work in Schools will recognise your existing qualifications and skills and enable you to fill any gaps in your knowledge with training.

These are flexible qualifications which will allow you and your school to select units to match specific job roles. You can take an award or a certificate at Level 2 or Level 3, with the additional option of a diploma at Level 3 only:
• Award - you take two mandatory units plus a minimum of one optional unit at Level 2, two mandatory units only at Level 3.
• Certificate - you take two mandatory units plus a minimum of two optional units.
• Diploma - (Level 3 only) two mandatory units plus four optional units
How will this help me?
You will gain knowledge and new skills to help you in your job - and help you get more out of your work in school. You will also receive a vocational qualification at Level 2/Level 3 that is nationally recognised.

You will be able to choose from a variety of optional modules to make the qualification suit your needs for work in school - whatever you need to learn.

Target Group:
These qualifications are appropriate for those who undertake support work roles within schools, including:
• Administrators; receptionists; Pas; library assistants; data managers; technicians; IT support; learning resources; caretakers; midday supervisors; special educational needs; learning support.
Candidates should be in current employment or working voluntarily within a school environment.

The aims of these qualifications are to:
• Contribute to the skills and knowledge that anyone who works in a support role with children or young people must have, as established through the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children’s Workforce.
• Provide skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable people to make a more valuable and effective contribution to supporting work in schools.
• Provide a flexible, generic route to accreditation for school support staff.
• Develop candidates to perform effectively using appropriate working practises
• Develop the skills and knowledge needed to support progression to further learning and/or qualification.
• Contribute to the development of a coherent and flexible children and young people’s workforce and a framework to improve the recruitment, skills and effectiveness of those working in this area.
This is school-based training with minimum requirement for attendance at central training sessions. Assessment is through the development of a portfolio of work. You will be supported by a mentor in your school and a Co-ordinator within the LA.

For further information about the course units you should access the OCR website <http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/OCRLevel2AwardandCertificateinSupportWorkinSchools(Pilot).html>.

For further information about how to apply for the course you should contact Lynne Brown, School Workforce Development Advisor, <mailto:lynne.brown@iow.gov.uk> at The Education Centre, Tel 529790, or complete the application form <http://eduwight.iow.gov.uk/teacher/train_and_develop/images/InidiviualNeedsAudit.pdf>.