Guidance for awarding institutions on learning support practitioner roles and initial training qualifications (January 2009)
12 Jan 2009 12:36 PM
The introduction of new qualifications for learning support practitioners will support the professionalisation of this important role within the lifelong learning sector. The qualifications will also lead to a wider recognition of the valuable contribution that learning support makes to the teaching and learning process.
Lifelong Learning UK has produced a guidance document that will support those awarding institutions involved in the development of these qualifications.
The guidance describes the role and associated responsibilities of a learning support practitioner and provides detailed information about the three new initial qualifications. It also includes the mandatory and optional units of assessment required for each.
The qualifications for learning support practitioners are:
- Level 3 Certificate in learning support
- Level 2 Award in preparing to support learners
- Level 3 Award in preparing to support learners
The development of these qualifications has been underpinned by National Occupational Standards for learning support practitioners. At the time of issuing this guidance, these standards are awaiting final approval by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
The guidance indicates the proposed approach to developing initial qualifications that will meet the needs of specialist learning support practitioners. Further guidance to support this will be issued in 2009.
It should be noted that there is no legal requirement for a learning support practitioner to undertake any of these qualifications at this time.
Section two of this guidance outlines the Lifelong Learning UK approach to identifying the roles and differing responsibilities of both 'generalist' and specialist learning support practitioners. This information will be of use to those considering the most appropriate initial training and/or professional development opportunities for identified roles.
Further information about this work can be obtained by contacting the NRP team.