Teaching Assistant Qualification – Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools

Over the past decade, a severe case of PowerPoint addiction has swept through our increasingly digital world - and as teachers and trainers we are often most at risk. 

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has become hugely significant in the last ten years.  We all want to do our bit to support the fight against climate change in society and education should be at the forefront of this.  If we educate young people about sustainability, there is much more chance of a different and more hopeful future.

Train Aid’s newest teaching course is now up and running!  If you currently work with children/young people in a school or college setting, or you are considering it as a career move, this could be the perfect course for you.  It could be that you enjoy working with children and have perhaps been working as a classroom assistant and you would like to develop these skills.

Train Aid’s Education Manager Nick Chadwick met with Nathan Rogan, Senior Education Advisor from the Education & Training Foundation to discuss the new Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (DiT) qualification. The purpose of the podcast was to answer some of the most commonly asked questions from candidates wishing to embark on the initial teacher training qualification and provide the latest advice from the foundation.  

Effective communication in the classroom is paramount for a successful relationship betweenteacher and learner and for learning to take place. This can be built up in various ways, by usingmethods such as: discussion time, group work, focus/intervention groups and getting to knowlearners in a more informal sense with the use of games etc. However, sometimes it is difficult toengage the whole class.

Nick Chadwick & Ian Kershaw MBE discuss how to set up as a first aid trainer, through the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB).  This process gives the successful applicant the chance to set up a new first aid training company. 

Train Aid’s Education Manager Nick Chadwick met with Berta Miguez-Lorenzo the Standards and Status Manager from the Society for Education & Training (SET) to discuss the most common questions surrounding QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills). The podcast served to provide the most up to date information surrounding the application process and eligibility requirements surrounding QTLS. For every new candidate aiming to embark upon the QTLS journey, we would strongly advise you to check the latest entry requirements on the Society for Education & Training (SET) website.  

This educational researcher has made a huge impact in the world of educational research and is referenced widely in blogs, articles, textbooks and assignments worldwide.  Who is he and what are his main findings?  What makes him so influential?

The new Level 5 DiT (replacing the current DET course) is being launched soon and, at Train Aid, we are very excited about this!  We feel that it is a fully comprehensive teaching course for those aiming to work in further education.  This give us a chance to reflect on how to successfully assess learners in a holistic way.  We want learners to feel that they have the chance to show every aspect of their teaching and learning and to come out of the course feeling confident and ready.  Previously, assessment methods have been fairly traditional, with written assignments dominating.  In this blog, we will explore how the DiT will be assessed at Train Aid.

As you may know, the DET qualification is being phased out and is to be replaced by the DIT (diploma in education and training: further education).  We are very excited about this at Train Aid and feel that this qualification is thorough, interesting and open to more varied assessment methods.

Open fractures are also referred to as compound fractures whereby the broken bone penetrates the outer skin. These are incredibly painful and serious injuries, which require urgent assistance from medical professionals. A little first aid knowledge can help whilst awaiting for help to arrive.

It can be a daunting prospect when you make the decision to set up your own training centre and itis something we are often asked about at Train Aid. The process can vary slightly depending on yoursubject specialism, but generally the process is very similar.

Oil burns have the potential to be far more serious than typical scald injuries from water. These types of burns often occur at home, and sadly in many cases, involving children. Urgent first aid treatment is required in order to minimise soft tissue damage.

Learners’ behaviour can have a massive impact on a teacher, in a positive and negative way. At times, you can be stuck in a cycle of negativity with behaviour management. You know something needs to change, but how? It’s never too late to work on this key aspect of teaching and learning. Remember that any poor behaviour will also be affecting other learners and their access to your subject.

The common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a plant that is native to the UK and can reach heights of up to two metres. The tiny hairs on the plant's leaves can cause the skin to sting and swell. Although not typically threatening these stings will require some basic first aid treatment  to alleviate any pain. 

AI is a huge issue for all of us today – including those of us working in education and training.  Adaptive teaching and assessment is becoming more widely used in education and training – this is the process of adapting the level and materials given to the learner and then setting them an assessment based on this.  This is all AI generated, using a wealth of resources.  Automated assessments are certainly where education is heading and are becoming extremely popular.  Are they ever difficult for the teacher or trainer to manage or are they always helpful?

Neil Fleming’s VARK model, established in 1987, is one of the most popular methods used to help learners to identify their preferred learning style and understand more about how people can learn best and retain information within a teaching setting. 

For any successful course to be taught,  careful planning and preparation must take place. The teaching & learning cycle provides any teacher or trainer with a logical planning system to deliver well-structured lessons and to gain constructive feedback from learners & stakeholders.