Teach Portsmouth’s ongoing work to support teaching assistant retention has highlighted the need to provide information on high quality training.
Teaching assistants told us how much they valued continuing professional development and being able to access training.
To support this aim, we are working with partners to identify training opportunities offered by Portsmouth City Council and other relevant services.
This directory will be updated on an ongoing basis as more training becomes available. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact [email protected].
Explore the directory:
Top questions
How do I apply for training?
If you find a training course in the list, we recommend contacting the training provider in the first instance. We would also recommend speaking to your line manager about the training to see how best they can support you with this ambition.
What is a traded service?
You will notice that some training listed in the directory requires your school to be signed up to a specific service offered by Portsmouth City Council. This is a paid service that schools choose to sign up to. Please check with your school in the first instance to see if you qualify to access the training.
What else is being done to support teaching assistant retention?
The training directory is part of an action plan which has been designed alongside teaching assistants and senior school leaders. We are also developing a charter that schools can sign up to that covers seven different themes.
Introductory training
The Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership (PSCP) programme of learning and development offers a wide range of training and other opportunities to meet the differing safeguarding roles across the workforce. Details of selected courses can be found below.
Basic awareness - safeguarding children
Course description: To provide introductory training on how to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who might be at risk of abuse and neglect. At the end of this course, delegates will be able to:
- Recognise potential indicators of child maltreatment: physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect.
- Be able to follow local policies and procedures.
- Be able to identify what action to take when you have safeguarding concerns including to whom you should report your concerns to and seek advice and support from.
Provider: Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership (PSCP)
Who the training is for: Basic awareness safeguarding children course can be accessed by everyone whether you are working with children directly or indirectly, working with adults who are parents in Portsmouth or working within a community setting.
Cost: At a cost unless Traded Services package purchased.
How to book: Book via PSCP’s online booking form.
Duration: This is a three-hour taught course which is offered on a regular basis during term time.
Restorative and relational practice (R&RP)
Course description:
- Relational and Restorative Practice Introduction – will help you understand the history, principles & supporting framework of RP; know what skills are needed to work ‘with’ others restoratively; and be able to apply key RP concepts to practice and organisations (3 hours).
- Relational and Restorative Practice Development – will refresh and develop RP knowledge and skills; explore the barriers to embedding restorative practice as well as learning from success; and support you in applying key RP concepts to practice (3 hours). Delegates need to have previously completed an RP Course.
- Relational and Restorative Practice – Facilitating Circles and Meetings – will help you understand the values and purpose of a restorative meeting; and be confident in facilitating a restorative meeting (3 hours). Delegates need to have previously completed an RP Course.
- Bespoke offer – for groups/teams (max 20) looking to embed restorative practice. Drawing from the three sessions above the content is specifically curated to enable whole teams/groups to understand and embed RP.
- Action learning – 90 minute monthly facilitated action learning over 6 months, for groups who have completed the introduction and development training and want to embed RP in their practice.
Provider: Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership (PSCP)
Who the training is for: Professionals working with Portsmouth children and families.
Cost: Free
How to book: Book via PSCP’s online booking form.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Course description: An introduction to ACEs, stress, brains, trauma and resilience – to understand what ACEs are and begin to examine trauma informed practice.
Aims:
- To understand what ACEs are
- Begin to examine trauma informed practice
- Explore triggers that can result in challenging behaviour
- Think through strategies to engage with Children and young people
- Look at strategies to support CYP developing resilience
- To promote relational interactions and kindness
Provider: Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership (PSCP)
Who the training is for: Professionals working with Portsmouth children and families.
Cost: Free
How to book: Book via PSCP’s online booking form.
Duration: 3 hours
Introduction to Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Course description: An introduction to the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
By the end of the training you will be able to:
- Know who the LADO is, the role of the LADO, how and when to make a referral
- Identify when you/your setting might have contact with the LADO and be clear on your duty to report and record allegations of harm and concerns
- Know the LADO thresholds (distinction between harm and significant harm) and possible outcomes
- Be aware of what support is available to access
Provider: Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership (PSCP)
Who the training is for: Professionals working with Portsmouth children and families.
Cost: Free
How to book: Book via PSCP’s online booking form.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Portsmouth City Council (PCC) offers a range of training courses which can be accessed by local authority maintained schools and those who have purchased the relevant traded service.
Available courses:
- PCC Anti-Fraud
- PCC GDPR
- PCC Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
- PCC Cyber Security
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Awareness in Schools
- Prevent
- PCC Preventing Harassment and Sexual Harassment at Work
- Safeguarding Adults
- Safeguarding Children
- SEND Awareness
- Armed Forces Covenant for Customer-Facing Staff
- Trauma-Informed Approach
- PCC Financial Rules (Modules 1 to 4)
- PCC Purchasing Cards
- Health and Safety Courses (including PCC modules such as DSE, Fire Safety, Risk Assessments, Fire Extinguishers)
How to access:
- Schools using traded services: Contact your finance team for support with accessing the Learning Portal.
- Staff at local authority maintained schools: Access the Learning Portal directly using your PCC email address.
SEND training
The Portsmouth SEND Local Offer website sets out information about provision that is expected across education, health and social care for children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including those who do not have Education, Health and Care plans up to the age of 25 years old.
A new resource has recently been created which serves as a central point to signpost to the wide range of training that may be relevant to the people who work with, or come into contact with children, young people and young adults with SEND.
We recommend exploring this resource to discover more specialised training options.
Subject enhancement courses
This section sets out subject specific training accessible to teaching assistants. Training may include subject enhancement courses as well as accredited courses.
Community Learning Service – The Learning Place
The Community Learning Service aims to offer high quality courses at the best value. Courses are funded by the Department for Education and the majority are free. For courses with a fee, there is a reduction for those on income-related benefits.
Details of selected courses can be found below. If you want to know more, please drop-in to The Learning Place on Derby Road, phone 023 9262 1860 or email [email protected]. Or check out the Community Learning Service website.
Accredited courses:
Functional Skills Maths and English up to Level 2 (GCSE grade 4)
Course overview: We offer Functional Skills in English and Maths for those who do not have qualifications at GCSE grade 4-9 or A-C. A skills check is required prior to enrolment. These checks are designed for people whose first language is English. (ESOL skills checks are available for those whose first language is not English).
The skills check will include an initial assessment to determine the most appropriate course level, followed by a diagnostic assessment which will highlight the learner’s strengths and areas for development within that subject.
Cost: Free
Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health
Course overview: This course is for learners who wish to increase their knowledge and awareness of children and young people’s mental health. Upon successful completion you will receive a level 2 qualification.
Cost: Reduced: Free
Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges
Course overview: This course introduces the knowledge and understanding required to work in a school or college. Upon successful completion you will receive a level 2 qualification.
Cost: Reduced: Free
Payment dependent on circumstances:
Level 2 Award in Food Safety and Hygiene
Course overview: This one-day course covers the principles of food hygiene for food handlers working in either a catering or retail environment.
It is a valuable free-standing qualification that is also suitable for learners and employees engaged in other food based vocational training and employment.
There will be a multiple-choice exam for this qualification. Fee remission may be available subject to individual circumstances.
Cost: £30/Reduced: Free
Other free non-accredited courses:
Keeping up with the Kids: Maths and English
Course overview: These two courses both 4 weeks long are an opportunity to discover how children are learning maths and English in school.
You will discover the terminology used in school and the expectation of year groups between year R and 6 as well as how you can effectively support your children as well as refreshing your own skills.
Cost: Free
Parent Power: Managing Children’s Behaviour
Course overview: Parenting can be tough, and this course acknowledges that! It offers practical strategies, helpful hints, tips and advice to support you in establishing boundaries and creating a calmer, more positive environment.
This course is recommended for parents/carers of children aged 2 – 11.
Cost: Free
Workshop: Confident for Work
Course overview: This 2-hour workshop explores the importance of confidence and self-awareness in employability. It examines the qualities that employers value and helps learners identify their personal strengths. By the end of the workshop, learners will have gained insights into overcoming barriers to confidence and enhancing their employability profile.
Cost: Free
Level 2 and level 3 certificate in teaching and learning in schools
If you want to gain a qualification to support children and young people, HSDC and the City of Portsmouth College offer level two and level three courses.
HSDC:
- Level 2 certificate in supporting teaching and learning in schools
- Level 3 certificate in supporting teaching and learning in schools
City of Portsmouth College:
Foundation degree (FdA) in Learning Support
If you’re currently working in learning support – such as in a teaching assistant role – and you’re ready to take the next step in your career, the University of Portsmouth’s Foundation degree (FdA) in Learning Support will put you on the right track.
This Learning Support Foundation degree (FdA) will enrich your classroom experience with the education theory, best practice approaches and professional recognition you need to best support children in an assisting role, or to progress on a new career path towards becoming a teacher.
Visit the University of Portsmouth website to learn more.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study and take 1 to 5 years to complete, depending on their level. As an apprentice you’ll:
- be an employee earning a wage and getting holiday pay
- work alongside experienced staff
- gain job-specific skills
- get time for training and study related to your role (at least 20% of your normal working hours)
Career progression through apprenticeships
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has created progression maps showing the potential career paths that exist between occupations and products.
Find an apprenticeship
All apprenticeship opportunities are advertised on the government’s Find an Apprenticeship service.
Teacher degree apprenticeships
Teacher degree apprenticeships (TDA) are a new route into the profession, enabling those who enrol the chance to gain qualified teacher status.
If you do not already have an undergraduate degree, you may be eligible to do a teacher degree apprenticeship.
Visit the Teach Portsmouth website to learn more about this route and compare local providers.