• Access Duration:  1 Year
• Awarded by: NCFE  CACHE
• Qualification Level:  Level 3
• Qualification Number: 603/2496/X
• Guided Learning Hours (GLH): 310
• Total Qualification Time (TQT): 530
• Credits: 53

• Describe how to support health and safety in a learning environment.
• Explain the current laws and regulations to safeguard children and teenagers.
• Describe significant milestones in a child’s development from birth to 19 years.
• Demonstrate how to keep things running smoothly and promote good behaviour.
• Explain how you can contribute to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of learning activities.
• Develop changes to allow full participation for SEND kids and teens.

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning is for people who work in primary, secondary, special, or college schools and support students to learn in specialist ways.

This course is ideal for:

• Teaching Assistants seeking senior or specialist responsibilities
• Learning Support Assistants
• SEN Support Workers
• Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs)
• Behaviour Support Assistants
• Bilingual Support Specialists
• Career changers
• CPD seekers

• Learners must be at least 16 years old.
• Learners must be working or undertaking a practical placement in a school or college learning environment during the taught programme of study.
• There is no specific prior knowledge required for this qualification. However, learners may find it helpful if they have already achieved a Level 2 qualification.

• This course can be completed through two flexible study options to suit your lifestyle:
  • Standard Course Plan (9 months) – ideal for learners balancing other commitments.
  • Fast Track Option (4 months) – perfect for those who can dedicate intensive study time.
• Most learners complete within their chosen timeframe, though some may finish earlier depending on personal circumstances and available study time. We accommodate your pace with unlimited support for 12 months. This Level 3 Diploma requires approximately 310 guided learning hours.

T&C apply

Internal Assessment: This qualification is internally assessed by the South London College team.

Portfolio of Evidence: Students will create a portfolio of evidence from appropriate assessment tasks to demonstrate that they have met all the learning outcomes.

Skill-Based Assessments: Learning outcomes that are based on competence are assessed in the workplace. This can include direct observation, professional discussion, reflective accounts and expert witness testimony, among other methods.

Grading: The qualification is graded Achieved or Not Yet Achieved.

If you’re in education and you’re looking to continue your learning, then the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning is a great starting point.

Next Steps for a Possible Academic Progression Pathway

• Step 1: Level 4 Certificate for the Advanced Practitioner in Schools and Colleges
• Step 2: Foundation Degree in Education or a related subject
• Step 3: Bachelor’s Degree, such as BA/BSc Education Studies or a related education pathway
• Step 4: Postgraduate Certificate in Education
• Step 5: Master’s Degree in Education

Alternative Pathways 

• Specialist CPD courses in areas such as SEND, safeguarding, or behaviour management.
• Leadership and management qualifications for school support staff.
• Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status.

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning equips you with specialist knowledge and skills to enhance your employability in a school or college.

Here are some career opportunities you could pursue as you gain experience and complete this qualification, along with approximate UK salaries. (Source: Glassdoor UK)

• Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) – £27500
• SEN Teaching Assistant – £26000
• Cover Supervisor – £25500
• Pastoral Support Worker – £25000
• Teaching Assistant (Level 3) – £24500
• Behaviour Support Assistant – £24000
• Learning Support Assistant – £23500

This qualification is regulated by Ofqual, the UK government’s Office for Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. Ofqual regulation ensures that the qualification meets national standards for quality, consistency, and fairness. It means the course content, assessment methods, and learning outcomes are carefully monitored, giving learners confidence that the qualification is credible, well recognised, and supports progression to further study or employment in the UK.

RQF

The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) is a system used in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales to categorise and regulate qualifications based on their level of difficulty and size. RQF is jointly regulated by England’s regulator Ofqual, Wales DCELLS, and Northern Ireland’s CCEA. The RQF ensures qualifications are standardised, making it easier for learners, employers, and educational institutions to understand the value and level of each qualification. The framework consists of nine levels, from Entry Level to Level 8, with each level indicating the complexity and depth of learning. For a qualification to be recognised as part of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), it must be created or approved by an awarding body that is acknowledged by one of the government-appointed regulatory bodies.