Research has shown that teaching and learning support assistants are an essential part of the effective education of children in schools. This Foundation Degree course is intended for those who are currently employed or volunteering in a support capacity within a primary or secondary school and it has been designed to build on and acknowledge your existing professional skills. It also aims to improve the confidence and effectiveness which you bring to your work, and prepare the ground for progression onto career possibilities including teaching.The Teaching and Learning Foundation Degree from Birmingham Newman University is a highly regarded qualification within the field. It has been designed in consultation with employers and other education practitioners. It is a work-based qualification that may provide progression onto the final year of an Honours degree course, and, for those who wish to, can be the first step towards a teaching career.The course has been designed to allow students to develop an understanding of the curriculum, education policy, principles of education and becoming a researcher. The course is intended to equip its graduates with an awareness of the changing field of the school workforce, particularly in terms of integrated working and extended school provision.The course is intended for teaching assistants or those working or volunteering in similar capacities supporting learners in primary or secondary schools.