If you enjoy assisting or caregiving of young people, or those with special needs, SIT2LRN offers the ideal qualification for you.
Graduates of The New Zealand Certificate in Education Support and Care (Level 3) are able to enter into a variety of education establishments as a teacher aide, or in a support services role.
Programme manager Steve Woller says the qualification aims to enhance the knowledge base, skills and professionalism of those working, or intending to work, in the sector, and also provides a platform for learners to progress to more advanced studies in education support and care.
Those who complete the qualification will have the skills and knowledge for roles such as education support worker, teacher aide, ICT assistant, librarian assistant, administrator assistant in school and early childhood settings, community support worker in the disability sector, and out of school care worker in school holiday programmes and after school care.
“Many students are starting from scratch and are looking for a way into a job. Others have been employed in the field for a while and want to increase their knowledge.”
Steve says graduates need to have practical experience in care and support roles, so all applicants wishing to undertake this programme of study are required to submit evidence of having secured a practicum venue where they can participate in supporting students, under supervision, while to studying towards the qualification. This way they graduate with solid academic and practical skills.
The qualification comprises: ESC100 Communication skills in an education support and care context (5 credits), ESC101 Inclusive practice in an education support and care context (5 credits), ESC102 Human development and learning in education and community contexts (5 credits) and ESC103 Educational support and care practicum (25 credits).
Applicants need to undertake a minimum of 100 hours in class teacher aiding for the practicum paper ESC103, which can be spread out during the 12 week intake to suit the practicum venue and the student’s studies.
“This sounds like a lot” Steve says, “but it averages out at 8-9 hours a week.”
“This requirement will often gives new students the initial prompting to take that first step into employment in this area, and a number of our graduates have continued with the schools that they helped out at while studying.”
Full time study would see a student complete all 40 credits in one intake, however, SIT2LRN recommends part-time study, in order to get the best out of the course and the practicum hours.
Part-time students have up to two years to complete the qualification.
Steve says that an option has worked for a lot of students wanting to complete the qualification in a shorter timeframe is to enroll in ESC100, ESC101 and ESC102 in one intake, and then complete the practicum (ESC103) in a following intake.
With this timetable it is possible even for part-time students to complete the course in six months.
Consideration should still be given to work, family and other commitments when selecting the number of credits to study per intake, and students must complete the papers in the order that they are listed on the website.
“SIT2LRN’s aim” says Steve, “is to produce experienced, dedicated, professional practitioners whose qualification is well regarded by employers in the sector.”