Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to meet entrance requirements?

There are two routes of entry to the course:

• Standard entry
• Non-standard entry

If you are applying through the Standard entry route you will need five GCSEs graded C-A*, and one A2 qualification – or the equivalent.

However, it is anticipated that more people will be applying through the non-standard entry route. To apply through this route no formal qualifications are needed; but you must be 21 or over.

What is the application process?

Once you have decided to apply for the course you need to contact Admissions: Telephone: 01243 816002. Email: admissions@chi.ac.uk

You will be sent an application form and a form for your referee to complete. If your application is successful, you will be called for interview.

What happens at the interview?

The purpose of the interview is to find out more about you and your experience and to provide you with an opportunity to find out more about us.  As part of the interview process you will be asked to talk for three to five minutes about your experience of being with/working with children. To support you in your talk you might like to bring some examples of things you have done with children. 

It is not expected that it will be a high-tech presentation, simply a chance for you to tell us about yourself.  However, it might help your nerves if you put some thought into planning it and perhaps practice it on someone.  You would be expected to share your talk with two or three other candidates and a tutor.  The tutor will then have a chat with you to further explore your experience.

Do I have to tell my school if I am applying for a place?

Yes.  It is necessary for you to provide a reference from your Headteacher or Head of Department and throughout the course you will need support from the school to help you carry out your study. For example, you will need to observe children and teachers working, and interview particular members of staff about their role in school.

Do I have to be employed in a school as a Teaching Assistant in order to start the course?
To complete the whole course and attain the award of Foundation Degree you will need to be employed as a Classroom Assistant, or the equivalent.  This is necessary as part of the study you need to complete and has to be undertaken in your work place.

I have already completed a course in the last few years, will I gain any credit for this if I start the Foundation Degree?

You may do, particularly if your course is within the last three years, and relevant to the FdATLS.  It helps if you have certification to show you successfully completed the course and the level at which the course was aimed. The Foundation Degree is an Undergraduate course, therefore any courses you may have taken at GNVQ Level 4 would be particularly considered. This includes the West Sussex CTA and HLTA status.

Is the course full-time or part-time?

The course is part-time.  You will have up to two taught sessions every Monday – or Friday.  You will also have work to complete in school. This is called work-based learning (WBL). There will be tutor support to help you complete your WBL.

How will I be assessed?

Each module carries a formally assessed assessment task. At Level 1 these are equivalent to a 2,500 word essay.  However, you will be assessed through a range of tasks: essays, portfolios, presentations and posters.

What sort of things will I study?

You will explore what it means to be involved in Teaching and Learning Support (TLS), study child development, special educational needs and specific aspects of the curriculum.  For example, you may look at how children become writers, how the curriculum is designed to enable this process and the role of TLS in their development.

How will this course help if I want to go on to become a teacher?

You need a BA, or BSc degree to be a teacher. This means you will need to ‘top-up’ your FdATLS with a further level of study to gain your BA/BSc. Chichester University offers a number of progression routes which will enable you to gain a BA and, for those interested in teaching, Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Progression routes can take between one and two years to complete, depending on which one you choose and if the ‘top- up’ course is full-time or part-time.

You do not need to make a decision about progression to a BA at this point, and your tutors will talk to you more about your options as you complete the different parts of your FdATLS.

Am I entitled to any help with funding?

You may be eligible for some funding from your Local Authority, or other sources.  To find out more about how to fund your course contact Student Services at the University: 01243 816026/22 and ask about financial support you may be entitled to.

If I still want to talk things over, or ask questions about the course, what do I do?

Gianna Knowles is the Programme Co-ordinator for the course. She will be happy to answer any questions and can be contacted through the following routes:

Telephone: 01243 812055
Email: g.knowles@chi.ac.uk

If Gianna is unavailable, the Administrator for the course is Mandy Marsh and her contact details are:

Telephone: 01243 812018
Email: FdATLS@chi.ac.uk