Frequently Asked Questions

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

Admissions will send you 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 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 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.  If you can demonstrate that your course is recent - within the last three years, and relevant to teaching and learning support it may be considered.  It is also more likely to be considered 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.

What is a semester?

Rather than operating over the traditional three-term year many higher education providers use the semester system.  Semester one runs from late September until January, and semester two runs from February until the end of May.  However, you do still get breaks at Christmas and Easter!

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, 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.
Specialist Routes

Will I be entitled to HLTA status when I complete the course?

At present if you wish to gain HLTA status it is necessary to apply for the course and complete the assessment outside this degree course.  However, if you come to the FdA TLS already having achieved HLTA status it will count as 30 credits towards achieving Level 1 of the FdA TLS.

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

This course can lead into teaching in a number of ways.  Essentially, you need a BA, or BSc degree to be a teacher.  This means you will need to ‘top-up’ your FDA with a further level of study.  How to ‘top-up’ your FdA TLS to a BA and routes into teaching are shown in the progression chart.  However, remember, you must also have a maths, English and science GCSE, or equivalent to train to be a primary teacher.

Are there any other courses of study I could move on to?

Yes.  As shown in the progression chart, there are a number of courses you can take at Chichester to go-on to complete a BA Honours degree.  Those courses that, at the moment, the FDA TLS lead most straightforwardly onto are the BA in Childhood Studies and the BA in Childhood Youth and Society.

How much will it all cost?

Each module currently costs £140.  That means each level will cost £1120.  When you register for the course if you are registering for the whole of Level 1, or 2, expect fees for the first part of the course to be £1120.  Contact the LEA of the area you live in to ask what financial support you are entitled to for this course.