Teaching Assistant: NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF)

The NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools is an Ofqual-regulated entry-level qualification for those who want to work as a teaching assistant or classroom support worker in a school setting. Awarded by NCFE CACHE, the UK's leading awarding organisation for education and childcare qualifications, the award covers child development, safeguarding, communication, equality and inclusion, schools as organisations, and how to support learning activities. It carries 9 credits at Level 2 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework.

No prior teaching experience or academic qualifications are required to enrol on the Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools. It is specifically designed as an entry point for people who are new to working in schools and want to build the foundational knowledge required for a teaching assistant or classroom support role. Whether you are changing career, returning to work after a break, or have been volunteering in a school and want to formalise your knowledge, you can enrol directly on this qualification.

No — unlike competence-based qualifications such as the Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning, the Level 2 Award is assessed through knowledge-based written assignments and does not require a mandatory school placement. You can complete it entirely online. That said, if you are already working or volunteering in a school, you will find it easy and enriching to draw on your experience when completing the reflective elements of the assessment, and it may help you to complete the course more quickly.

Most learners complete the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools in 3 to 6 months, studying around 4 to 7 hours per week. Because the course is delivered entirely online and is self-paced, you can progress faster or slower depending on your schedule and personal commitments. Your tutor will help you set a realistic study plan when you enrol and will support you throughout.

The Level 2 Award is a smaller, introductory qualification worth 9 credits that provides a foundational overview of school support work. The Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning is a larger qualification with more units and a greater total credit value, covering more aspects of the teaching assistant role in greater depth. Both are offered by NCFE CACHE and both are accepted as entry-level qualifications by schools. The Award is typically the first step, with many learners progressing to the Certificate, and then to Level 3 qualifications, as their experience and ambition grow.

After completing the Level 2 Award, you can apply for entry-level classroom assistant and teaching assistant roles in primary, secondary, and special educational needs schools. For progression, you can advance to the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, and from there to the Level 3 Award, Certificate, or Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning, which qualifies you for roles with greater autonomy, specialist SEND responsibilities, and higher NJC pay scale points.

Yes — the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools is regulated by Ofqual and is listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications. NCFE CACHE is the leading awarding organisation for education and childcare qualifications in the UK, and their qualifications are recognised by schools, colleges, and the Department for Education. Primary, secondary, and special schools across England accept NCFE CACHE awards as evidence of foundational knowledge for teaching assistant and classroom support roles.

Yes — the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools is delivered entirely online through our learning platform, which is accessible 24 hours a day from any internet-connected device. All assignments are submitted and marked online, and you communicate with your tutor via the platform and by phone or email. There are no on-campus attendance requirements and no timed written examinations.

The qualification is structured in two parts. Part A covers: child and young person development (developmental stages from birth to 19 and the factors that influence them); safeguarding the welfare of children and young people (legislation, policies, procedures, and how to respond to concerns); communication and professional relationships with children, young people, and adults (effective interaction, confidentiality, and data protection); and equality, diversity, and inclusion in work with children and young people (anti-discriminatory practice and inclusive approaches). Part B covers: schools as organisations (types of school, governance, roles, and external bodies); and supporting learning activities (how teachers plan learning and the teaching assistant's contribution to planned activities).

The Level 2 Award provides the knowledge foundation for entry-level teaching assistant roles, which are typically conducted under the close direction and supervision of the class teacher. It does not on its own qualify you to work unsupervised with children or to take responsibility for planning or leading lessons. For roles that require greater independence — such as leading intervention groups or covering lessons — you would typically need to progress to a Level 3 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning and gain appropriate workplace experience. All school-based roles also require an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check before you begin work with children.