• University of Reading

Supporting Successful Learning in Primary School

Build your understanding of learning and teaching to gain confidence in supporting children in school as a teaching assistant.

31,158 enrolled on this course

Primary school students in an outdoor setting

Supporting Successful Learning in Primary School

31,158 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Improve the support you provide for children's learning in primary school

Giving children in primary school the right support is vital.

On this course you’ll hear from education experts, school staff and school children who provide insight into how children learn, the learning environment, and communicating in school.

You’ll explore some of the theories underlying people’s behaviour that could impact learning in school, and you’ll reflect on your own experiences in the classroom to help build on your confidence and working practices.

By the end of the course you’ll be better equipped to improve the support you provide in the education of children.

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    You and others

    • Welcome to Week 1

      Welcome to the course! In your first Steps, you'll meet your lead educator and your fellow learners, and find out what you'll be learning about over the next four weeks in Supporting Successful Learning in Primary School.

    • Your point of view

      Understand more about how your values, beliefs and attitude can impact teaching and learning in school.

    • Bias in the classroom

      Over the next few Steps you'll find out how your unconscious bias may affect supporting learning in a classroom, and challenge these notions to better understand how to deal with them.

    • Types of teachers

      In the next few Steps you explore the use of metaphors to help you understand what type of educator you are and what skills you can develop to improve your working practices.

    • Review and reflect

      Reflect on the topics covered in Week 1, test your knowledge and find out what you'll be learning in Week 2.

  • Week 2

    How people learn

    • Welcome to Week 2

      Welcome to Week 2 where you'll explore how people learn. You'll start this Week off by hearing from children and their thoughts on school, and taking a brief look through a child's point of view in a classroom scenario.

    • Doing things differently

      Over the next few Steps you'll explore the fundamentals that are required for children to learn, and you'll take a closer look at the stages of development that underpin these principles.

    • More way than one way

      In this activity you'll discover there is more than one way that children learn in schools.

    • Expectations and fulfilling them

      You'll reflect on what you already know and what your expectations are of the children in order for learning to be successful.

    • Review and reflect

      Reflect on the topics covered in Week 2, test your knowledge and find out what you'll be learning in Week 3.

  • Week 3

    The environment for learning

    • Welcome to Week 3

      At the beginning of Week 3 of Supporting Successful Learning in Primary School, find out what we mean by the learning environment in school and explore some of the common misconceptions that occur in the classroom.

    • Teaching in reality

      What makes the learning environment work? Hear from our teaching experts as they discuss what works for them, and explore the impact of how a simple change can make a difference through our case study: The sofa.

    • Haydn scale

      At what point does behaviour in the classroom become an issue? Over the next few Steps explore the Haydn Scale - a tool that helps measure behaviour and the impact this has on teaching and learning.

    • Behaviour in the classroom

      How do you ensure a good working environment for learning? Explore how children's behaviour can affect this atmosphere and explore techniques that help overcome these challenges.

    • Review and reflect

      Reflect on the topics covered in Week 3, test your knowledge and find out what you'll be learning in Week 4.

  • Week 4

    Communication and language

    • Welcome to Week 4

      Welcome to the final Week of Supporting Successful Learning in Primary School. You're introduced to the topics for the Week and you'll explore what language means.

    • Communication

      In the next few Steps, hear from our teaching experts discuss language development and the skills required. You'll also explore the importance of communication and the impact on children who have communication difficulties.

    • Listening

      Listening may seem like a simple skill but if it's not done correctly it can impact a child's learning, well-being and development. Find out more in the next Steps how to improve your listening skills.

    • The right questions

      In this activity you'll be exploring the importance of asking the right question. Investigate the various types of questions, and find out what works and what doesn't to get the most out of supporting learning with students.

    • Review and reflect

      Thank you for joining us. In these final Steps, you'll reflect on the Week's topics and the course, test your knowledge, pose your questions to Helen and consider the next steps you may like to take.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate knowledge and confidence to work more effectively in supporting and teaching children in early years and primary.
  • Apply the course as a tool for teaching and classroom support.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the advice available to consider teaching as a career.

Who is the course for?

This course is for teaching assistants and support staff in early years and primary school. It will also be of interest to teachers returning to work, newly qualified teachers, as well as providing a refresher for current teachers. Parents of children in schools may also find this course useful in helping them to support and encourage their children’s learning.

This course focusses on teaching and learning in primary schools. If you work in a secondary school, you may like to join: Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary Schools.

Who will you learn with?

I am Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play at the University of Reading. I am also Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Education.

Who developed the course?

University of Reading

The University of Reading has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise.

Endorsers and supporters

endorsed by

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$104/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 16 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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