- Location
- Langside Campus
- SCQF Level
- 6
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- PDA
- Course Type
- Part-Time
- Duration
- 1 year August to June
Applications are now closed.
Professional Development Award (PDA) Education Support Assistance at SCQF Level 6 is designed to develop and enhance your knowledge and skills if you are wishing to work with, or already working with, children and young people in an education setting.
This qualification meets the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) requirements for a Support Worker in a Day Care of Children Service.
What will I learn?
This PDA Education Support Assistance course may also suit returning learners who want to supplement existing qualifications by gaining some experience working with children before going on to further study at HNC or degree level in Childcare, Additional Support Needs (ASN) or Primary Teaching, or who wish to seek employment as an education support assistant.
Course content
- Development of children and young people in an education setting
- Supporting the behaviour of children and young people in an education setting
- Supporting children and young people who require additional support for learning
- Protecting and promoting the rights of the child
- Introduction to Basic First Aid
- Understanding professional practice in in an edcation setting
- Developing professional practice in an education setting
- Work experience in a primary or secondary school, or in an ASN setting.
Attendance
Two days (Wednesday and Thursday) per week.
To start in Block One, you will attend classes at Langside Campus on Wednesday and Thursday.
Then in Blocks Two and Three, you will attend classes at Langside Campus on Thursday and on Wednesday, you will be on placement in an educational setting.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- A mature attitude and a willingness to learn
- An ability to work with others as part of a team
- An interest in working with children and young people
- Commitment to study at Higher Level is required
- Applications are also invited from those without formal qualifications but who have relevant life and/or work experience.
Entry requirements equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Jobs and further study
- HNC Childhood Practice
- HNC Additional Support Needs
- NC Early Education and Childcare may suit learners who would prefer further study at the same level
- Employment options may include Education Support Assistant posts at primary schools, secondary schools or in ASN schools and learner support roles at colleges or universities.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Invited to book an interview session. You will be required to bring evidence of qualifications and an academic reference to interview. During the interview, you will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the course and the college. Interviews will take place from February onwards. This course involves a placement element which requires that you if successful are entered into the PVG scheme administered by Disclosure Scotland. Both the placement and the PVG check will be organised (and PVG costs met) by the college. This check will be carried out before undertaking work experience. If you have offences that may be recorded on a Disclosure Scotland check, you should discuss this with staff at the interview. Qualifications and any relevant work experience will also be taken into account.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in July.