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TQUK · Level 1✓ On the Ofqual register · 603/3418/6From £19.99 a month
Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools Online TQUK Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools (RQF), QAN 603/3418/6
Is there a Level 1 teaching assistant course?
Yes. The TQUK Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools (603/3418/6) is the Ofqual-regulated Level 1 course for people who want to work in a school, including as a teaching assistant. It is three mandatory units, 6 credits and 47 guided learning hours, open from age 14 and assessed by written work with no exams.
4 to 8 weekstypical study time, at your own pace
RQF Level 16 credits, 47 guided learning hours
No examsportfolio marked by your tutor, pass or fail
TQUK certificateregistration and certificate included
7-day free trial. Nothing to pay today, then £29.99 a month from day 8. Cancel before day 8 and pay nothing.
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A Level 1 course for anyone thinking about becoming a teaching assistant or working in a school. You learn how schools are organised, how to keep children and young people healthy, safe and well, and how to communicate with pupils, staff and parents. It is open from age 14, most learners finish in 4 to 8 weeks, and it is assessed by written work marked by your tutor, with no exams.
Course facts
TQUK Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools (RQF) (603/3418/6) online with Lift College. Pay today: £19.99 a month or £179.99 in full. Or start with a 7-day free trial, then £29.99 a month or £299.99 in full. 14-day money back.
| Qualification | TQUK Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools (RQF) |
|---|---|
| Qualification number (QAN) | 603/3418/6 |
| Awarding body | TQUK, Training Qualifications UK |
| Level | RQF Level 1 |
| Credits | 6 credits |
| Guided learning hours | 47 hours |
| Total qualification time | 60 hours |
| Typical study time | 4 to 8 weeks, at your own pace |
| Units | 3 units |
| Assessment | You complete all three mandatory units, 6 credits in total. |
| Minimum age | 14 or over |
| Price | Pay today: £19.99 a month or £179.99 in full. Or start with a 7-day free trial, then £29.99 a month or £299.99 in full. 14-day money back. |
Why Lift College
Why study this course with Lift College
A real first look at school life
Three mandatory units cover the types of school and how they are run, child development from birth to 19, safeguarding and healthy eating, equality and inclusion, and how to communicate in a school team.
A named UK tutor and AI Study Support
You have a named UK tutor who marks your work and gives written feedback, usually within 5 to 7 working days, plus AI Study Support to help you with questions as you study.
TQUK certificate, 7-day free trial
Your TQUK registration and certificate are included, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre. Start with a 7-day free trial, pay monthly or in full, and you are covered by a 14-day money back guarantee.
Prices compared
How the cost compares
Course fees for the same qualification online, exactly as each provider showed them on its own page when we checked on 28 October 2026.
| Provider | Course fee | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lift College | £179.99paid in full today, or £19.99 a month. TQUK registration and certificate included | Monthly or in full, no contract. Or a 7-day free trial, then £29.99 a month. 14-day money back |
| learndirect | £149.99An NCFE CACHE Level 1 award in preparing to work in schools, sale price at 40% off the list price. Written questions, tutor support included. | Pay in full, or a deposit then monthly instalments |
| UK Open College | £249The same TQUK Level 1 award. | Pay in full; no monthly plan recorded |
Checked on . Prices change, so check each provider's own page before you enrol.
What you'll study
The 3 units you study
1Principles of schools as organisationsH/617/1448 · Level 1 · 1 credits · 10 guided hours
Mandatory unit. The features of different types of school, the main school policies and procedures, and the different areas of teaching in a school.
- Know the features of different types of schools
- Know about school policies and procedures
- Know different areas of teaching in schools
2Principles of how to keep children and young people healthy, safe and wellD/617/1447 · Level 1 · 4 credits · 30 guided hours
Mandatory unit. The main stages of development from birth to 19, keeping people safe in a learning environment, protecting children and young people, the principles of healthy eating, and equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Know the main stages of development from birth to 19 years of age
- Know how to keep individuals safe in the learning environment
- Know how to protect children and young people
- Know the principles of healthy eating
- Know about equality, diversity and inclusion
3Principles of communicating with children, young people and adultsR/617/1445 · Level 1 · 1 credits · 7 guided hours
Mandatory unit. How to communicate with children, young people and adults, how to work and communicate within a school team, and how to encourage learners.
- Know how to communicate with children, young people and adults
- Know how to communicate within a team
- Know how to encourage individuals in a learning environment
Total: 6 credits · 47 guided learning hours · 60 hours total qualification time
Assessment
How you're assessed
You complete all three mandatory units, 6 credits in total. Every unit is assessed by a portfolio of evidence made up of written assignments and workbook questions, internally assessed by your Lift College tutor and externally quality assured by TQUK.
01Learn each unit online
Work through the three mandatory units at your own pace, with short lessons, worked examples, your named UK tutor and AI Study Support on hand.
02Complete your portfolio
For each unit you answer written assignment and workbook questions that cover every assessment criterion, then upload them to your portfolio.
03Tutor marking and feedback
Your tutor marks each submission, usually within 5 to 7 working days, and gives written feedback. Work that does not yet meet a criterion is referred, and you resubmit at no extra cost.
04Quality assured and certificated
Lift College quality assures the marking internally and TQUK quality assures it externally. Once every unit is passed, TQUK issues your certificate.
Graded pass or fail: you pass when every learning outcome and assessment criterion is met. There are no exams and no observations, and you do not need to be working in a school. This is a knowledge qualification and does not on its own qualify you for a teaching assistant post; each school decides what a role needs.
Who it's for
This course is for you if
- You want to become a teaching assistant and are looking for a first regulated step
- You are a parent or carer thinking about returning to work in a school
- You volunteer in a school, or want to, and would like to understand how schools work
- You are aged 14 or over and want a qualification that leads on to Level 2 school support courses
- You need a short course you can study from home, around work or family, with no exams
Careers
Where this can take you
School volunteer or parent helper
Many schools welcome volunteers who understand school policies, safeguarding and communication.
Teaching assistant (after further study)
This award is a first step; teaching assistant posts usually ask for a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, and each school decides what it needs.
Lunchtime supervisor or midday assistant
The units on keeping children safe and well, and on healthy eating, are directly relevant to supervising pupils at lunch and break.
Breakfast or after-school club assistant
Clubs look for staff who understand how to keep children safe and communicate with children and parents.
TQUK and Ofqual
Your certificate comes from TQUK
The TQUK Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools (RQF) is regulated by Ofqual and listed on the Ofqual register as 603/3418/6. Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) awards it, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.
Step 1Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre
TQUK approves the centre, the tutors who assess you and the way the course is delivered before a single learner is registered.
Step 2TQUK checks the marking
An external quality assurer from TQUK samples assessed work from Lift College learners. Your result stands because TQUK has agreed it, not just your tutor.
Step 3TQUK issues and verifies your certificate
Your certificate is printed by TQUK with a unique number. Any employer or university can confirm it is real on TQUK's certificate verification service.
Sources: TQUK qualification specification, 603/3418/6, Version 3 · Ofqual register: TQUK Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools (RQF), 603/3418/6
Next steps
What you can do next
Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools
TQUK names this award as a progression route. It covers child development, safeguarding, communication, equality and how schools work, for a range of support roles.
View course →Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and LearningTQUK also names this certificate, which is aimed at people working as, or about to work as, teaching assistants.
Once you are working in a school, the Level 3 certificate is the next step for teaching assistants who support learning in the classroom.
View course →What learners say
What our learners say
The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost, really helped me improve.
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools regulated?
Yes. The TQUK Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools (RQF) is regulated by Ofqual and sits on the Ofqual register at Level 1, qualification number 603/3418/6. It is 6 credits, 47 guided learning hours and 60 hours total qualification time. Your TQUK certificate is issued by Training Qualifications UK, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.
How long does it take?
Most learners finish in 4 to 8 weeks. The award is 47 guided learning hours and 60 hours total qualification time, there are no fixed deadlines, and you move on as soon as each unit is marked.
How is it assessed?
By a portfolio of evidence. For each of the three units you answer written assignment and workbook questions, which your Lift College tutor marks against the TQUK assessment criteria. TQUK externally quality assures the marking. The award is graded pass or fail.
Are there any exams?
No. There are no exams, no timed tests and no classroom observations. Everything is assessed through written work that you complete online in your own time.
What are the entry requirements?
There are no formal entry requirements. You need to be 14 or over, and the course is studied and assessed in English.
What does it cost?
One price covers the whole course: your named UK tutor, marking, AI Study Support, your TQUK registration and your TQUK certificate. You can pay monthly or in full, and the current prices are shown on this page. You can start with a 7-day free trial, and there is a 14-day money back guarantee. Paying today, it is £19.99 a month or £179.99 in full. After the 7-day free trial, it is £29.99 a month or £299.99 in full.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. Your employer can open a free organisation account, enrol you and any colleagues, and pay by card or by invoice. Organisation accounts get ten per cent off every course, and the account shows each learner's progress. An organisation place is £269.99, 10% off the £299.99 price, paid by invoice.
What can I do after this qualification?
TQUK names the Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and the Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools as progression routes. Many learners also use the award to support an application to volunteer in a school or to start Level 2 study.
Can I become a teaching assistant with a Level 1 course?
This award is the first step rather than the finish line. It shows a school you understand how schools work and how to keep pupils safe. Teaching assistant posts usually ask for a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, and each school decides what it needs.
Do I need to be working in a school?
No. All assessment is written, so you can complete the award without a placement or a job in a school. It suits people preparing to apply for school roles or volunteering.
Can a 14 year old do this course?
Yes. TQUK sets the minimum age at 14, so school students thinking about a career in education can take it, as well as adults.
What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 teaching assistant courses?
Level 1 prepares you to work in a school: how schools are organised, keeping children safe and well, and communication. Level 2 courses go further into child and young person development, safeguarding procedures and professional relationships, and suit people working or about to work in a school.
Does the course cover safeguarding?
Yes. The unit on keeping children and young people healthy, safe and well covers how to keep people safe in a learning environment and how to protect children and young people, alongside child development, healthy eating and inclusion.
Start the Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools today
£179.99 in full or £19.99 a month when you pay today. TQUK registration and certificate included. 14-day money back on every payment.
Choose how to payTry it free for 7 daysNothing to pay today, then £29.99 a month from day 8
Training a team? Organisation accounts pay by invoice, at £269.99 a learner: 10% off the £299.99 price.
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