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TQUK · Level 2✓ On the Ofqual register · 601/4020/3From £29.99 a month
Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools Online TQUK Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF), QAN 601/4020/3
What is the Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools?
It is an Ofqual-regulated qualification, the TQUK Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (601/4020/3), for people who work or want to work in a school in a support role, including teaching assistants. It is 12 credits, 80 guided learning hours and five units, assessed by written work with no exams. At Lift College you study it online in 3 to 6 months.
3 to 6 monthstypical study time, at your own pace
RQF Level 212 credits, 80 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 £39.99 a month from day 8. Cancel before day 8 and pay nothing.
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The Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools introduces the knowledge you need for support roles in a school, whether in the classroom, the office, the site team or working with pupils. You cover child and young person development, safeguarding, communication and professional relationships, equality and inclusion, and how schools are organised. Most learners finish in 3 to 6 months, and it is assessed by written work marked by your tutor, with no exams and no placement.
Course facts
TQUK Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF) (601/4020/3) online with Lift College. Pay today: £29.99 a month or £269.99 in full. Or start with a 7-day free trial, then £39.99 a month or £399.99 in full. 14-day money back.
| Qualification | TQUK Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF) |
|---|---|
| Qualification number (QAN) | 601/4020/3 |
| Awarding body | TQUK, Training Qualifications UK |
| Level | RQF Level 2 |
| Credits | 12 credits |
| Guided learning hours | 80 hours |
| Total qualification time | 120 hours |
| Typical study time | 3 to 6 months, at your own pace |
| Units | 5 units |
| Assessment | You complete the four mandatory units and the optional unit Schools as Organisations, 12 credits in total. |
| Minimum age | 16 or over |
| Price | Pay today: £29.99 a month or £269.99 in full. Or start with a 7-day free trial, then £39.99 a month or £399.99 in full. 14-day money back. |
Why Lift College
Why study this course with Lift College
Covers every kind of school support role
TQUK designed the award for administrative, site, technical and pupil-facing support staff, so it suits you whether you want to be a teaching assistant or work elsewhere in a school.
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.
No placement needed, 7-day free trial
Every unit is assessed by written work, so you do not need to be working in a school. Start with a 7-day free trial, pay monthly or in full, and you are covered by a 14-day money back guarantee. TQUK registration and certificate are included.
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 | £269.99paid in full today, or £29.99 a month. TQUK registration and certificate included | Monthly or in full, no contract. Or a 7-day free trial, then £39.99 a month. 14-day money back |
| NCC Home Learning | £359The same TQUK award. 12 months of tutor support, assessed by assignments. | Pay in full, or a deposit then 12 monthly payments |
| learndirect | £311.99An NCFE CACHE support work in schools award, sale price at 40% off the list price. Written questions, tutor support included. | Pay in full, or a deposit then monthly over up to 24 months |
| Online Learning College | £379An NCFE CACHE Level 2 award (603/2478/8). 12 months of access, written assignments. | Pay in full; no monthly plan recorded |
| Open Study College | £519An NCFE CACHE teaching assistant award, sale price. Tutor-marked assignments. | Pay in full, monthly, or three instalments |
| Bright Pathway | £261An NCFE CACHE support work in schools and colleges award, sale price. Workbook marking. | Pay in full, or a monthly plan that costs more in total |
Checked on . Prices change, so check each provider's own page before you enrol.
What you'll study
The 5 units you study
1Child and Young Person DevelopmentH/601/3305 · Level 2 · 2 credits · 15 guided hours
Mandatory unit. The main stages of child and young person development, the influences that affect it, and how transitions such as changing school can affect children and young people.
- Know the main stages of child and young person development
- Understand the kinds of influences that affect children and young people's development
- Understand the potential effects of transitions on children and young people's development
2Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young PeopleK/601/3323 · Level 2 · 3 credits · 20 guided hours
Mandatory unit. The legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding, including e-safety; what to do when a child is ill or injured, including emergency procedures; and how to respond to evidence or concerns of abuse, harm or bullying.
- Know about the legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people including e-safety
- Know what to do when children or young people are ill or injured, including emergency procedures
- Know how to respond to evidence or concerns that a child or young person has been abused, harmed or bullied
3Communication and Professional Relationships with Children, Young People and AdultsF/601/3313 · Level 2 · 2 credits · 15 guided hours
Mandatory unit. How to interact with and respond to children, young people and adults, how to communicate well in a school, and the rules on confidentiality, sharing information and data protection.
- Know how to interact with and respond to children and young people
- Know how to interact with and respond to adults
- Know how to communicate with children, young people and adults
- Know about current legislation, policies and procedures for confidentiality and sharing information, including data protection
4Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Work with Children and Young PeopleD/601/3321 · Level 2 · 2 credits · 15 guided hours
Mandatory unit. Why equality and diversity matter in work with children and young people, the impact of prejudice and discrimination, and what inclusion and inclusive practice look like.
- Understand the importance of promoting equality and diversity in work with children and young people
- Understand the impact of prejudice and discrimination on children and young people
- Understand inclusion and inclusive practices in work with children and young people
5Schools as OrganisationsA/601/3326 · Level 3 · 3 credits · 15 guided hours
Optional unit, taken at Level 3 on the Lift College route. The structure of education from early years to post-compulsory, how schools are organised, school ethos and values, the legislation affecting schools, school policies, and the wider context schools work in.
- Know the structure of education from early years to post-compulsory education
- Understand how schools are organised in terms of roles and responsibilities
- Understand school ethos, mission, aims and values
- Know about the legislation affecting schools
- Understand the purpose of school policies and procedures
- Understand the wider context in which schools operate
Total: 12 credits · 80 guided learning hours · 120 hours total qualification time
Assessment
How you're assessed
You complete the four mandatory units and the optional unit Schools as Organisations, 12 credits in total. Lift College runs the route with the Level 3 version of Schools as Organisations, which is the route that makes the qualification's 80 guided learning hours. 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 five 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; it shows your understanding of support work in schools and does not on its own qualify you for a 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 need a recognised Level 2 starting point
- You work in a school office, site team, kitchen or technical role and want a qualification in how schools support pupils
- You are a parent or volunteer helper who wants to move into paid school support work
- You are aged 16 or over and want to study from home with no placement and no exams
- You want a route on to Level 3 supporting teaching and learning qualifications
Careers
Where this can take you
Teaching assistant
The award covers the knowledge behind supporting pupils in class; each school decides what qualifications and experience a post needs.
School administrator or receptionist
Office staff deal with pupils, parents and confidential information every day, which the communication and safeguarding units cover.
Midday supervisor or lunchtime assistant
Safeguarding, knowing what to do when a child is ill or injured, and communicating with children are central to supervising pupils at lunch and break.
Site staff or school technician
TQUK designed the award for site and technical support staff too, so they understand safeguarding and how the school works.
Breakfast or after-school club worker
Club staff need to understand child development, safeguarding and how to communicate with children and parents.
TQUK and Ofqual
Your certificate comes from TQUK
The TQUK Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF) is regulated by Ofqual and listed on the Ofqual register as 601/4020/3. 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, 601/4020/3, Version 9.1 · Ofqual register: TQUK Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF), 601/4020/3 · Children Act 1989 · Children Act 2004 · Education Act 2002 · Equality Act 2010
Next steps
What you can do next
Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning
TQUK names the Level 3 certificate as a progression route for teaching assistants who support learning in the classroom.
View course →Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in SchoolsTQUK also names the Level 3 diploma, a larger qualification for teaching assistants taking on specialist support.
View course →Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
TQUK names this certificate for learners working in a school who want to stay at Level 2 and build more classroom knowledge.
Level 3 Award in Education and Training
TQUK names this award for learners who want to move into teaching or training adults.
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 2 Award in Support Work in Schools regulated?
Yes. The TQUK Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF) is regulated by Ofqual and sits on the Ofqual register at Level 2, qualification number 601/4020/3. It is 12 credits, 80 guided learning hours and 120 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 3 to 6 months. The award is 80 guided learning hours and 120 hours total qualification time across five units. 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 five 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 16 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 £29.99 a month or £269.99 in full. After the 7-day free trial, it is £39.99 a month or £399.99 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 £359.99, 10% off the £399.99 price, paid by invoice.
What can I do after this qualification?
TQUK names the Level 3 Award, Certificate and Diploma in supporting teaching and learning, the Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, the Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities and the Level 3 Award in Education and Training as progression routes. Many learners use the award to apply for teaching assistant and school support posts.
Is the Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools a teaching assistant qualification?
It is one of the qualifications people use to start as a teaching assistant, and it also covers other school support roles. Some schools ask for a Level 2 qualification, some for Level 3, and some train staff on the job. Each school decides what a post needs.
Do I need to be working in a school?
No. Every unit in this award is about knowledge and understanding and is assessed through written work, so you can complete it without a placement or a job in a school.
Why is one of the units at Level 3?
TQUK offers two versions of the optional unit Schools as Organisations, one at Level 2 and one at Level 3. Lift College runs the route with the Level 3 version, which is the route that makes the stated 80 guided learning hours. The qualification itself is still a Level 2 award.
What is the difference between the Award in Support Work in Schools and the Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning?
The award gives a broad introduction for anyone in a school support role. The Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools is larger and focuses on supporting learning in the classroom, so it suits people already working as teaching assistants.
Does the course cover safeguarding and first aid?
Yes. The safeguarding unit covers the laws and procedures for safeguarding, including e-safety, what to do when a child is ill or injured, including emergency procedures, and how to respond to concerns of abuse, harm or bullying. It is knowledge of first aid procedures, not a practical first aid certificate.
What laws does the course cover?
The safeguarding, communication, equality and schools units each look at the law and guidance that apply. In England that includes the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004, section 175 of the Education Act 2002, the Equality Act 2010, data protection law, and the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Start the Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools today
£269.99 in full or £29.99 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 £39.99 a month from day 8
Training a team? Organisation accounts pay by invoice, at £359.99 a learner: 10% off the £399.99 price.
Organisation accounts →