Learning Support

Learning support is the professional practice of enabling students who face barriers to learning to participate fully in education. Whether those barriers arise from specific learning differences such as dyslexia or autism, from speech and language difficulties, from social and emotional needs, or from other factors, effective learning support requires a combination of specialist knowledge, practical skill, and the ability to build trusting relationships with children, young people, and the wider school community. It is work that can make a profound difference to individual students and to the culture of the schools and settings in which it takes place.

This three-year full-time programme at the University of Portsmouth is designed for those who are already working or seeking to work in learning support roles, including teaching assistant positions, and who wish to deepen their professional knowledge and develop their practice. You will study theories of learning and child development, frameworks for identifying and responding to special educational needs, approaches to supporting students with a wide range of needs and backgrounds, and the legislative and policy context within which learning support operates in the UK. The programme includes a year abroad, offering the opportunity to study in a different educational context and to compare approaches to learning support across national systems.

Throughout the degree you will develop reflective practice, the ability to collaborate effectively with teachers, families, and other professionals, and a sound understanding of how to plan and evaluate interventions that genuinely help students to progress. The qualification provides a strong foundation for professional development in the sector.

Graduates go on to work as higher-level teaching assistants, SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), learning mentors, and in a range of support and advisory roles within schools, colleges, and educational support services. Further study in education, special educational needs, or related disciplines supports those aiming for leadership or specialist roles.