Pre-course Induction: Childhood Practice PDA ESA 25/26 by

Introduction

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Welcome to PDA ESA at Edinburgh College. This Padlet is designed to help you be fully prepared for starting you course in August.

Please contact us if you need help with:

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Enrolment

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Course content

^{susan.robertson@edinburghcollege.ac.uk}

Funding support

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Learner Support

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Blended learning

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Your course delivery for the 24/25 academic year will be offered as one day on campus, and one day online using Microsoft Teams.

PDA ESA Units you will be studying:

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Developing Professional Practice in an Education Setting: Workplace Experience
Understanding Professional Practice in an Education Setting
Development of Children and Young People in an Education Setting
Supporting Children and Young People who require Additional Support for Learning
Supporting the Behaviour of Children and Young People in an Education Setting
Protecting and Promoting the Rights of the Child
Working with Children and Young People with Autism in an Education Setting
Communication
Numeracy

You will also have a study coach (academic support) and Learning Development Tutor (LDT) (Pastoral support) slot on your timetable throughout the year.

Work Placement

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You will have workplace placement in a Primary school (or Secondary school if requested).

We also work in partnership with Edinburgh Council, to provide specialist placements in special schools, where you will have an opportunity to work with children and young people who benefit from a more specialised educational provision to support a range of additional support needs, which may include: Autistic spectrum disorders, visual impairment, or speech, language and communication needs

Placement gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in practice while gathering evidence required to achieve the workplace units.

Placement will be 1-2 days with the expectation that you attend one full day, and one 1/2 day in the morning, with the afternoons being offered to students on request if they wish to attend for the full 2days.

You will also have three 'block placement' weeks.

In these weeks you will go to placement 3 1/2 days instead of attending classes in college.
These weeks give you the opportunity to really get to know the setting, the children and your staff team while applying your learning and gathering evidence.

Once you have accepted your conditional or unconditional place on the course, our placement co-ordinators will email you out a Microsoft Form's link asking you for information in regard to your work placement. It is important to accept your offer first, and then regularly check your emails for updates about your course.

How will my classes run? What should I expect as part of my learning?

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While studying your PDA ESA Group Award, you will take part in a blended learning approach where one day of your timetable will be delivered online through Microsoft Teams. As an enrolled student at Edinburgh College, you will have access to the Microsoft Office 365 Office software, which will enable you to join lessons online. The other timetabled day will be on in campus at Sighthill, where you will engage in dynamic group work experiences, fun interactive task, workshops on working as an education support assistant, including having guest speakers attending, to discuss their own experiences, and to pass on useful advice when it comes to applying for jobs at the end of your course. We will also be focusing on outdoor learning and the significant benefit this has on children and young people's wellbeing and development.

Care experienced support

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Edinburgh College is a proud Corporate Parent we take our responsibility to support care-experienced students very seriously. Our role includes supporting you through the college application process, ensuring you have a positive learning experience and providing support along the way. Your college experience will be the same as all the other students but with the offer of extra support to allow you to get the very best from Edinburgh College.
Please contact
guidance@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

What will you be given?

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Edinburgh College Childhood Practice uniform

Two Polo Shirts
A zipped hooded sweatshirt
A waterproof jacket

Books

When Adults Change Everything Changes, Paul Dix
The Art of Being a Brilliant Classroom Assistant, Gary Toward, Chris Henley & Andy Cope

Student account for Microsoft 365

Word
Powerpoint
Onedrive
Outlook
Teams

Childhood Practice Twitter

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The 'Edinburgh College Childhood Practice Team' Twitter @EC_Childhood has lots of great information shared, people to follow and links opportunities and developments in Childhood Practice.

Gender Free classroom

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This series looks at developing a gender-neutral approach in the classroom and highlights examples of unconscious bias.

Wellbeing

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Guidance

We have Guidance staff at each campus who are dedicated to helping you throughout your time at Edinburgh College. Our friendly and experienced team will help you with any questions you have about being at college. The Guidance team can provide information on:

Student finance and funding
Budgeting for student life
Childcare funding
Accommodation
How to register with our JobZone to find part-time work
Support for Care Experienced Students
UCAS applications
Support for students with caring responsibilities

If you would like to speak to a member of the team please email guidance@edinburghcollege.ac.ukExternal Link

Writing your Personal Statement

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Your personal statement is an important part of your application and it can help us to decide if you are suitable for the course.

To make sure that you are giving us all the information we need to consider your application fully, please include the following:

Your reasons for applying for this course. Why does it interest you? Why are you suitable for this course?
Details of any relevant qualifications that you have to meet the course entry requirements.
Information about any courses or training you have done that are relevant – this can include certificated training such as First Aid or CPD courses.
Details of any work experience (paid or voluntary) that is relevant to the course.
Your future career plans – how will this course help you to reach your goals?

You should check that the statement is written clearly, using appropriate language. It’s a good idea to ask someone to proof read the statement before sending.

Free bus travel for under-22's

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Homepage - YPTS (freebus.scot)

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Get ready for college | Edinburgh College

Pre-course tasks:

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Prior to starting your course we would like to encourage you to become familiar with the following websites that contain very useful information relating to: Scottish curriculum, policy, frameworks, and information about supporting additional support needs. Please have a look at the links below if possible, to start to understand some key aspects of the units you will be studying this year on your course.

https://enquire.org.uk/
https://education.gov.scot/
https://education.gov.scot/improvement/

PVG

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When considering if you would like to apply for this course, please consider the PVG scheme (completed by Edinburgh College once place on the course is confirmed), more information is available here Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme - mygov.scot . This scheme helps to protect children and adults within our sector therefore we require a clear PVG to enable you to proceed with an application for this course. If you have any questions regarding this please get in contact to discuss.

Placement

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More info will be added in due course.

Learner Support

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Do you think you might need support with learning while at college?
Please look at the link on this post for more information.

If you indicated this on your application form then one of the team will be in touch soon to discuss it with you.

If you would like to talk to one of the support team please contact :
learning.support@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

On campus information sessions

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We will add dates in due course.

Online information sessions

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You will be invited to an online information session prior to starting your course.

Further details will be updated here once confirmed.

1:1

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You will be invited to a 1:1 with one of our team, this will be on Teams or in campus depending which you prefer. Dates and times will be shared in due course.

Timetable 25/26

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Timetable will be added in due course.
16 hours of class contact per week
The classes will normally be delivered one full day on-campus and one full day online using Microsoft Teams; College days are Tuesday (online) and Thursday (in campus).
Placement is a Wednesday full day and a Friday morning.
We recommend a minimum of 6 additional hours per week of self-study

The standard college day is 9am to 4.30 pm