There is a course running at a college in Birmingham which is a foundation degree for learner mentoring. There is also a more local course for a foundation degree in learning support.

It seems to me that the learner mentoring course takes you down the mentoring route, whereas the learning support course could lead to teaching.

Has anyone done either of these courses and survived them? If so, what do they entail and would the learning support course still allow me to branch off to being a mentor if I wanted to.

I would appreciate any advice you hae.

Thank you

Have just finished FD in Learning Support and others in my cohort are now going on to do third year linked with QTS. I did feel that I haven't learnt anything I didn't already know about LS, just how to write a good essay. Can't speak for the course near you, but we spent a lot of time alone, working from books but mostly researching on the internet. Friends from work did a FD that was specific to primary school education and everything they did was relevent to school, their jobs and their work. For us the FDLS was suitable for any supported learning, from primayr and secondary to college and supporting adult learners and we needed to fit the course to our own work. I don't feel that this course was tailored enough to help when moving into teaching.
Sorry to be negative, remember these are just my personal feelings.

Hi Susie

Thank you so much for sharing your feelings about the learning support degree. On the CACHE level 3 teaching assistant course, I have also spent most of the time working alone, with just the internet and books for company. There has been very little guidance from the tutor who sends us down to the library at every possible moment.

So it is really a case of deciding which FD to do. Learner mentoring or learning support. I don't want to go into teaching and wonder if the FD in learning support would be worth three more years of my life. Although, I believe it does cover HLTA status.

I am now 46, divorced and with two teenage children. The cost of keeping them is phenominal! I work as a t/a part-time in a secondary school and am looking to further my career just to keep paying the mortgage!

Have you heard of the learner mentoring FD which is based at the College of Food in Birmingham Susie?

Regards Cardmaker

Sorry I haven't but what I would say is that you should do the one that interests you most as you are more likely to finish it. Can you ask at work to see if they would value either one higher?

Hi
I completed the foundation degree in learning support. It was a personal achievement but did take up a lot of time and i have at times wondered if it was all worth it. My understanding is that it does not cover hlta you still have to take their training on which i found insulting as others have said, the fd IS HARD WORK. i do not regret it but do feel it is a lot of hard work. I have done the National Mentor training but didnt know they did it as a degree!! good luck what ever you decide

Hi Susie

Had a word with head of dept. at college. She has advised me to do the learner mentoring degree if possible as it is an excellent course and mentoring will be the thing for the future! So I think she has convinced me, although it will be a lot of hard work.

Had a quick word with SENCO at school who has said I can change my day off to do the degree.

So if I can finish off level 3 Cache t/a course I will be ready to go. Just hope I have the energy!

Cardmaker x

Hi Basgirl

The learner mentoring degree is a new one I think. So if I can start it in September it should help me to find a job in that area. Well done for getting your degree by the way.

Cardmaker x