12 weeks full-time
Up to two years part-time
Intakes are 12 weeks long
2024 Intake 4: 10 June to 30 August - Applications Close 03 June 2024
2024 Intake 5: 05 August to 25 October - Applications Close 29 July 2024
2024 Intake 6: 16 September to 06 December - Applications Close 09 September 2024
Fees Free
First year of tertiary study
Tuition Fee: $0 Check eligibility
SIT Zero Fees Scheme
(e.g. $700 for 100 credit course)
International Fees
$8335
Unsure which one is for me? Check Fees Eligibility Check my options
Graduates will be able:
ESC100 Communication skills in an education support and care context (5 credits)
This paper introduces students to the strategies which promote awareness of, and respect for, cultural diversity in an educational support and care context, and provides students with the knowledge and skills to use a range of communication strategies with children from diverse whanau/families.
ESC101 Inclusive practice in an education support and care context (5 credits)
This paper introduces students to the principles of inclusive practice relevant for diverse learners (diversity may be in age, learner needs, gender, cultural and socio-economic background) and prepares students for supporting children in an educational context.
ESC102 Human development and learning in education and community contexts (5 credits)
This paper equips students with the skills and knowledge to describe aspects of human development and learning and the relationship of these to selected educational and community contexts.
ESC103 Educational support and care practicum (25 credits)
This practicum paper provides students with the skills and knowledge to effectively participate in supporting learning in the education support and care context with a focus on professional behaviour and resource production.
Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge for roles such as:
As part of gaining this qualification, students need to complete a minimum of 100 hours of in class teacher aiding. This can be spread out during the period of study to suit the practicum venue and students’ studies, however, at least 50 hours must be completed while undertaking the practicum paper ESC103.
It is possible for these hours to be done with schools, out of school or after school care programmes, early childhood settings, or in the disability sector. However, you must be supervised by a suitably qualified person.
All applicants wishing to undertake this programme of study are required to submit a completed Placement & Supervisor Confirmation Form with their application:
ESC Placement and Supervisor Confirmation form
This form includes confirmation of:
School LeaversApplicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2.
Mature ApplicantsApplicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at level 2 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate. Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5 TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE) TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14) Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill. OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36 Language Cert - B1 Achiever IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than PASS in each skill Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
Suggested study options
Full-time study
Full time study is completing all 40 credits in one intake. However, due to the intensive workload of the programme when taking the practicum hours into account, we do not recommend that students enrol in full time study. Full time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion.
Part-time study
Part time study is recommended for this qualification as the first three papers allow you to build sufficient knowledge prior to completing the practicum paper in which you need to apply this knowledge in working with and developing learning plans and resources for specific learners.
Students should complete papers in the order that they are listed. A suggested study pathway is taking ESC100, ESC101 and ESC102 in one intake (total of 15 credits), and then taking ESC103 (25 credits) in a following intake.
However, this study path is a guide only; the number of credits selected per intake will depend on work, family, and other commitments.
Additional information
Cross Credits
Students who have previously completed any of the above units at SIT or another learning institution can apply to have the unit(s) cross credited to their record of learning at SIT. This is done by filling in a cross credit application form and attaching proof of achievement. If you wish to apply for a cross credit, please attach the completed form to your application. Forms can be found at:
http://www.sit.ac.nz/Students/Academic-Support
Please use the following checklist to ensure that all relevant information and documentation has been included. Remember, your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide us with. Processing of your application will be delayed if we need to come back to you for missing information.
To satisfactorily complete the teacher aiding programme of study leading to the New Zealand Certificate in Education Support and Care (Level 3), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:
Please Note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement