Conquer ADHD & Dyslexia: Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma

What This Diploma Actually Is

This is the standard qualification schools look for when hiring teaching assistants across the whole of the UK. It proves you understand how children learn, can work safely and responsibly, and can adapt what you do to help every child take part.

You can do it through a local college, an online provider, or even through your school if you’re already volunteering there. Most people take between six months and a year- it depends how many hours you can give each week. You will need to spend some time in a real classroom setting, usually around 50 to 100 hours, so you can show you can put what you learn into practice.

You won’t be expected to know everything before you start. The course builds from the basics: how children grow, keeping them safe, helping with reading and numbers, and working well with teachers and parents.

What You’ll Learn That Matters Most For ADHD And Dyslexia

Every provider sets things out slightly differently, but you will always cover the things that make the biggest difference to neurodivergent children.

• How children pick up skills and make sense of the world
• Ways to help reading, writing, and maths click for every learner
• The laws that make sure children get the help they’re entitled to
• How to help children who find speaking, listening, or explaining things hard
• Ways to support children who process information at their own pace
• Understanding behaviour as communication, not just something to manage
• How to work alongside specialists like speech therapists or educational psychologists

When you get to choose your own examples or case studies, you can focus entirely on ADHD or dyslexia- which means you’ll finish with knowledge that fits exactly the kind of work you want to do.

Studying When You Have ADHD Or Dyslexia

I’ve spoken to dozens of TAs who have one or both of these, and the ones who sail through are the ones who stop trying to force themselves to learn the “right” way and start doing what works for them.

You don’t have to sit for hours writing neat essays. You can talk your answers out loud and type them up later. You can draw mind‑maps instead of listing points in order. You can ask for handouts on plain paper, or have questions read out to you if you need. All good providers will agree to this- it’s not asking for special treatment, it’s asking for fair treatment.

• Break every task down into tiny steps- one small section done well is better than a whole assignment half‑finished
• Take five‑minute movement breaks every 20 minutes if your focus drifts
• Use spell‑check and voice‑to‑text- no one marks how you get the words down, just whether you understand them
• Tell your tutor early- they can’t help if they don’t know what you need

What ADHD Actually Looks Like In Class

ADHD isn’t just running around or not paying attention. It’s having a brain that works faster than your mouth can keep up, or forgetting what you were told ten seconds earlier, or needing to move just to be able to think straight.

Some children will sit quietly but be miles away in their own head. Others will call out answers before you’ve finished speaking. Some will start ten things and finish none. None of this means they can’t learn- it just means the way lessons are set up doesn’t fit how their brain works yet.

Simple Things That Make A Huge Difference For ADHD

You don’t need fancy equipment or special training to help. Most of the best changes are small things you can do every day. Give instructions one at a time, and write them down or show them with pictures too. Let a child stand up or hold something soft while they work if it helps them settle. Split a worksheet into three small sections instead of one long page.

Notice when they’re trying- not just when things go wrong. Warn them a few minutes before moving on to something new, so they don’t feel pulled away from what they’re doing. Sit them somewhere they can see the teacher but away from things that catch their eye easily.

What Dyslexia Actually Looks Like In Class

Dyslexia isn’t about being slow or not caring. It’s about the brain mixing up how letters and sounds link together. A child might know exactly what they want to say but get stuck getting it onto paper. They might read a page and not remember what it said, or mix up letters that look similar.

It doesn’t mean they can’t read or write- just that they do it differently, and often need more time or different ways to get there. Many children with dyslexia are brilliant at seeing the bigger picture, solving problems, or thinking creatively- those strengths just don’t always show up in standard lessons.

Simple Things That Make A Huge Difference For Dyslexia

Use colours, shapes, or movement alongside words- don’t just tell them, show them, let them try it out. Give handouts with clear letters and plenty of space between lines. Never rush them when they’re reading or writing.

Let them type, speak into a recorder, or draw diagrams instead of writing long paragraphs. If they spell something wrong, praise what they meant first before pointing out the spelling. Copying from the board is often the hardest thing- give them a printed copy instead.

How You’ll Be Assessed- And How To Do Well

You almost certainly won’t sit big exams at the end. Instead you’ll build a folder of work that shows you know what you’re doing.