Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship

Our Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship will provide you with fully funded, structured training to improve your practice as a teaching assistant and learn valuable skills to help your pupils reach their full potential.

Our Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship will help you to:

• Gain a nationally recognised Level 3 apprenticeship at no cost to you

• Receive training focused on supporting pupil progress and development aligned to the curriculum

• Develop an understanding of how to actively support the class teacher

• Safeguard pupils and build a positive and nurturing environment

• Build confidence supporting pupils with special education needs, EAL or SEMH

• Contribute to planning, class activities and team meetings

• Develop your career without leaving your school

Our apprenticeship is aimed at teaching assistants who are new to the role or those who are already working as a TA and are interested in developing their skills and confidence. All apprentices must be employed in a primary or secondary school, in a mainstream or specialist setting.

To be eligible for this apprenticeship you must:

• Be employed within a school as a teaching assistant, learning support assistant or specialist support assistant by the date you start your apprenticeship – you are responsible for finding your own employment

• Have the full support of your school before applying

• Be assigned an in-school mentor that can support you throughout your apprenticeship

GCSE English and Maths skills competency required:

• If you are 16-18 years old and have not gained GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and/or Maths, you will be required to study and successfully gain functional skills level 2 for English and/or maths before your End Point Assessment.

• If you are 19 years+ and do not have the required GCSE grade of a grade 4/C or above, at interview your employer will decide to opt in or out of the opportunity to study for Functional Skills level 2. (Full funding is available to study Functional Skills, so there is no additional cost if this is required.)

This apprenticeship is delivered using a blend of online and face-to-face training and you’ll benefit from face-to-face support from an experienced pathway tutor.

20% of your week will be dedicated to off-the-job training, which includes study, theory and tasks delivered via Tes Learn, our award-winning virtual learning environment.

You’ll receive 18 months of training covering topics such as safeguarding, supporting behaviour for learning, planning for intervention and supporting pupils with SEND and EAL.

Every month we’ll conduct wellbeing and progress checks with you, your pathway tutor and your school-based mentor to check you’re on track and managing your apprenticeship.

At the end of your course you'll have a further three months to complete your End Point Assessment (EPA). On successful completion, you’ll be awarded the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship qualification.

Laura Marshall

Laura is passionate about teacher training and development in nurturing our next generation of teachers. Laura has over 20 years of experience across a variety of teacher training programmes. She believes that supporting teachers in their professional development leads to improved outcomes therefore ensuring every child has access to high-quality education. Currently overseeing the Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) programme, Straight to Teaching QTS preparation programme and Assessment Only, Laura is honoured to play a pivotal role in supporting candidates in finding the right route for them in their education career journey, fulfilling dreams and aspirations. Read more.

Lucy Lambert

Lucy has over 25 years of experience as a qualified teacher across multiple Primary settings. As a senior leader and student mentor, Lucy has worked with teachers, support staff and trainee teachers to develop their knowledge and have an impact on the quality of education delivered. Since 2019, Lucy has worked for Tes Institute as a Straight to Teaching, Assessment Only and Level 3 TA apprenticeship Pathway Tutor and QTS assessor. Lucy is delighted to be part of the Level 3 Apprenticeship team, focusing on supporting apprentices to enhance their professional practice.

Our apprenticeship can be delivered at no cost to you or your school if your school pays the apprenticeship levy. If your school doesn’t pay the levy, the government will pay 95% of your fees, with your school contributing just 5% which is £350. The full value of the apprenticeship is £7,000. More details can be found on the DfE website.

We offer training and additional tutor support for Functional Skills requirements if you do not have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4, at no extra cost.