The Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme which will give your employees the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to support learning effectively in your school. Teaching Assistants are found in primary, secondary, special schools, alternative provision, and further education institutions such as sixth forms and colleges. Teaching Assistants work across all age ranges, supporting all learners.
The broad purpose of a Teaching Assistant is to support the class teacher to enhance learners’ progress and development either in groups or individually. Teaching Assistants ensure that learners understand their work, know their learning objectives, and display positive learning behaviours in order to make progress. They deliver individual and small group teaching and apply a range of strategies to support learners of different abilities under the professional direction and supervision of a qualified teacher. Teaching Assistants may support learners with special educational needs and disabilities and learners with social, emotional, and mental health vulnerabilities.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation may interact with all learners. This includes but is not limited to high attaining, SEND, EAL, and disadvantaged learners. Teaching Assistants will also work in partnership with teachers and other professionals within the school and education system, as well as with learners’ parents or carers.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for delivering individual and small group teaching and adapting planning under the direction of a teacher; implementing safeguarding policies and safe practice; working effectively with other education professionals; promoting positive learning behaviours; and supporting the development of a safe and stimulating learning environment. They will work within a framework of national legislation regarding safeguarding, and within the policies and procedures of their individual education organisations.
Sophie works for Birchwood School in Melton Mowbray, and completed the Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship in 2021. Sophie’s quote below is taken from an interview she did with her Assessor in 2021 discussing how she was supported throughout her learning.
LALS have been really helpful with my needs and my disability from the start. They’ve taken on board my disability from the start and broken down lessons, and given me extra sessions. That’s really helped. LALS supported me in the best way I can learn and have just been very helpful throughout my apprenticeship making sure everything’s done on time and getting me extra time […].
LALS met my needs and I’ve completed the apprenticeship that I wanted to achieve. There’s nothing that they can do better, my assessors are really nice people and helped me to get through both my apprenticeship and my ICT [qualification].
Since completing her apprenticeship, Sophie has become a full-time permanent member of staff and has continued to support her colleagues and students using the skills she learned on her apprenticeship.
Leicestershire County Council, through our GoLearn! Work Based Learning Team, have been delivering the Teaching Assistant Standard since its launch in 2018 and have achieved a 100% pass rate for apprentices.
Apprenticeship qualifications are directly linked to work and employment roles and, as such, are for those who are currently in work or are recruited to a specific apprenticeship vacancy.
If you are in work and interested in using an apprenticeship qualification to enhance your existing skills and knowledge, or progress in your career, speak to your line manager about apprenticeship opportunities that your employer may have.
If you are looking for work and need support to find an apprenticeship role, book an appointment with one of our Learning and Work Advisors who can provide free, 1:1, impartial advice. Alternatively you can search national apprenticeship vacancies in your area via the GOV.uk ‘Find an apprenticeship‘ site.
If you are looking to find an apprenticeship provider to deliver this, or any other apprenticeship standard, visit the apprenticeships.gov.uk website where you can search for 100s of providers including local authority and national providers.
If you would like more information on the apprenticeship standards offered by Leicestershire County Council,