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

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

• Have the full support of your school before applying

• Have a minimum of functional skills level 2 for English and maths before your End Point Assessment. We offer training and additional tutor support for these tests if you do not have GCSE English and maths at grade C/4, at no extra cost

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.

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 Teachiing, Aseessment 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.

This 21-month (including your EPA) apprenticeship costs £7,000 but can be delivered at no cost to you or your school if your school is an apprenticeship levy payer. 

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. More details can be found on the DfE website.