What’s involved in a Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship?

What is a Teaching Assistant?

Teaching assistants support students across Primary, Secondary, and SEN settings, working with all age groups and addressing a range of special educational and emotional needs. Their primary role is to assist the class teacher in enhancing pupils’ learning, whether in groups or one-on-one. They play a vital role in fostering self-belief, social inclusion, and high self-esteem, all of which contribute to pupils’ overall well-being.

By training to be a teaching assistant in an apprenticeship role, learners not only receive the relevant training and course material to qualify to the right standards of teaching and learning, but most importantly have day to day, hands on experience using this knowledge in real life settings and situations. As with many roles in education, working within a school during training and experiencing this day to day is the best form of study in most cases.

The benefits extend beyond learning, as trainees gain insight into the school’s culture and daily operations by participating in meetings and becoming an integral part of the staff team. This experience not only enriches their training but also increases the chances of securing a position after completion, whether at the same school or one nearby.

The typical duration of a teaching Assistant apprenticeship is 18 months. A large proportion of this time is spent working in a school and evidencing your practice day to day. 20% of the training is off-site or study based through a training provider such as Venture Training & Education. At the end of the course of study you will enter a period of assessment known as EPA (End Point Assessment). This is an independent assessment that takes place at the end of the apprenticeship training. This is to test that the apprentice is competent in their occupation.

What will I learn as a Teaching Assistant Apprentice?

As a Teaching Assistant Apprentice with Venture Education, you will undertake a programme of study that will provide you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to not only meet the standard of a teaching assistant but give you great depth of understanding in regards to learning, teaching and pupil development. 

The programme of study comprises of several units of focus, including:

• Learning and Support for children within the classroom
• Assessment for Learning
• Understanding the Curriculum
• Child Development
• Understanding policies and procedures
• Teaching and behaviour management strategies
• Supporting SEN in the classroom

Not only does our program of study offer the skills, knowledge and behaviours to complete the apprenticeship but you also qualify with a Level 3 certificate in Teaching and Learning. Schools and Academy Trusts work with Venture Education because of the additional Physical Education training our apprentices and learners receive. 

Schools seek teaching assistants who actively contribute to various aspects of school life, particularly in Physical Education, school sports, and extracurricular activities. Our program blends the Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification with accredited sports coaching and teaching certifications from 1st4Sport Qualifications. This additional training provides valuable expertise in sport, along with nationally recognized Level 2 and 3 certificates upon completing the apprenticeship.

Additional PE and Sports specialism provides training in:

• Supporting children in school PE and Coaching and the role of sport in the wider community
• Understanding Coaching and Coaching Practices
• How to plan, deliver and evaluate coaching and PE lessons
• How to teach specific sports in a classroom setting, including the likes of Rugby, Basketball, Racket Sports and Gymnastics.

The additional sports programme of study provides additional value not only for the school but the learner also and their future career direction. Successful candidates go on to further their training in specialised sports coaching or PE teaching. 

Following successful completion of the apprenticeship, many learners continue to work in education as teaching assistants and go on to further their education and training to take on more senior roles in the future. Many teaching assistants train to become teachers. However, there are numerous opportunities in the sector that extend beyond classroom work, such as pastoral support or personal tutoring. 

How Can I Become or Hire a Teaching Assistant Apprentice?

If you’re a school or part of a Multi-Academy Trust, you might be considering opening an apprenticeship position — and Venture Education is here to support you as your training provider.

Just like any other job vacancy, you can hire an apprentice on an apprenticeship salary. The cost of training is covered either fully or up to 95% by the government, depending on your organisation’s size and whether you contribute to the Apprenticeship Levy. In either case, the expense to your school is minimal beyond the apprentice’s salary.

If you’re curious about how the process works or have questions about bringing an apprentice into your school, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re happy to help!

For those looking to train as a Level 3 Teaching Assistant, we recommend finding a school or Trust that can employ and support you throughout your apprenticeship. But don’t worry if you haven’t secured a placement yet — get in touch with us at Venture Education, and we can assist you in finding a suitable role and getting started with your training.

More Information

If you’re interested in hiring a Teaching Assistant Apprentice or providing your staff with additional training in Physical Education and Sport, please do not hesitate to get in touch by filling out the form on our homepage or by emailing Elizabeth@ventureeducation.co.uk.

If you are an employer looking to take on an apprentice (levy paying or non-levy employer) get in touch direct by completing our online form or emailing our Employer Relations Manager – elizabeth@ventureeducation.co.uk

We are looking to partner with more Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts and Local Authorities, as well as limited companies working within sport and education – to help provide the highest standard of apprenticeship training.

Details of our current apprenticeships and qualifications can be found here.