Teaching Assistant - Advanced Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Summary
If you're an employer in the education sector looking to develop an existing employee or recruit new talent or if you are individual who is passionate about education and changing lives in the classroom, this Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship could be the perfect starting point. Offering a combination of paid work and off-site training, this apprenticeship prepares individuals with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to successfully support learners of all ages and abilities, helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Working alongside experienced teachers to deliver small group and one-to-one support, adapt learning materials, and promote positive learning behaviours, teaching assistants perform a vital role in the classroom.. As an employer, your teaching assistant apprentice will gain a deep understanding of safeguarding, inclusive education, and how to support learners with special educational needs, English as an additional language, or social and emotional challenges.
Whether they are working in a primary school, secondary school, or college, this programme equips them with the practical skills and professional knowledge to become a confident and effective member of your education team. For the individual apprentice, the apprenticeship is designed to open the door to further qualifications and career progression within the education sector.
Apprenticeship standard dates
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Anytime
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Bispham Campus
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Anytime
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Bispham Campus
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Next steps
As an Employer
If you would like to offer this as an apprenticeship vacancy within your organisation, enrol one of your existing employees on this apprenticeship or simply find out more about supporting an apprenticeship within your organisation, please complete the Enquire Now form above and a member of our Business Development Team will be in touch within 2 working days to advise you on next steps.
As an Apprentice
If you are interested in securing an apprenticeship as a Teaching Assistant, please visit our Vacancies page to check for any suitable roles.
If there are currently no roles available, please submit a enquiry form using the Enquire Now button above to register your interest. We will use this information to let you know when a suitable vacancy becomes available and also to advise you of any courses we offer that might advance your career goals in the meantime.
Key information
Entry Requirements
For the apprentice:
Although specific entry requirements are set by individual employers, the following entry requirements will apply to all applicants.
Age: Must be at least 16 years old.
Qualifications: GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 or above, or be prepared to achieve Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths while undertaking the apprenticeship
Additional Requirements:
DBS Check: A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required, typically obtained through employment.
Employment: Applicants must be employed in a suitable educational setting that supports the apprenticeship requirements.
Commitment: Ability to commit to the full length of the programme and meet the programme modules through your job role.
How will the Apprenticeship be funded?
As the employer
How your apprenticeship is funded will depend on whether or not you pay the Apprenticeship Levy. If you do pay the Levy, your apprenticeship will be funded out of this, provided you have sufficient monies available. If you do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy, 95% of the apprenticeship will be funded by the Government, with the remaining 5% being funded by you. There may also be some further incentives offered by the Government which we will be able to advise you of when setting up your apprenticeship. Either way, B&FC's Business Development Team will be on hand to help you navigate the funding arrangements and support you through this process.
As the apprentice
One of the benefits of an apprenticeship is that, as the apprentice, you are not required to fund your training. You will also receive a wage for the work that you do with minimum hourly rates set by the Government. Your employer can choose to pay you more than the minimum wage, but they cannot pay you less. For details of current minimum wage rates for apprentices, please visit the Government website.
Terms and conditions
Read our full terms and conditions.
What will my Apprentice learn?
Knowledge
By the end of their apprenticeship, your apprentice should understand:
- The full learning cycle, including the stages of development in children and young people, curriculum intent and impact, target setting, assessment methods (formative, observation, recording, and reporting), and providing effective feedback.
- Teaching and learning strategies, including the use of scaffolding, questioning techniques, and types of learning interventions, with an emphasis on adapting approaches to meet diverse learner needs.
- The impact of transitions and enrichment activities on learners, and how to support them pastorally and academically, including recognising behaviours and referring to other professionals when needed.
- The safe and effective use of technology in education to support learning and engagement.
- Legislation, policies, and procedures relating to safeguarding, Prevent duty, and health and safety.
- Available learning resources and how to guide learners in using them effectively.
- Effective communication methods tailored to audience and context.
Skills
Your apprentices will have learned how to:
- Support and encourage learners to become independent by applying tailored teaching and communication strategies, adapting activities and resources as needed.
- Use formative assessment and feedback to monitor progress and inform next steps, keeping accurate records in line with organisational procedures.
- Promote and support learner well-being, recognising behaviours and knowing when and how to refer for additional support.
- Apply behaviour management strategies and build positive relationships with learners, teachers, professionals, and stakeholders.
- Use technology confidently and safely, encouraging learners to do the same in support of their learning.
- Understand and comply with safeguarding, Prevent, and health and safety requirements.
- Work collaboratively with teachers, ensuring clarity of the teaching assistant’s role and contribution to learning delivery.
Behaviours
Your apprentice should be able to:
- Demonstrate professionalism, respect, and inclusivity in all interactions with the school community.
- Act as a positive role model, reflecting the organisation’s values and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Commit to continuous improvement through reflective practice and engagement with educational research.
- Collaborate effectively and constructively with colleagues, learners, and the wider school community.
Expert Tutors
All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.
Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. This is especially important for apprenticeships where off-the-job training needs to align with apprentices' on-the-job experience.
How will the Apprenticeship be delivered?
The apprenticeship will typically be delivered over a 18-month period with additional time required to prepare for the End Point Assessment. The apprentice's time will typically be split 80:20 throughout the apprenticeship programme with four days a week spent at the employer premises learning on the job and one day a week spent off-site, undertaking classroom-based and workshop-based training at B&FC.
What support will I get from B&FC?
As the employer
Each employer is supported by an experienced member of our Business Development Team to set up their apprenticeship. For those employers who are completely new to the apprenticeship process, the Team will support them with all the necessary paperwork and administration to get their apprenticeship programme up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. For existing employers, their dedicated Client Services Manager will be an ongoing point of contact for all their apprenticeship queries, however big or small.
We can also help employers who are looking to recruit new apprentices by advertising their vacancy, finding suitable applicants and supporting them with the interview and selection process. Once an apprentice is onboard, our Curriculum Tutors and Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches also step in to support the employer-apprentice relationship and ensure the apprentice is on track to succeed.
As the apprentice
In the first instance, we aim to give potential apprentices all the support they need to find a suitable apprenticeship. That can mean working with them prior to an application to improve their CV, hone their interview skills and advise them of any additional training that may help them secure an apprenticeship vacancy.
Once they start their apprenticeship, we continue to support them with their off-site training and with regular meetings with our Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches to ensure they are progressing and acquiring all the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will ensure they complete their apprenticeship successfully.
How will the Apprenticeship be assessed?
What is an end-point assessment and why it happens
An EPA is an assessment at the end of the apprenticeship. The EPA is the apprentice's opportunity to show an independent assessor how well they can carry out the occupation they have been trained for.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
- fail
- pass
- distinction
When the apprentice passes the EPA, they will be awarded their apprenticeship certificate.
Assessment methods
Observation with questions
The apprentice will be observed by an independent assessor carrying out a series of activities over a total of 110 minutes. During the assessment, the assessor will ask a series of questions designed to test the apprentice's understanding of the tasks being performed.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
During their apprenticeship, the apprentice will compile a portfolio evidencing all the work they have undertaken during their apprenticeship. This will be submitted to an independent assessor and form the basis of the professional discussion which will last at least 90 minutes during which time the assessor will ask a series of at least 10 questions to determine the apprentice's competencies and ensure they meet the occupational standard.