Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Level 5

Summary

Working as an apprentice Specialist Teaching Assistant you will be required to support a small class helping teachers to prepare for lessons whilst ensuring a safe and enjoyable learning environment for all pupils. During lessons, you’ll work together with the Senco / Class Teacher / Class Lead to support pupils with special educational needs.

Wage

£12,955.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course

Specialist teaching assistant (level 5)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 15:30

32 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Duties will include:

Excellent communication and enthusiasm will be key in supporting all pupils to progress, achieve and overcome any obstacles
You will support all areas of the curriculum including English, mathematics and Computing within the classroom
You will also accompany teaching staff and pupils on trips and other out-of-school activities
You will act as a role model for pupils and be a positive influence on their behaviour and performance at school

You will be required to assist with:

Supervising and supporting pupils with special educational needs, ensuring their safety and access to learning
Encourage pupils to act as independently as appropriate
Support with toileting/changing
Prepare the classroom for learning, and clear away afterwards
Support in managing pupil behaviour, reporting any difficulties
Support pupils to understand instructions and follow routines
Support pupils in respect of school curriculum, e.g. Literacy, Numeracy, and Early Years, as directed by the teacher
Assist with the supervision of pupils out of lesson times, including at lunchtimes
Carrying out small group and 1:1 interventions
Create recourses
Accompany teaching staff and pupils on visits, trips and other out-of-school activities
Compliance with all necessary policies and procedures relating to child protection, equality and diversity, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person

The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed.

Where you'll work

Heather Avenue Infant School
Heather Avenue
Hellesdon
Norwich
NR6 6LT

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

Your training course

Specialist teaching assistant (level 5)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Act in line with policies, processes, and procedures related to statutory frameworks and non-statutory guidance, including safeguarding, implementing the setting’s behaviour policy.
Establish a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment for learners.
Establish nurturing, effective working relationships with learners, parents or carers and stakeholders.
Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity and sustainable development.
Undertake dynamic risk assessment of the learning environment.
Respond to and mitigate potential hazards that may adversely affect a learning environment.
Contribute to the planning of learning and assessment activities.
Apply teaching strategies to advance learning, for example scaffolding.
Select and use safely, appropriate equipment and resources to advance learning.
Apply an appropriate range of assessment methods, including formative, summative and individual needs-based assessments.
Analyse assessment outcomes to inform reporting and future planning.
Provide ongoing feedback to learners and support them to respond to feedback.
Record and report information related to learners’ progress to a range of stakeholders.
Collaborate with colleagues and other professionals.
Advocate for and champion the needs of learners.
Use a range of research to critically evaluate teaching and assessment approaches and practices.
Critically evaluate a variety of teaching and assessment methods depending on the learning environments and learners’ needs.
Improve own practice by undertaking continuous self-reflection including seeking and responding to feedback from varied sources.
Update and maintain their own knowledge and skills as part of managing their own continuing professional development.
Communicate information and analysis in a variety of forms to reflect the needs of the audience, for example by providing appropriate advice and guidance to parents or carers.
Support the development of effective practices in others, for example through mentoring and coaching colleagues.
Identify, action, and challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the appropriate actions required to minimise risks to professional well-being.
Implement strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.
Select and use technologies safely and effectively to promote learning.
Prioritise and manage own workload, for example recognising the importance of capacity.
Implement national and local SEND policy, practices, processes, and procedures.
Apply approaches to the assessment and early identification of SEND.
Apply strategies to adapt provision and practices to support learners with SEND.
Implement national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to social and emotional well-being.
Identify and signpost learners in need of social and emotional well-being intervention.
Apply strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.
Implement national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to the specific curriculum provision.
Adapt planning and assessment to support learning and progress in the specific area of curriculum provision.
Support colleagues by advocating for the specific curriculum provision.
Act in line with policies, processes, and procedures related to statutory frameworks and non-statutory guidance, including safeguarding, implementing the setting’s behaviour policy.
Establish a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment for learners.
Establish nurturing, effective working relationships with learners, parents or carers and stakeholders.
Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity and sustainable development.
Undertake dynamic risk assessment of the learning environment.
Respond to and mitigate potential hazards that may adversely affect a learning environment.
Contribute to the planning of learning and assessment activities.
Apply teaching strategies to advance learning, for example scaffolding.
Select and use safely, appropriate equipment and resources to advance learning.
Apply an appropriate range of assessment methods, including formative, summative and individual needs-based assessments.
Analyse assessment outcomes to inform reporting and future planning.
Provide ongoing feedback to learners and support them to respond to feedback.
Record and report information related to learners’ progress to a range of stakeholders.
Collaborate with colleagues and other professionals.
Advocate for and champion the needs of learners.
Use a range of research to critically evaluate teaching and assessment approaches and practices.
Critically evaluate a variety of teaching and assessment methods depending on the learning environments and learners’ needs.
Improve own practice by undertaking continuous self-reflection including seeking and responding to feedback from varied sources.
Update and maintain their own knowledge and skills as part of managing their own continuing professional development.
Communicate information and analysis in a variety of forms to reflect the needs of the audience, for example by providing appropriate advice and guidance to parents or carers.
Support the development of effective practices in others, for example through mentoring and coaching colleagues.
Identify, action, and challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the appropriate actions required to minimise risks to professional well-being.
Implement strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.
Select and use technologies safely and effectively to promote learning.
Prioritise and manage own workload, for example recognising the importance of capacity.

Your training plan

On successful completion of your apprenticeship you will achieve the nationally recognised Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5, as well as valuable work experience, which will provide you with the best chance possible of being offered a full-time Teaching Assistant position.

Training will be given and qualifications gained to include:

Introduction to Safeguarding, confidentiality expectations and essential academy and Trust Policies and Procedures
School daily routines
Read Write Inc. Phonics training
Emotion Coaching and relational approaches in education

More training information

Workplace/Workshop learning
1 to 1 support from Assessor
Online learning environment for support throughout the apprenticeship

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade Grade 5 or above)
Mathematics (grade Grade 5 or above)
Two other subjects (grade Grade 4 or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Team working
Initiative
Ability to follow instructions
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to prioritise work
Professional approach to work

Other requirements

As part of the pre-employment check process, proof of qualifications will be required.

About this company

Our Vision is to work together to help every child develop into a high achieving, confident, healthy, caring and resilient members of their family and community; creating a pathway to support their career aspirations, independence and contribution to society. Every member of our team is expected to demonstrate the ability to: • Develop positive relationships with all children and adults • Recognise and manage their own emotions, thoughts and behaviours and understand how these can impact others • Be curious around the reasons behind others’ behaviours, accepting all feelings and beliefs • Understand others’ emotions and thoughts and feel a natural desire to support • Have the courage to reflect, make changes and be keen to learn

http://www.wensumtrust.org.uk/heatheravenue (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

On successful completion of your apprenticeship you will achieve the nationally recognised Specialist Teaching Assistant qualification, as well as valuable work experience, which will provide you with the best chance possible of being offered a full-time Teaching Assistant position

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