Teaching Assistant Apprentice

Westwood College

England And Wales (ST13 8NP)

Closes on Friday 15 August 2025

Posted on 9 July 2025

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Summary

We are seeking individuals to join our team of Teaching Assistants at Westwood College and support our engaging, caring students. TA's need to be reliable and punctual, great communicators, empathetic and able to follow instructions. A committed approach is vital to ensure our students have the consistency they require to thrive.

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Automatic enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme with employers' contributions of 24.2%.

Training course
Teaching assistant (level 3)
Hours
37 hours per week. Monday - Thursday, 08:30 - 16:30. Friday, 08:30 - 16:00. Half hour unpaid lunch each day. The working hours will also include time to complete training/attend college as required.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

2

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

  • Assisting pupils in the acquisition of basic literacy and numeracy skills.
  • Assisting pupils to make progress across all subject areas.
  • Working with pupils on an individual or group basis as required by the class teacher.
  • Assist in offsite visits.
  • Aid pupils with special needs to access all subjects of the national curriculum and encourage their independence as learners.
  • Ensure pupils understand instructions.
  • Motivate and encourage pupils to behave well in and around school.
  • Acquaint themselves with the support materials in and around the school for individual pupil or group use.
  • Assist the teacher in developing a supportive and trusting relationship with other adults and children.
  • Promote and reinforce pupil self-esteem through praise and encouragement.
  • Be sensitive to the general welfare and care of all pupils within the school, drawing areas of concern to the attention of the class teacher.
  • Support children at lunchtime.
  • Pre-school, break time.

Where you'll work

Westwood College Westwood Park Drive
Leek
England And Wales
ST13 8NP

Training

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

College or training organisation

UNIVERSITY OF DERBY

Your training course

Teaching assistant (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Apply strategies to support and encourage the development of independent learners.
  • Adapt communication strategies for the audience and context.
  • Apply behaviour management strategies in line with organisational policy.
  • Adapt resources to support all learners.
  • Communicate with teachers to ensure clarity of the TA’s role.
  • Apply teaching strategies to deliver learning activities or interventions.
  • Build relationships with learners, teachers, other professionals and stakeholders.
  • Comply with legislation, guidance, and procedures for Prevent, safeguarding and health & safety.
  • Support the well-being and mental health of learners.
  • Observe, record, and report on learners in line with organisational procedures.
  • Apply methods of formative assessment.
  • Use up to date technology safely, to support learning.
  • Encourage safe use of technology by learners.
  • Adapt teaching strategies to support all learners (for example, scaffolding, open questioning).
  • Identify and respond to pastoral and academic behaviours in learners.
  • Provide feedback to learners.
  • Apply strategies to support and encourage the development of independent learners.
  • Adapt communication strategies for the audience and context.
  • Apply behaviour management strategies in line with organisational policy.
  • Adapt resources to support all learners.
  • Communicate with teachers to ensure clarity of the TA’s role.
  • Apply teaching strategies to deliver learning activities or interventions.
  • Build relationships with learners, teachers, other professionals and stakeholders.
  • Comply with legislation, guidance, and procedures for Prevent, safeguarding and health & safety.
  • Support the well-being and mental health of learners.
  • Observe, record, and report on learners in line with organisational procedures.
  • Apply methods of formative assessment.
  • Use up to date technology safely, to support learning.
  • Encourage safe use of technology by learners.
  • Adapt teaching strategies to support all learners (for example, scaffolding, open questioning).
  • Identify and respond to pastoral and academic behaviours in learners.
  • Provide feedback to learners.

Your training plan

Apprentices will attend 6-weekly on-campus activity days alongside training in the workplace both on and off-the-job. A college instructor-mentor will visit apprentices in the workplace regularly to complete observations, professional discussions and discuss progress. 

More training information

The school has a CPD (continuous professional development) program open to all employees which will include any additional specific training needs required by the school. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 or above)
  • Maths (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
  • Customer care skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Reliable
  • An interest in the industry
  • Ability to learn from peers
  • A desire to learn

Other requirements

We are a high school and therefore our students are teenagers. Recent school leavers would need to be very mindful of the fact that they cannot associate or interact with our students as peers; if employed they are here as staff and expected to act with professionalism at all times. The role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check, the successful applicants will be supported with this.

About this company

We are a Secondary School in Leek, Staffordshire with students from year 9 to year 13. Westwood College is part of The Talentum Learning Trust.

https://wwc.ttlt.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

An extablished team of TA's inlcuding a dynamic and passionate SENCO. Free on-site parking, staff room facilities and optional enrolment into the staff association.

After this apprenticeship

There is potential for permanent employment at Westwood College or across the wider Talentum Learning Trust, which many schools in the area are part of, on the successful completion of the apprenticeship. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF DERBY

Apprenticeships Team

feapprenticeships@blc.ac.uk

08000740099

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000330797.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 15 August 2025

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