Teaching Assistant Apprentice
LIFT SCHOOLS
Barnsley (S71 4JS)
Closes in 7 days (Wednesday 15 April 2026)
Posted on 8 April 2026
Contents
Summary
Lift Meadstead is looking for a nurturing, enthusiastic Early Years Teaching Assistant to join our team. We embrace outdoor play and forest school learning, so a love of play, nature and adventure is a must!
- Wage
-
£18,366 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
NJC 3-5 £18,366 - £18,947 (Actual) £24,796 - £25,583 (FTE)
- Training course
- Teaching assistant (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 38.4 weeks per year. Times to be confirmed.
32 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 20 April 2026
- 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
Key responsibilities:
- Support the delivery of engaging, play-based learning activities
- Work closely with the class teacher to support children’s development and progress
- Foster a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment for all children
- Support children with additional needs, including SEN where required
- Encourage curiosity, independence, and a love of outdoor learning
- Assist with observations and contribute to children’s learning journeys
What we’re looking for:
- Early Years experience (essential)
- SEN experience (advantageous)
- A positive, proactive, and caring attitude
- A genuine enthusiasm for outdoor play and forest school approaches
- Join us in creating a vibrant, supportive environment where every child can thrive
Where you'll work
Meadstead Drive
Barnsley
S71 4JS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LIFT SCHOOLS
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.
Training schedule
- As part of our continued commitment to professional development, this role also offers the opportunity for anybody who does not currently hold a Teaching Assistant qualification to complete their level 3 ‘Initial Teaching Assistant Training’
- Your Trainer will meet with you in the workplace or online every 2-4 weeks
- In between these meetings, you will have dedicated time away from your job to work on the apprenticeship and collate evidence for your apprenticeship e-portfolio with ongoing support from your Manager and Trainer
More training information
- This will be a fixed-term position, and the duration of the apprenticeship will be determined by the job role and current skills
- The typical duration of the apprenticeship is 24 months. However, it can be longer or shorter depending on existing knowledge, skills and experience
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Other in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Willing to learn
- Ability to self-evaluate
Other requirements
To be eligible, applicants must have resided in the UK or EEA for 3 years prior to the start of the apprenticeship.
Please note applicants must not have already completed a Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprenticeship.
About this employer
Who is Lift Schools? Lift Schools is made up of 57 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 33,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives – and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential. Our mission: 1. We will provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day. 2. With excellent leadership and teaching in every school, we will help children go on to lead successful and happy lives. 3. We will work with others beyond our network to benefit more children and communities.
https://www.liftschools.org/apprenticeships (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Well-being cash plan
- Pension scheme (LGPS)
- Additional Lift Schools benefits
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- Due to operational requirements, apprentices cannot be guaranteed a permanent job or higher-level apprenticeship on completion of their apprenticeship
- Where a suitable permanent job or an advanced level apprenticeship opportunity becomes available in their training school or other trust schools, apprentices are strongly encouraged to apply for it and, subject to satisfactory completion of their apprenticeship and suitable qualifications/experience, will be guaranteed an interview
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LIFT SCHOOLS
Talent Team
recruitment@liftschools.org
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000025473.
Apply now
Closes in 7 days (Wednesday 15 April 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.