Apprentice Teaching Assistant Level 3
Briarwood Special School
Bristol (BS16 4EA)
Closes in 25 days (Sunday 17 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 22 April 2026
Contents
Summary
We are seeking to appoint Teaching Assistants at our fantastic special school. Briarwood has a dedicated team of staff, governors and parents/carers who are proud to support 167 children and young people aged 3 to 19 years and are passionate about their progress, happiness and care.
- Wage
-
£12,480 to £19,827.60, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salary info- £19,938 – Over 18 years old and £15,946 for Under 18
- Training course
- Teaching assistant (level 3)
- Hours
-
30 hours a week with a day release to college, exact hours to be agreed between the apprentice and their manager.
30 hours a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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1 year 9 months
- Positions available
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5
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
You will be required to work with a range of pupils who have severe and profound learning difficulties. A large number of our pupils have challenging behaviours and are within the Autistic Spectrum.
Candidates must bring energy, confidence and enthusiasm with a commitment to inclusion.
We will provide a planned induction within a large, strong and supportive LSA and teaching team.
Under the guidance of the teaching staff, you will provide direct support for the learning of individual children or groups of children to achieve defined progression targets.
Under the guidance of the teaching staff, provide direct support for the learning of individual children or groups of children, to achieve defined progress and targets by:
- Following planning to support activities.
- Report behaviour observations to a teacher in order for them to maintain the school’s standard of discipline and behaviour.
- Facilitating children’s general physical, emotional and educational development through activities and play.
- Supervising and encouraging safe behaviour of individuals and groups.
- Reinforcement of structured learning habits and routines which have been defined by the teacher and support access to the curriculum as set by the line manager.
Under the guidance of the teaching staff, you will prepare, store, retrieve, sort and display materials, finished work, equipment, topic work plans and/or assignment documents to assist in providing an effective learning environment as determined by the teacher.
Where you'll work
Briarwood Special School
Briar Way,
Bristol
BS16 4EA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND STROUD COLLEGE
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
Apprentices will attend the Filton Campus of SGS College, one day a week, term time only.
More training information
SGS College will support apprentices to develop the full range of knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the Standard.
Apprentices will receive comprehensive guidance to build their portfolio, and the College will also facilitate completion of a Paediatric First Aid qualification.
Once on‑programme learning is complete, apprentices will progress to the End Point Assessment, which includes practical observation with a question‑and‑answer element, submission of a portfolio of evidence, and a professional discussion.
Full-time apprentices will typically spend 18 months on-programme working towards the apprenticeship standard, with a minimum of 20% off-the-job training.
Each apprentice will be assigned a dedicated skills coach who will support them in completing their portfolio and preparing for the End Point Assessment. The Employer, Training Provider and the learner will decide when the learner is ready to enter the Apprenticeship Gateway. The skills coach will help prepare the learner to ensure they are confident to complete all components.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 and above)
- Maths (grade 4 and above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Customer care skills
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
- Skills of empathy, listening, communication and responding with appropriate language to build rapport with children from a variety of ages, abilities and backgrounds.
- Aptitude to develop a knowledge of the role within an education environment.
- Ability to demonstrate effective working with individual pupils and small groups under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher.
- An awareness of child protection and safeguarding
- The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice and information in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
- You will need to pass an enhanced background check (DBS).
About this employer
Briarwood is a Bristol School committed to providing high quality education, care and life experiences for children and young people aged 3-19 with Severe and Profound Learning Difficulties, Complex Needs, Autism and Sensory Impairment. The school is based on 3 sites across East-Central Bristol and is made up of Briarwood Infants, Juniors, Secondary, Sixth Form and The Nexus (a specialist centre for pupils with Behaviours that challenge).
The values of Briarwood are that all pupils should Enjoy their time with us, so that they can Engage and Learn to their full potential.
After this apprenticeship
As well as ensuring full competency as a Teaching Assistant, this standard provides a foundation for potential progression into a number of career paths in the Educational sector including Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Assistant Teacher and Teacher.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND STROUD COLLEGE
Elaine Baillie
elaine.baillie@sgscol.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000027609.
Apply now
Closes in 25 days (Sunday 17 May 2026 at 11:59pm)