SEU Teaching Assistant Apprentice

PARADIGM TRUST

Suffolk (IP3 0SP)

Closes in 26 days (Monday 1 June 2026)

Posted on 6 May 2026

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Summary

Paradigm Trust is looking to appoint an inspirational and highly motivated Apprentice SEU Teaching Assistant to the team as soon as possible. While this role is being advertised as an apprenticeship, we are also advertising this position as a full-time SEU Teaching Assistant role.

• Wage:

  Competitive

  Competitive wage offered

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Enhanced hourly rate - £10.60; £20,466 FTE, £17,682 pro rata

• Training course: Teaching assistant (level 3)
• Hours: 37 Hours per week, 39 weeks per year. Working days Monday - Thursday 8.00am - 4.00pm, Friday 8.00am - 3.30pm. Time for study is included in working hours.

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 15 June 2026

• Duration:

  1 year 6 months

• 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

The role of the Teaching Assistant Apprentice is to assist teachers in providing a learning environment to support the development and educational needs of pupils, to encourage pupils to become independent learners, to ensure their safety and welfare, and to support the inclusion of pupils in all aspects of school life.

The Teaching Assistant will be expected to be flexible and to provide assistance wherever needed. This will not always be within a specific classroom. Teaching Assistants may be required to work on a 1:1 basis and/or with different groups of pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. This may be in any area of the school.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Working with individual pupils and groups of pupils, under the direction of the teacher/line manager, introducing tasks monitoring pupils’ work and using a range of strategies to support their learning
• Helping pupils to access the full curriculum, at the same time, promoting independent learning
• Observing pupils’ performance and using the systems in place in the school/classroom, providing the teacher with feedback on pupils’ progress and helping to maintain individual and group records
• Contributing to the planning and evaluation of learning activities for individuals and groups, liaising with and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues
• Helping prepare and maintain a purposeful, orderly, and supportive environment for learning
• Providing care with regard to the physical welfare of pupils
• To undertake first aid training and act as a first aider as required
• Drawing on specialist skills and knowledge to respond effectively to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities with appropriate training
• Provide first aid and administer medication as and when required
• To provide intimate care, including (but not exhaustive), changing nappies, changing soiled clothes, and assisting pupils in using the toilet

In addition to the above there are duties relevant to all Teaching Assistants which will be discussed and provided but will include:

• Supporting the Trust’s aims and ethos
• Contributing to planning for teaching and learning
• Supporting the teaching of the Paradigm Trust curriculum, helping pupils with activities which develop their literacy and numeracy skills
• Delivering structured intervention and catch-up programmes to groups
• Using a range of support methods and resources, including ICT, appropriate to the needs of individuals and groups, as directed by their line manager
• Respecting the confidentiality of pupil information and responding sensitively to pupils’ needs
• Being aware of the particular learning and physical needs of the pupils supported
• Ensuring that an appropriate level of spoken and written English is modelled with pupils at all times

Where you'll work

Ipswich Academy
9 Braziers Wood Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP3 0SP

Training

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

Training provider

SUFFOLK NEW 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

• Teaching Assistant Standard
• English and Maths (if required) Level 2

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English or equivalent (grade C/4)
• Maths or equivalent (grade C/4)

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
• Customer care skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

• This vacancy is based in Ipswich within a Primary School Special Educational Needs unit
• An Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required 
• Have due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to follow the child protection procedures adopted by the Trust
•  An understanding of and commitment to the importance of equality and diversity, and of reflecting this in the workplace
• The successful applicant will have the ability to demonstrate enthusiasm and a passion for teaching. You must be able to enthuse, motivate, and progress pupils of all abilities
• The ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• Undertaking relevant and appropriate professional development during contracted hours
• Experience of working with children or young people, either in a paid or voluntary capacity would be an advantage.

About this employer

Paradigm Trust (Paradigm) is a not-for-profit educational trust with schools in Ipswich and Tower Hamlets that are free and open to all. Paradigm has a very simple ethos: to develop and sustain great schools where we can make the biggest difference to pupils. Our values are: Integrity – doing the right thing even when no one is watching; Excellence – enabling everyone to achieve more through education, and Community – working together, learning from, and supporting others.

When you join Paradigm, you’ll be joining a Trust that is committed to developing and sustaining great schools to make the biggest difference for pupils. It’s a place where we work together, helping each other to make sure every child can reach their potential.
We are only able to do this through the hard work of our staff, and so we value them accordingly. At Paradigm, you’ll be supported with your career goals, with ongoing professional development, and numerous opportunities to progress on your career path. Staff health is extremely important to us, and as part of Paradigm, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits that are designed to support your wellbeing, as well as a highly competitive rewards package.
If you have a passion to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.

https://paradigmtrust.org/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• A strong commitment to professional development
• We strive to be a family friendly employer
• Employee counselling service
• Cycle to work scheme

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

All our staff have access to a range of professional development
opportunities, including our own in-house training for new and
aspiring managers.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE

Nicole Vaughan

hr@paradigmtrust.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000030173.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Monday 1 June 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.