Teaching Assistant Apprentice

PARADIGM TRUST

Ipswich (IP3 9LJ)

Closes in 4 days (Friday 9 October 2026)

Posted on 2 October 2026

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Summary

An exciting opportunity to take your first steps toward a career in education as a Teaching Assistant. A rewarding role that will enable you to develop your skills in classroom support and student development. You will be an integral part of the staff, responsible for fostering an engaging learning environment and helping our pupils achieve.

• Wage:

  Competitive

  Competitive wage offered

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Enhanced hourly rate - £10.95; £21,141.60 FTE, £18,265.71 pro rata

• Training course: Teaching assistant (level 3)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, with annual leave allowance. Working days are Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Time for study included in working hours.

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Friday 23 October 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.

• 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

Where you'll work

Murrayfield Primary
Nacton Road
Ipswich
IP3 9LJ

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 Level 3
• 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
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

• All applicants must have due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and this will be assessed as part of the recruitment and selection process
• An Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required 
• Good verbal and written English communication skills. (This will be tested as part of the application process)
• Capable in the use of IT (preferably Google suite)
• A degree of resilience and the ability to remain calm when under pressure and in challenging circumstances
• The ability to build appropriate positive relationships with children
• The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, and to work effectively as part of a team
• The ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• A commitment to getting the best outcomes for all pupils, and promoting the ethos and values of the school/trust
• The ability to adapt to differing environments within the school and to the needs of different pupils
• A commitment to ongoing professional development

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

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

This role has the potential to become permanent upon the successful completion of your Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship and end-point assessment.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE

Millie Johnson

hr@paradigmtrust.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000057048.

Apply now

Closes in 4 days (Friday 9 October 2026)

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