Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship (Level 3) - SEND

LORD LAWSON OF BEAMISH ACADEMY

CHESTER LE STREET (DH3 2LP)

Closes in 26 days (Monday 8 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 12 August 2025


Summary

To work under the guidance and instruction of designated teaching and senior staff to undertake work, care and support programmes, to enable access to learning for students and to assist the teacher in the management of students and the classroom. To contribute to raising standards of student achievement.

Wage

£14,526.20 to £23,492.04, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

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Training course
Teaching assistant (level 3)
Hours
Contracted number of hours per week: 37 Working week: Monday to Friday Contract Type: Permanent, Term Time Only

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

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

  • To provide physical and communication support using modes of communication appropriate to the individual needs of the child, establishing productive working relationships with students.
  • To provide communication support to enable full access to the curriculum and any extracurricular activities e.g. lessons, assemblies, parents’ evenings, reviews and visits.
  • To work with individuals and groups of students with additional needs to support access to the curriculum.
  • To administer and assess routine tests under direction of the SENDCo/teacher.
  • To monitor the progress of identified students, keep written records consistent with academy systems and provide the teacher with feedback on students’ progress in relation to provision.
  • To provide support in a manner which facilitates the child’s cognitive development by removing barriers to learning.
  • To clarify, modify and adapt materials to an appropriate level according to need.
  • To promote students’ inclusion within school by promoting their independence in communication, learning and social skills.
  • Under the guidance of the SENDCo/teacher, contribute to setting individual targets and reviewing those targets.  Attend and contribute to EHCP meetings to review students’ progress and contribute to written reports.
  • To ensure the physical welfare of students and assist students with their physical needs as appropriate and agreed in accordance with their plan e.g., assisting with lifting, moving and handling, intimate care.
  • To liaise with professionals and external agencies where necessary under the direction of the SENDCo/teacher.
  • To provide support for students’ emotional and social development by encouraging and modelling positive behaviour and dealing with disruption as agreed in the academy’s Behaviour Management Policy.
  • To contribute to developing programmes of support for identified students.
  • To provide organisational support for the effective assessment and delivery of examination access arrangements in line with JCQ standards.
  • To invigilate examinations/tests as required

Where you'll work

BIRTLEY LANE
BIRTLEY
CHESTER LE STREET
DH3 2LP

Training

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

Training provider

GATESHEAD 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

Weekly day release at Gateshead College, working towards a Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprenticeship standard.

More training information

18 month apprenticeship plus 3 months for end point assessment (EPA)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Positive attitude
  • Reliable
  • Willingness to learn

Other requirements

Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

About this employer

Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy is a larger-than-average mixed secondary school in the town of Birtley. The school role is usually around 1450 students, including around 200 in the sixth form. The school occupies a large site, elevated above the east side of the town. Birtley is situated in the borough of Gateshead and is between Gateshead and Chester-le-Street. Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy is a stand-alone academy, with no affiliation to other schools or academy trusts. Secondary schools in Gateshead work closely together, with one another, with their cluster of primary schools and with the local authority. The school was founded in 1970 as an amalgamation of three previous secondary schools. The present school building was opened in September 2007, built as part of the government’s Private Finance Initiative. The building was constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine and is very well maintained. It provides good-sized classrooms and excellent facilities for learning.

https://lordlawson.academy/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Potential for further training to become a Higher Level Teaching Assistant or support to apply for teacher training programmes.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

GATESHEAD COLLEGE

Apprenticeships

apprenticeships@gateshead.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000336713.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Monday 8 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

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