Apprentice Teaching Assistant in Early Years/Reception Class

Holbrook School for Autism

Belper (DE56 0TE)

Closes in 14 days (Sunday 9 November 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 24 October 2025


Summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a passion for supporting children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder to work with our youngest students in our Early Years/Reception class.

Wage

£19,230 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Term time only, 39 weeks per year (Derbyshire County Council Term Dates) £10.00 to £12.21 per hour Term-time only pro rata wage: At £10.00/hour: £12,675.00 At £12.21/hour: £15,475.58

Training course
Teaching assistant (level 3)
Hours
· Monday 8.30am to 3.15pm · Tuesday 8.30am to 3.15pm · Wednesday 8.30am to 4.30pm (including staff CPD time) · Thursday 8.30am to 3.15pm · Friday 8.30am to 3.15pm Released for time to attend college (paid).

32 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 December 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

  • Support pupils in class groups with class lead directed tasks
  • Assist with behaviour management and regulation
  • Contribute to pupil records under supervision
  • Set out, manage and tidy learning resources
  • Observe and report on pupil performance
  • Support the planning of learning activities as directed by the class lead
  • Promote pupils' social and emotional development
  • Support personal care and maintain health and safety standards
  • Support the use of IT in learning
  • Promote independence and positive behaviour
  • Liaise professionally with staff and parents
  • Follow all relevant school policies
  • Engage in CPD, including coaching
  • Work cooperatively with all colleagues and contribute to a consistent team around each pupil

Where you'll work

Holbrook School for Autism
Portway
Belper
DE56 0TE

Training

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

Training provider

DCG

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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

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

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

Full UK Driving Licence due to location (grade Pass)

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
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Commitment to confidentiality
  • Commitment to safeguarding
  • Positive attitude
  • Flexibility
  • Reliability
  • Follow instruction
  • Professional conduct
  • Model positive behaviour
  • Calm
  • Supportive

Other requirements

Due to the nature of the students, the school can be a challenging environment at times, and the role does require the individual to support with toileting daily and on occasion support with physical interventions.

About this employer

Holbrook School for Autism provides specialist education and care for students aged 4–19, across two sites in Holbrook (Portway) and Belper (Whitemoor). With 159 students enrolled, the school also offers a residential facility at the Portway site. This facility provides accommodation for up to 28 students per week, Monday to Thursday, during term time. Our curriculum is carefully designed around five pathways - Raindrops, Stream, River, Ocean, and Waterfalls - to meet the unique needs of every student. It focuses on preparing them for life beyond school, fostering independence, and enabling progress at their own pace.

https://www.holbrookschoolforautism.co.uk/home-page-2/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

There would be an opportunity to continue in a teaching assistant role following completion of the course.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DCG

Isabelle Torrance

isabelle.torrance@derby-college.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000348205.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Sunday 9 November 2025 at 11:59pm)

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