Teaching Assistant Apprentice

Pipers Vale Academy

Suffolk (IP3 0EW)

Closes in 25 days (Monday 1 June 2026)

Posted on 6 May 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

  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 52 weeks per year with annual leave allowance. Working days Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. Time for study 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.

• Supporting the Trust’s aims and ethos
•  Providing targeted support to any individuals and groups, including those pupils with English as an additional language or special educational needs, as required
• 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
• Supporting the organisation of the learning environment, including the production, maintenance, and storage of resources
• Meeting regularly with the assistant principal, SEND manager, and/or teachers during contracted hours to discuss pupils’ progress and to plan and review support
• Attending formal meetings during contracted hours to discuss pupils’ progress with parents/carers and other professionals as part of the relevant staff group
• Undertaking supervision of playground activities as directed
• Undertaking care tasks relating to pupils’ physical welfare in accordance with national guidance and procedures
•  Accompanying pupils and teachers on educational visits during contracted hours
• Ensuring that an appropriate level of spoken and written English is modelled with pupils at all times
• 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
• Actively participating in the Trust’s performance management scheme, as specified in the school policy, meeting regularly with the postholder’s line manager, in accordance with the scheme, ensuring that performance standards and targets are set and met within the agreed time scale
• Undertaking relevant and appropriate professional development during contracted hours
• Attending staff meetings within contracted hours, as required
• Making proactive and regular use of communication arrangements within the Trust, including email, so as to stay up to date and informed
• Undertaking other similar duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the post
• Actively supporting and complying with all Trust policies and procedures e.g., health and safety, equal opportunities, child protection and behaviour

Where you'll work

Piper’s Vale Primary Academy
Raeburn Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP3 0EW

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

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

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

Gabby Scarlioli

hr@paradigmtrust.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000029932.

Apply now

Closes in 25 days (Monday 1 June 2026)

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