Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship – Level 3

Apprenticeships are real jobs – with plenty of hands on experience, a salary and chance to qualify in your chosen profession alongside a robust programme of study with further opportunities to move onto a higher level programme following completion at level 3.

Teaching Assistants can work in Primary, Secondary and Further education settings with a range of pupils aged from 5+ and with a range of needs.  The primary role of the Teaching Assistant is to support the lead class teacher in enhancing a pupil’s learning either via groups or individually. They will be required to ensure pupils know their learning objectives, understand the work set and help them to make progress.  Individual needs must always be supported.

The TA apprenticeship is 18 months of learning plus up to a further 3 months for the End Point Assessment.  Prior learning can be considered and may reduce the timescale.  TA apprentices are supported by an industry trained assessor and teacher as well as a workplace mentor.  TA apprentices gain knowledge, skills and behaviours both in the workplace and “off the job”.

The statutory requirement to complete “off the job” hours can be fulfilled termtime in college one day a week or via a Twighlight session (3.15-6pm),  subject to the workplace requirement.  These sessions include teacher and assessor input.  In addition the assessor will visit the workplace to assess practical competencies inline with the skills and behaviours that form part of the TA apprenticeship standard

Every 10 weeks, the assessor will review progress and set targets in partnership with the apprentice and workplace mentor.  Upon completion of learning (18 months), the portfolio of work is moved to the “Gateway”, which, if accepted, moves to the End Point Assessment stage (EPA).  Full support from the assessor is given throughout the EPA process.

The EPA is made up of two appointments.   A 90 mins observation of practice in the workplace followed by a Q&A and a Professional Discussion of 90 mins where at least 10 questions are asked to generate a free flow, two way conversation where the apprentice will demonstrate the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours of the TA apprenticeship standard.  Both assessments are graded as a Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction.