Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship – Level 3

Course content

The apprentice will study the core knowledge, skills and behaviours as laid out in the apprenticeship plan. This will include understanding how pupils learn and develop, working with teachers to support assessment, and support learning whilst keeping pupils safe. You will also develop your knowledge and skills for communication strategies and teamwork, problem solving, motivating pupils and the importance of technology to enhance learning.

Course assessment

Apprentices are required to attend college once a week, either at Cannock or Tamworth, and the rest of the training will take place in the workplace with in-house training provided by the employer. Our teaching assistant assessor will visit and observe the apprentice in practice.

Knowledge – The apprentice will attend college-based classes and be able to access the college’s online learning environment where specially prepared learning materials are available.

Skills and Behaviours – This training will be led by the employer in the workplace. Our assessors will visit the workplace to observe the apprentice undertaking their normal on-the-job duties, and complete reviews to make sure the apprentice is staying on track with their work. In conjunction with the employer and the apprentice, the assessor will develop an action plan to show what knowledge units are being studied, what evidence needs to be prepared, as well as the time and date of the assessor visits.

End Point Assessment – The EPA for teaching assistants contains 2 methods of assessment as outlined below:

• Practical Observation with Questions and Answers – The practical observation will be carried out over 90 minutes and will take place in the apprentice’s workplace. A Q&A session will take place once the final observation has been completed and will last for 20 minutes.
• Professional Discussion – This is a structured discussion of 90 minutes which will establish the apprentice’s understanding and application of the knowledge, skills and behaviours identified in the assessment plan. A portfolio of evidence will be completed during the on-programme learning and will be used to prepare for the professional discussion.

Benefits to employers

Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way for an organisation to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. Hiring an apprentice can help you improve productivity and reduce staff turnover.

There’s a wide selection of apprenticeships available, covering lots of different job roles to help you choose a qualification that suits your business needs. This helps you match the skills of the employees to the skills that you need.

Employer Fees

If you have less than 50 staff and the apprentice is between 16-18 then the apprenticeship will be fully funded, you will only need to pay for the apprentice’s wages. If you choose to recruit an apprentice who is 19 or above, you will be required to pay 5% of the cost of the apprenticeship (the government will fund 95%).

If you are a large employer with 50+ staff, you will be required to fund 5% of the apprenticeship cost regardless of the age of the learner.

Employers with a wage bill of over £3 million will pay the cost of the apprenticeship through the apprenticeship levy.

Benefits to apprentices

As an apprentice you will work alongside experienced, skilled staff, you will gain job-specific skills and training, you will earn a wage and get holiday pay whilst you train.

As well as ensuring full competency as a teaching assistant, this standard provides a foundation for potential progression into a number of career paths in the educational sector, including higher level teaching assistant, assistant teacher and teacher.