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Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Level 5

Support the education of learners by specialising in one of three key areas:

✅SEND

✅Social and emotional well-being

✅Curriculum provision

To join our first Specialist Teaching Assistant cohort, apply by January 19! Applications close in:

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Start Your Journey

 

 

 

Watch our recorded webinar for full details

 

Coaching

Free for Learners. Funding via Apprenticeship Levy

Master credits

Specialist Teaching

Assistant Level 5

Face-to-face events

Blended learning

Online learning

One-to-one teaching

Course duration


Course duration
18 Months

 

Price for this programme: £12,000 £0

This course is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy Fund

 

What is the Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Level 5?

The Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Level 5 is a 18-month long apprenticeship that prepares individuals to support learners across various educational settings, including primary, secondary, special schools, and further education institutions.

Specialist teaching assistants work with students of all ages, often focusing on special educational needs (SEND), social and emotional well-being, or specific curriculum areas like EAL, forest schools, or music education. The role involves planning, implementing, and adapting learning activities, while drawing on research and reflective practice.

Specialist teaching assistants build relationships with learners, families, and professionals, contributing to the development of inclusive, supportive learning environments. They are responsible for supporting both individual and group learning, ensuring student safety, and assisting with assessment and evaluation processes. Additionally, they may train and support colleagues in their specialist area.

Specialist teaching assistants choose from three main pathways:

  • SEND – Supporting learners with special educational needs and disabilities.
  • Social and Emotional Well-being – Focusing on mental health and emotional support.
  • Curriculum Provision – Specialising in subject-specific interventions such as early reading or maths, forest school, or EAL.

Specialist teaching assistants work under the supervision of qualified teachers but may take on additional responsibilities depending on the setting.

How is this programme delivered?

The programme spans 18 months, during which you will engage in a range of activities alongside your employment:

  • Interactive online learning
  • One-to-one support with your apprenticeship tutor
  • Independent learning through online learning materials
  • Employer/mentor reviews throughout the whole programme
  • End Point Assessments at the end of the programme which will demonstrate your knowledge

 

Watch the recording of our latest webinar here: 

 

FAQs

 Who is eligible for this apprenticeship?

Candidates must be working in a suitable role relevant to their chosen specialism, have UK residency for over three years, and complete Level 2 Maths and English while on programme before Gateway Review, if not already qualified..

 What are the specialisms offered?

The apprenticeship includes SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), social and emotional well-being, and curriculum provision. Each specialism has tailored group sessions to support targeted development.

 What are the progression routes after this apprenticeship?

Pathways include moving towards HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) status or considering a Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship if teaching is a goal.

 What are the employer responsibilities for this apprenticeship?

Employers need to provide six hours of off-the-job training per week, offer a mentor, and facilitate the apprentice’s monthly virtual sessions and overall development.

 How is the programme funded?

It’s fully funded for those working in local authority schools or those paying into the apprenticeship levy. For non-levy payers, the government offers co-funding, covering 95% of the cost, or levy transfers are available for additional support.

 More questions?

Check out our collated list of over 20 questions answered! 

More FAQs

 

 

 

What will I learn on the Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Level 5?

Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours

The Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship equips experienced teaching assistants with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) needed to excel in supporting students with diverse needs.

Designed to help you specialise in areas such as SEND, behaviour management, and inclusive education, this programme offers a structured pathway to deepen your expertise while continuing to work in your current role. Below are the key KSBs you will develop throughout the apprenticeship:

 Knowledge

K1: Statutory and non-statutory curriculum frameworks relevant to the provision.

K2: Statutory and non-statutory health, safety and well-being frameworks relevant to the provision, including safeguarding.

K3: Policies, processes, and procedures related to the collecting, storing, and sharing of information.

K4: The principles of equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion, and why these are important.

K5: The principles of sustainability within the education context.

K6: Theories of learning, their application and implications for learning.

K7: Typical patterns of child development and age-related expectations. How these differ for individual learners and the implication of these.

K8: Sources of information on research informed evidence-based practice.

K9: The difference between curriculum, assessment and pedagogy and why this is important when planning.

K10: Rationale, methods, and approaches to planning for learning.

K11: Teaching strategies to advance learning.

K12: Barriers to learning and strategies to overcome them.

K13: Principles and different methods of assessment and observation.

K14: Methods of recording and reporting on assessments.

K15: The features of enabling environments.

K16: The principles of behaviours for learning.

K17: The principles of and approaches to learner voice.

K18: The purpose, impact, and safe use of equipment and resources to advance learning.

K19: The additional professional support available for learners.

K20: The additional professional support available for their specialist role.

K21: The principles of effective teamwork.

K22: Know how and when to escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice.

K23: The principles and impact of relationships, effective working and communication with learners, parents or carers and stakeholders.

K24: The principles of effective coaching and mentoring and the difference between them.

K25: The principles and importance of reflective practice.

K26: Know and understand strategies to develop resilience in self and others.

K27: Know how research findings are used to inform practices in education.

K28: The importance of social cultural context on learning, including the factors that may lead to inequalities in access to education.

K29: The appropriate digital and emerging technologies, and their applications to support learning.

K30: National and local SEND policies, practices, processes, and procedures.

K31: The theoretical background to a range of SEND, for example ASD, attachment and trauma and dyslexia.

K32: Principles and approaches to early identification of SEND.

K33: The tools available for assessment of SEND.

K34: The impact of SEND on children and young peoples’ learning and development.

K35: Strategies to advance learning for learners with a range of SEND.

K36: National and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to social and emotional well-being of learners.

K37: The theoretical background to support social and emotional well-being in educational contexts.

K38: Principles and approaches to the promotion of social and emotional well-being in educational contexts.

K39: The tools available to promote social and emotional well-being to advance learning.

K40: The impact of social and emotional well-being on children and young people’s learning and development.

K41: Strategies to advance social and emotional well-being in learning and assessment contexts.

K42: National and local curriculum policies, practices, processes, and procedures.

K43: The theoretical background to progression in the specific curriculum area(s).

K44: Principles and approaches to planning sequences of learning in the specific curriculum area(s).

K45: The tools available for assessment within the specific curriculum area(s) to advance learning.

K46: The importance of the specific curriculum area(s) on children and young peoples’ learning and development.

K47: Strategies to promote the specific curriculum area(s) within the educational context for the benefit of children and young people.

 Skills

S1: Act in line with policies, processes, and procedures related to statutory frameworks and non-statutory guidance, including safeguarding, implementing the setting’s behaviour policy.

S2: Establish a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment for learners.

S3: Establish nurturing, effective working relationships with learners, parents or carers and stakeholders.

S4: Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity and sustainable development.

S5: Undertake dynamic risk assessment of the learning environment.

S6: Respond to and mitigate potential hazards that may adversely affect a learning environment.

S7: Contribute to the planning of learning and assessment activities.

S8: Apply teaching strategies to advance learning, for example scaffolding.

S9: Select and use safely, appropriate equipment and resources to advance learning.

S10: Apply an appropriate range of assessment methods, including formative, summative and individual needs-based assessments.

S11: Analyse assessment outcomes to inform reporting and future planning.

S12: Provide ongoing feedback to learners and support them to respond to feedback.

S13: Record and report information related to learners’ progress to a range of stakeholders.

S14: Collaborate with colleagues and other professionals.

S15: Advocate for and champion the needs of learners.

S16: Use a range of research to critically evaluate teaching and assessment approaches and practices.

S17: Critically evaluate a variety of teaching and assessment methods depending on the learning environments and learners’ needs.

S18: Improve own practice by undertaking continuous self-reflection including seeking and responding to feedback from varied sources.

S19: Update and maintain their own knowledge and skills as part of managing their own continuing professional development.

S20: Communicate information and analysis in a variety of forms to reflect the needs of the audience, for example by providing appropriate advice and guidance to parents or carers.

S21: Support the development of effective practices in others, for example through mentoring and coaching colleagues.

S22: Identify, action, and challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.

S23: Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the appropriate actions required to minimise risks to professional well-being.

S24: Implement strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.

S25: Select and use technologies safely and effectively to promote learning.

S26: Prioritise and manage own workload, for example recognising the importance of capacity.

S27: Implement national and local SEND policy, practices, processes, and procedures.

S28: Apply approaches to the assessment and early identification of SEND.

S29: Apply strategies to adapt provision and practices to support learners with SEND.

S30: Implement national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to social and emotional well-being.

S31: Identify and signpost learners in need of social and emotional well-being intervention.

S32: Apply strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.

S33: Implement national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to the specific curriculum provision.

S34: Adapt planning and assessment to support learning and progress in the specific area of curriculum provision.

S35: Support colleagues by advocating for the specific curriculum provision.

 Behaviours

B1: Model ethical, fair, consistent, and impartial behaviours, by valuing inclusion, equity, equality and diversity within professional contexts.

B2: Act professionally, positively, and proactively.

B3: Show respect, care, approachability and empathy for children, colleagues and stakeholders.

B4: Adaptable and resilient.

B5: Eager to develop as a practitioner, by being receptive and open to challenge and constructive criticism.

B6: Model appropriately aspirational practices.

 

 

 

 

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