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Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship StandardApply Now »
Location: The RoundHouse
Years: 2
Interview: Y
Course Summary
The course will enhance apprentices’ skills in supporting children or young people’s learning in schools or colleges. It also develops their responsibilities so they can work independently with groups of children and/or equips them for supporting the learning of pupils with special educational needs. The student will also help to plan, carry out and evaluate a wide range of learning activities.
The apprenticeship is an excellent stepping-stone to a Higher Level Teaching Assistant course, Foundation Degree or higher level training. It also develops professional behaviours which are essential in the workforce.
What are the benefits:
- Develop wide-ranging skills and personal qualities to improve your career prospects in the education sector
- Develop professional behaviours expected of teaching assistants
- Earn while you learn, in a highly rewarding job
- Gain a recognised qualification respected worldwide
- Look forward to a brighter future: the majority of apprentices stay in employment and two thirds continue their career with the same employer
Entry requirements
The apprentice must be over 16 years old and have:
- An apprenticeship contract in a school or with another provider, working with children from Year 1 upwards but not adults
- Qualification entry requirements set by individual employers: typically, an apprentice might be expected to have already achieved five GCSEs, including Maths and English at grade 4/5. Some employers will accept other relevant qualifications and experience, including a relevant Level 2 qualification
Course Content
Alongside the Apprenticeship Standard for Teaching Assistants, the apprentice will study Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications in English and Maths (if these have not already been achieved at point of entry).
The Maths and English Functional Skills must be achieved prior to the end-point assessment.
Units covered include:
- Understand child and young person development
- Understand how to safeguard the wellbeing of children and young people
- Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults
- Schools as organisations
- Support children and young people’s health and safety
- Support learning activities
- Promote children and young people’s positive behaviour
- Develop professional relationships with children, young people and adults
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people
- Support assessment for learning knowledge
- Engage in personal development in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings
Additional training opportunity:
Alongside the Apprenticeship Standard, Derby College Group will also offer the opportunity for apprentices to complete the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning. This is made up of 11 units which will embed the behaviours, skills and knowledge expectations of the apprenticeship standards.
How will I be assessed?
You will be formatively assessed through a range of written tasks, presentations, developmental professional discussions, developmental observations of your skills and practice in school, reflective practice and professional and personal development plans.
If you undertake a Supporting Teaching and Learning qualification as part of your apprenticeship, you will also be assessed through this range of methods. Your Functional Skills qualifications, if needed, will be assessed through examinations.
You will attend a weekly learning session and other learning time is organised on a flexible basis to accommodate your employer’s needs and your own needs. You will normally be required to attend College to achieve the Functional Skills qualifications if you do not already hold GCSE Maths and English at grade 4 or above.
End-point Assessment
In order to evidence the Apprenticeship Standards and become an outstanding teaching assistant, you must achieve the End Point Assessment for the Apprenticeship Standards (conducted by an external End Point Assessment Centre). This involves:
- Observation
- Professional discussion
- Sharing your portfolio of evidence
Are there any additional costs or specialist equipment required?
No
What can I do after this course?
- Secure a permanent position as a teaching assistant in a school
- Progress to a Level 4 Certificate for Higher Level Teaching Assistants, or a Foundation Degree specialising in one of the pathways (Teaching Assistant, Early Years, Children and Young People, or SEND)
Did you find the course information on this page useful?
Sophie Nelson
Sophie finds true vocation thanks to Derby College
Former Derby College student Sophie Nelson is looking forward to starting a degree in occupational therapy next year. But Sophie, who has completed her Higher Level Teaching Assistants course at the Roundhouse “never in a million years” thought she would be going to university.
She said: “I wasn’t that confident in my own abilities and didn’t think I was good enough. At school I put my focus into making people laugh rather than learning but as I’ve grown up I‘ve realised the importance of studying, and that it’s never too late... I’m capable of doing everything that’s required of me on a degree course, including the referencing and academic writing. Thanks to Derby College I feel like I can do anything and would recommend the HLTA course 100%.”
Sophie who is 27 and originally from Mickleover, thought she wanted to be a police officer when she first left school so took levels 2 and 3 of the Public Services course at Broomfield Hall.
She added: “We had to do a lot of volunteering on that course so I volunteered at St Andrews Academy in Derby, a school for 11 to 19-year-olds with special educational needs. I absolutely loved it. I realised exactly what I wanted to do, so, after finishing college, I went on to work as a teaching assistant at other special schools. Before that I’d always known I wanted a job which would benefit the community, but not teach.”
To further her knowledge, Sophie enrolled on the level four course for higher level teaching assistants, which she completed in 2019.
Due to take up her place at Derby University in September 2021, she is soon to start a new job in a secondary school. In her role as student engagement and learning mentor, Sophie will be supporting students with learning difficulties resulting from social, emotional or behavioural issues.
She added: “Once I have finished my degree I would like to be an occupational therapist, specialising in supporting children with special needs to live the most fulfilling life possible. My mum worked for Leicestershire Disabled Children’s Service and at a young age I was aware of special needs and the importance of inclusion.”
I wasn’t that confident in my own abilities and didn’t think I was good enough. At school I put my focus into making people laugh rather than learning but as I’ve grown up I‘ve realised the importance of studying, and that it’s never too late... I’m capable of doing everything that’s required of me on a degree course, including the referencing and academic writing. Thanks to Derby College I feel like I can do anything and would recommend the HLTA course 100%.
