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Teaching assistant

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Level 3 Teaching Assistant
 

What does a teaching assistant (TA) do?

Teaching assistants (TA) work in Primary, Special and Secondary schools or other educational settings. A TA supports the class teacher with day-to-day classroom tasks and helps children or young people with their educational and social development. 

The TAs role is to enhance pupils' learning, some teaching assistants work one-to-one, while others work in small groups.

Some schools will employ TAs with particular specialisms, for example literacy, numeracy, special educational needs (SEN), music or physical education

Promoting self-belief, social inclusion and a high self-esteem play an integral part to pupils' well being; ensuring pupils thrive in a positive, nurturing, safe environment is a large part of a TAs role.

 

 

What does their day-to-day role look like?

The roles and responsibilities of teaching assistants are varied and differ between schools. Your job can include:

  • Getting the classroom ready for lessons
  • Listening to children read
  • Helping children who need extra support to complete tasks
  • Helping teachers to plan learning activities and complete records
  • Supporting teachers in managing class behaviour
  • Supervising group activities
  • Looking after children who are upset or have had accidents
  • Helping with outings and sports events
  • Taking part in training and carrying out administrative tasks

It is also your responsibility to support pupils with particular individual needs. 

In all TA roles you will need to show empathy, patience and a positive attitude, in order to support all pupils learning. You will also have a responsibility for ensuring that they implement good practice with regards to safeguarding children and Health and Safety.

 

Career progression

As well as ensuring full competency as a Teaching Assistant, this standard provides a foundation for potential progression into a number of other roles in the Educational sector including:

  • Higher Level Teaching Assistant
  • Teacher
  • Assistant Teacher

Duration of apprenticeship

Usually, 15 to 18 months.

 

Qualifications needed prior to completion of apprenticeship

Apprentices without english or maths at level 2 must achieve this prior to taking their End Point Assessment. For those with an Education, Health and Care Plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeships english and maths minimum requirement is entry level 3. A British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to english qualifications for whom this is their primary language.

 

End Point Assessment (EPA)

When your training is complete, we will make the decision, along with your employer, to put you forward to your End Point Assessment (EPA). This is the final process in your apprenticeship, it is an assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that you would have learn throughout the apprenticeship 

This will involve an independent Assessor visiting you in your workplace to complete the following:

  1. Practical observation (with question and answer session) 
  2. Professional discussion (with portfolio of evidence included) 

Your employer, your assessor and the W2W team will support you through the EPA. For more information about the process, you can contact the W2W team at [email protected] 

When you have successfully completed your apprenticeship and passed your EPA, you will be awarded a certificate. 

 

 

Please click here to view the full scheme of work for the Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification.

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Becoming a teaching assistant is a rewarding job, not only will you be making a real difference to the lives of pupils, your work will benefit their families, the school and the local community.

 

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Take up this opportunity and we can make this career a reality for you - join our Level 3 Teaching Assistant programme today!