CT Skills, the apprenticeship and training providers, have expanded with a new Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship.
Working closely with the Department for Education (DfE) to provide apprenticeships across multiple sectors including education, childcare, business and accounting, the Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship is the latest addition to the CT Skills portfolio.
The new Level 5 apprenticeship for teaching, learning support and classroom assistants, as well as academic mentors, has been developed to enhance teaching support provision related to special educational needs and disability (SEND), the social and emotional well-being of learners, or within another area of specialist curriculum provision.
This could include forest schools, support for learners with English as an additional language (EAL), subject-based interventions or music education.
Alex Ford, CEO at CT Skills, said: “Specialist teaching assistants work across all age ranges, supporting a range of learners. A recent Department of Education report has identified the rise in the need for, and the expanding role of, teaching assistants both to support the rise of pupils with SEND in mainstream settings as well and the emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs of pupils further to the COVID-19 pandemic more broadly.”
The apprenticeship provides an opportunity for education and early years support professionals to continue their vocational development and focus their future careers within one of three areas of interest.
Michelle Phoenix, head of quality and curriculum at CT Skills, added: “We’ve been getting feedback for a while from our current employers and learners that enhanced training provision in this area was needed.
“With this new apprenticeship, teaching assistants can develop their theoretical and practical skills to become more equipped to manage their expanding roles, as well as have the chance to specialise in either SEND, social and emotional wellbeing or other specialist curriculum provision. It’s great that this is now available.”
The Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship is a 17-20-month programme that covers a blend of practical and theory-based learning. With on and off the job training learners will develop a portfolio of evidence and work towards a final assessment. It also opens up potential for future learning opportunities to progress to a post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) or a Batchelor Education (BEd) degree with qualified teacher status.
