Apprenticeship progression pathways for aspiring or experienced teaching assistants
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn on the job and enhance your skills and expertise by carrying out practical learning activities, supported by the latest research and theory.
Whether you’ve never worked in a school before or have years of TA experience under you belt, our teaching assistant apprenticeship pathway offers you the ability take control of your career.
- Earn while you learn
- Develop your skills: SEMH, literacy, Speech, Language & Communication Needs, other special educational needs
- Gain a respected nationally recognised TA qualification
- Train at no-cost to your school*
- Progress from Level 3 to Level 5 including our new Assistant SENCO programme!
*Most schools can use Levy funding to pay for 100% of apprenticeship training.
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your first teaching
assistant role?
We also work with partner schools looking to hire apprentices.
Why study a teaching assistant apprenticeship with us?
Highly rated by schools and TAs
Learners enjoy the chance to network with other TAs and rate the high-quality support provided by our tutors.
Ofsted outstanding provision
Our directors, tutors and curriculum leads are all qualified teachers who have had successful school careers, bringing real classroom expertise to our apprenticeships.
Special educational needs (SEND) experts
We draw on the combined expertise of ESF tutors and educational psychologists, SENCOs and other experts from our parent company. Extend your knowledge even further with our SEND Masterclasses.
More TA qualifications and specialisms
From Elklan to ELSA, we’re always on the lookout to add something extra to our apprenticeships, while keeping things flexible for our learners.
“Since starting this apprenticeship, I’ve become much more confident in adapting resources and supporting children – especially those with additional needs. The support from tutors and the wider ESF team has been exceptional. A truly outstanding training experience. Thank you.”
Explore our teaching assistant progression pathway
NEW HIRE / UPSKILL
Level 3 Teaching Assistant with a SEND Focus
Suitable for both new and existing TAs, this programme covers both theory of childhood development and practical skills to support teachers. Provides foundational knowledge of how to support children with SEND.
NEW HIRE / UPSKILL
Level 3 Teaching Assistant with a PE, Health & Wellbeing Focus
Develops knowledge and understanding of how to plan, differentiate and deliver high-quality PE lessons, as well as the skills and knowledge required to be an effective “all-round” teaching assistant.
NEW HIRE / UPSKILL
Level 2 Community Activator (Working in a School)
A Community Activator supports the PE team to promote, deliver, and inspire children with fun, inclusive activities. You’ll help nurture a positive environment and engage pupils in sporting initiatives, such as the Daily Mile, after-school clubs and more.
UPSKILL / NEW HIRE
Level 4 Sports Coach (Working in a School)
A programme designed to enhance the skillset of existing PE specialists to enable them to become a more impactful, and strategically-minded sports coach, building independence within a school setting.
UPSKILL
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant: SEND
A new progression pathway for experienced teaching assistants to improve outcomes and advance their careers. Gain advanced skills to help children with special educational needs and gain HLTA status (optional).
UPSKILL
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant: Language and Literacy
Gain the skills to provide whole-class, group or individual support for pupils with literacy challenges or speech, language and communication needs, under supervision of a speech and language therapist.
UPSKILL
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant: Literacy
Help every child learn to read. Learners will enhance their planning, preparation and assessment skills, and become more confident in to support individual, small group and whole class literacy learning.
UPSKILL
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant: Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Learn how to support pupils’ SEMH needs. Train to become an ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants). These are sought-after practitioners who are trained by Educational Psychologists to deliver targeted mental health support.
UPSKILL
Assistant SENCO Programme
Comprehensive training designed to help learners step into the assistant SENCo role, or enhance skills and knowledge if they are already in this position. Available exclusively through ESF Apprenticeships and Real Training.
UPSKILL
Level 5 Speech, Language and Communications Leadership Programme
Enables teachers and TAs to lead communication interventions across their setting, drive strategic change, and provide a vital link with specialist services. Includes the Higher Level Communications Practitioner award.
UPSKILL / NEW HIRE
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A programme designed to enhance the skillset of existing PE specialists to enable them to become a more impactful, and strategically-minded sports coach, building independence within a school setting.
UPSKILL
Level 7 Advanced SEND Leader Programme
Build your strategic leadership skills and feel more confident and better equipped to lead SEND provision in your school. You will receive leadership coaching, learn about managing SEND finances and keep abreast of SEND policy updates.
NEW HIRE / UPSKILL
Level 2 Early Years Practitioner
A practical, effective, way to start a fulfilling career in early years education, with a comprehensive introduction to working with children from birth to five years old.
NEW HIRE / UPSKILL
Level 3 Early Years Educator
Ensure a safe, secure and inclusive environment for children’s learning. Deepen your knowledge and skills around observations, assessment and the planning cycle for toddlers, babies, pre-schoolers or reception classes.
SEND Masterclasses
Exclusive invitations to interactive sessions led by an expert in SEND and inclusion.
Benefit from high-impact sessions for schools and nurseries. You’ll be brought up to date in various aspects of SEND and mental health by leading speech and language therapists, dyslexia assessors, educational psychologists, autism specialists and a range of other experts.
- Held every six weeks during term time (attendance optional)
- 2-3 hours presentation and interaction
- Your chance to ask the expert!
- Downloadable resources
- Recordings available on-demand
What our apprentices say
Teaching assistant apprenticeship FAQs
What does a teaching assistant typically earn?
According to data from the National Careers Service, the average teaching assistant salary in the UK starts at £21k for entry-level positions rising to £25k for more experienced staff.
Higher-level teaching assistants (HLTAs) typically go on to earn anywhere between £24k – £29k, although data from Talent.com suggests the average HLTA salary in 2025 is £24,700.
Do I need qualifications to become a teaching assistant?
While you don’t necessarily have to have qualifications in order to become a teaching assistant, it is looked upon favourably by many schools and shows your commitment to the role.
Entry requirements may vary for each teaching assistant apprenticeship, but typically require you to have GCSE English and maths at Grade 4 (Grade C) or above, or be actively working towards a Level 2 Functional Skills qualification whilst on your apprenticeship.
How much is a teaching assistant apprenticeship?
If you choose to study for an apprenticeship, it is highly likely your school (as your employer) will be able to fully fund this using their apprenticeship levy.
Accredited Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications through awarding bodies such as the National Council for Further Education (NCFE) and the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE) or Training Qualifications UK (TQUK), are likely to be around the £400 – £800 mark.
Should I do a teaching assistant apprenticeship or an online teaching assistant course?
You will find that there’s a range of short, off-the-shelf online courses for teaching assistants that cover the absolute basics but won’t go into any particular depth. Some don’t include tutor support and some aren’t accredited by a formal body.
If you are looking to obtain a NCFE CACHE Level 2 or Level 3 diploma in supporting teaching and learning or your Level 5 HLTA qualification, there are a number of training providers that offer good quality online courses. However, these are likely to be considerably more expensive than apprenticeships, which can be funded through the Apprenticeship Levy. You also won’t benefit from a mentor based in your school, which is required to undertake an apprenticeship. Some diplomas may draw more heavily on theory and not necessarily require much of your study to be applied to your particular setting as would be the case studying for an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship programmes provide:
- Fully funded training, typically at minimal or no cost whatsoever to employers
- Opportunities for TAs to apply their new knowledge to practical projects that have a real impact
- Project opportunities that make an active and immediate impact in your role and to the students you support
- A true partnership between the apprenticeship provider, host school and teaching assistant
- An opportunity to come together with other teaching assistant apprentices to reflect on your work, allowing you to support each other and share ideas.
“As a former teacher I’m acutely aware of the vital role teaching assistants play. TAs bring the energy and determination to inspire and support our young people and I will always be an advocate for better career opportunities.”
Jo Pountney is a member of Skills England trailblazer group for the Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship.