Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship PE, Health and Wellbeing Focus

We have developed a blended teaching and learning model which works for busy school professionals.

Scheduled release time:

• Three hours every fortnight for live online learning with an experienced teacher.
• Three full day, face-to-face practical central training events a year. Please note that the face-to-face events are located in Stevenage, Hertfordshire or, for those who are further than 1 hour travel time, we offer a morning virtual session.

Flexible release time:

• Learners will have access to our self-paced online learning platform full of resources, activities, research and ideas.
• They will also complete practical projects that can be carried out in a classroom/school sports environment and will be of direct benefit to your pupils and your school.
• They will also need to have release time for regular progress reviews with their ESF tutor and school mentor to set new targets and celebrate success. These are short sessions that will take place every 12 weeks (as a minimum).
• Our SEND Masterclasses are 2-3 hour live online sessions held every six weeks during term time. Attendance is optional and recordings are also available.

A training calendar at the start of the programme will be provided, showing all training dates.

If you pay the Growth and Skills levy (formerly known as the Apprenticeship Levy), your bursar, business manager, or finance team should be able to tell you the next steps.

Local Authority schools can access funding from their council’s shared levy pot, even if their payroll is below the threshold, by contacting the Local Authority’s Apprenticeship Team.

• Multi-academy Trusts with a wage bill over £3m should contact their central finance or HR team.
• Voluntary Controlled schools should approach their Local Authority.
• Voluntary-aided and Foundation schools (non-levy paying) can access 95% government funding, with further support potentially available from the Local Authority or via levy transfer.

If your business is not required to pay the Apprenticeship Levy, you can still receive significant financial support from the government for apprenticeship training.

The Government funds 95% of the apprenticeship training cost.
Your business contributes the remaining 5%.

It may be possible to have this 5% contribution covered by a “Levy Transfer” from a larger organisation, meaning the training could be fully funded.

We can help guide you through this process.

• You’ll need to provide a formal employment contract covering the duration of the apprenticeship
• An apprentice must be paid at least the minimum apprenticeship wage in their first year of learning
• Apprentices aged 19+ must be paid at least the minimum wage for their age group in their second year of learning
• You must assign a school mentor who will participate in termly progress reviews and complete a final “Employer Review” assessing the apprentice’s professional behaviours. Apprentices will gain experience through hands-on tasks and research projects, with much of this learning occurring in the classroom or where PE sessions are taking place. Mentors will also need to carry out some observations during the course of the apprenticeship.
• Mentors will need to support the end-point assessment process by attending a “gateway meeting” and assisting with planning the assessment day, which typically takes only a few hours.

Over the years we’ve seen a variety of different people mentor Level 3 Teaching Assistants, from SENCOs to classroom teachers to other PE specialists. 

A good student mentor is someone who provides guidance, support, and encouragement to help students succeed academically and personally. They are effective communicators, active listeners, and role models who foster a positive and trusting relationship with their learner. Key qualities include empathy, patience, and a genuine desire to help students grow.