Teaching Assistant Apprenticeships
Explore a rewarding career pathway as a Teaching Assistant
Ready to roll up your sleeves, extend your skillset and make a lasting impact on young learners?
Whether you are just starting out, or looking to develop in the role, a new range of teaching assistant apprenticeships are offering high-quality training that can be fully funded through the Government’s levy.
Developed and led by former teaching professionals, our apprenticeships are the perfect blend of theory and practical assignments – designed to strengthen support in school settings where it’s needed most.
Why choose Educational and Sporting Futures for your teaching assistant training?
Make an impact
Grow your TA career however you wantChoose to focus on PE, Health and Wellbeing, SEND, Literacy or Social and Emotional Mental Health
OFSTED Outstanding training
Led by former teachersAll of our tutors are current or former teachers and experts at helping TAs succeed
Backed by SEND experts
Find out how we work with Real GroupWe collaborate with Real Group’s Educational Psychologists and SEND experts to provide the latest insights into child development
Rated "Excellent"
by learners and schoolsAccording to independent reviews on the GOV.uk website
Find out more about apprenticeships
Get in touch with our team if you’re interested in studying a Teaching Assistant apprenticeship or if you’re an employer looking to recruit or upskill your staff.
01784 222300
Explore our Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Courses
Level 3 Teaching Assistant with a SEND focus
Develop classroom-based knowledge and skills to support the teacher. Learn the essential skills to help pupils with a variety of needs, including autism, ADHD and Dyslexia.
Includes access to SEND masterclasses.
Level 3 Teaching Assistant with a PE, Health and Wellbeing Focus
If you are passionate about sports and supporting children’s wellbeing, this Level 3 apprenticeship will help you develop both a classroom and PE-focused skillset.
Includes access to SEND masterclasses.
Level 2 Community Activator
The Community Activator Coach promotes, delivers, and coaches fun, inclusive, and engaging activities. They play a key role in nurturing a positive environment to support pupils.
Includes access to SEND masterclasses.
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant - SEND Specialism
Develop a more advanced understanding of SEND and further develop the skills to support vulnerable learners. All of our Level 5 Specialist apprenticeships come with an optional extension to gain HLTA status.
Includes access to SEND masterclasses.
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant - Literacy Specialism
Gain the skills and knowledge you need to help all children learn to read. You’ll learn how to plan, prepare, deliver and evaluate learning and assessment activities to support individual, small group and whole class literacy learning.
Includes access to SEND masterclasses.
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant - Social and Emotional Wellbeing Specialism
Become an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA). Gain access to specialist training delivered by Educational Psychologists and make a real difference to the mental wellbeing of young people.
Includes access to SEND masterclasses.
Exclusive access to SEND masterclasses
Benefit from monthly training sessions delivered by practising SEND experts and leading voices.
Our online workshops will focus on the following:
Why embark on a teaching assistant apprenticeship?
- Earn while you learn: A teaching assistant apprenticeship is focused on on-the-job training, enabling you to develop real skills in real-time. You learn directly from experienced staff while applying new knowledge immediately in the classroom.
- Land your first job, or upskill in your role: We can help match you to a school looking to hire a new apprentice or help you take the next step in your career.
- Typically no cost to your school: If you are already employed by a school it is highly likely they will be able to use the Apprenticeship levy to fund your training.
- Nationally recognised qualification, encouraged by the DfE: A teaching assistant apprenticeship combines practical skills and theoretical knowledge.
- Engaging way to learn: This style of learning involves on-the-job training, an easy-to-manage online study programme and a few in-person workshops. TA apprenticeships are designed to either introduce you to working in a school or improve what you are already doing, allowing you to quickly make a greater impact.
- Start your teaching assistant career pathway: Progress from your Level 3 Apprenticeship to the Level 5 Apprenticeship, with the option of gaining HLTA status. Some of our previous alumni have even successfully gone on to train to become teachers.
- Benefit from professional support and mentoring: Apprentices benefit from structured support, including a dedicated mentor both at ESF Apprenticeships and within your school and regular feedback to help you grow and succeed in your role.
“As a former teacher, I’m acutely aware of the vital role teaching assistants play.
TAs bring the skills, energy and determination to inspire and support our young people and I will always be an advocate for better career opportunities.”
Jo Pountney is Co-Founder of Educational and Sporting Futures and a member of the iFATE trailblazer group for the Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship.
Testimonials – Teaching Assistant Apprenticeships
“A lot of my work revolves around supporting children with SEND. I’ve done previous studies in education but I felt this [apprenticeship] would particularly benefit the pupils I support.
So far, the course has been brilliant!”
“Supporting children’s physical and mental needs is something I’m so passionate about and I feel like I’m a positive role model to the children.
Really happy that I’ve joined and the support from ESF has been brilliant. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”
“I work in a SEN secondary school and I love it! I’ve learned so much from my apprenticeship – all of it relevant to my job. I’m an older learner and changed careers later on. I did wonder if I could learn at my age but I absolutely can. My ESF tutor was amazing and so supportive.”
Employer feedback
“When we were looking for a training provider to support us with upskilling current staff, Educational and Sporting Futures seemed the perfect choice! They came highly recommended by other primary schools in the area.
At present six of our staff are undertaking Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeships. They relish the opportunity to engage in fortnightly professional development which in turn is helping them to support our pupils to an even higher standard.
They are always talking to one another about their studies, sharing ideas, top tips and good practice and it has been so rewarding to see our staff engaging in such a high-quality qualification.”
Explore current teaching assistant vacancies from our partner schools
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 be 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.
How much is a teaching assistant qualification?
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.
Why TA apprenticeship verses 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.
Educational and Sporting Futures
Business Technology Centre
Bessemer Drive
SG1 2DX
Telephone: 01784 222300
