Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship: Literacy Specialism

Specialist Teaching Assistant apprentices will benefit from an interesting and diverse programme.

1. Regulation and guidance

• Understand the essential regulations, policies, and procedures relevant to your educational setting
• Learn how to maintain the health, safety, and well-being of all learners, with a focus on safeguarding and data protection
• Reflect on the importance of understanding and implementing statutory and non-statutory guidance, promoting a safe and supportive learning environment for everyone

2. Advancing learning

• Understand the theories of learning and child development, and how they apply to individual learners
• Gain insights on different teaching and assessment methods, and how to use them effectively to advance learning
• Learn how to identify and overcome barriers to learning, and create an inclusive learning environment
• Develop skills in planning, implementing and adapting activities that promote learning and development

3. Planning and assessment

• Develop a deep understanding of the principles and purposes of assessment, including formative, summative, and individual needs-based assessments
• Learn how to effectively plan and implement assessment strategies to monitor learner progress and inform future teaching
• Gain skills in analysing and interpreting assessment data to identify individual learning needs and adjust instructional approaches accordingly
• Enhance your ability to provide constructive feedback to learners, fostering their growth and development
• Understand the importance of record-keeping and reporting assessment outcomes to relevant stakeholders

4. Professionalism

• Understand the importance of professionalism, ethical behaviour, and maintaining confidentiality
• Develop skills in resilience, adaptability, self-reflection and continuous professional development
• Learn strategies for managing workload and maintaining well-being, recognising the importance of personal capacity
• Embrace feedback and constructive criticism, showing a willingness to learn and grow as a practitioner
• Model ethical, fair, consistent, and impartial behaviours, valuing inclusion, equity, equality, and diversity

5. Communication

• Develop effective communication skills to interact with students, colleagues, and other stakeholders
• Learn how to adapt communication styles to suit different audiences and situations
• Understand the importance of active listening and responding appropriately
• Enhance your ability to provide clear and constructive feedback
• Gain skills in using various communication methods, including verbal, written, and non-verbal communication

The final strand of the programme content will be focussed on specialist literacy knowledge, skills and behaviours.

In your role as a literacy specialist, you will develop and implement effective literacy lessons and interventions tailored to student needs. You’ll enhance understanding of literacy assessment and its integration into lesson planning, proactively identifying and supporting students with early signs of literacy-related difficulties. You’ll also gain the skills to monitor and evaluate the impact of literacy interventions and lessons through informal assessment.

• Enhanced knowledge of literacy policies and procedures: Gain a deep understanding of national and local literacy curriculum policies, practices, processes, and procedures.
• Improved understanding of literacy acquisition and progression: Develop an understanding of the theoretical foundations of literacy acquisition and progression.
• Effective use of literacy assessment tools: Acquire skills in selecting and using appropriate literacy assessment tools to inform teaching and learning.
• Skill development in using assessment tools to advance literacy learning: Demonstrate skills in using assessment tools within literacy to advance learning.
• Understanding of the impact of literacy on learners: Understand the impact of literacy on learners’ overall development and academic success.
• Ability to implement effective literacy strategies: Gain the ability to implement effective strategies and interventions to promote literacy skills.

When you register for the apprenticeship programme, you will be asked for your preferred specialist pathway. To ensure that this pathway is the best fit for you and your setting, you won’t need to confirm your specialism until a few months into the programme.

Core content will be delivered throughout the programme with the specialist content covered from month 4 onwards. This allows you to focus on overarching aspects of your role as a specialist TA first, with the opportunity to experience ‘taster’ content of the different specialisms, before confirming your chosen pathway during a progress review near the end of month 3 on the programme.

In addition to the Literacy specialism, Educational and Sporting Futures in conjunction with Real Training have also developed programmes for those looking to specialise in:

• Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
• Social and emotional well-being – with optional ELSA status
• PE, Health and Wellbeing curriculum provision

You can find out more about these specialisms on the Educational and Sporting Futures website.

The benefits of having a Specialist Teaching Assistant in your school are extensive:

• Improved learner outcomes: Benefit from specialist TAs who can effectively support students with diverse needs, leading to better academic and social-emotional outcomes
• Enhanced inclusion: Create a more inclusive learning environment where every student feels supported and able to reach their full potential
• Address specific needs: Tailor training to your school’s literacy requirements (or elect to upskill in a number of areas by training a TA in each of the available specialisms.
• Sustainable workforce development: Build a skilled and knowledgeable workforce that can support your school’s long-term goals. This can also foster loyalty and reduce staff turnover
• Cost-effective training: Utilise the Apprenticeship Levy to cover the cost of the programme, making it a budget-friendly option for professional development and an excellent way to upskill staff
• Positive school culture: Promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement, benefiting both staff and students

Trained Specialist Teaching Assistants are valued members of the school team. They will provide teachers and other colleagues with key support. The role is not designed to replace teachers or SENCOs but rather deliver additional support for these roles. Specialist TAs will only deliver specified work if:

• They are assisting or supporting the work of a qualified teacher or ‘nominated’ teacher in the school
• They are receiving supervision from a qualified teacher or ‘nominated’ teacher in line with the arrangements made by the headteacher
• The headteacher is satisfied that they have the skills, experience and expertise

This programme is designed for individuals who support the education of individual learners or groups of learners, working under the supervision of a qualified teacher. It is suitable for those with the following roles (or equivalent):

• Teaching Assistant (TA)
• Learning Support Assistant (LSA)
• Classroom Assistant (CA)
• Education Assistant (EA)
• Classroom Welfare Assistant (CWA)

Participants may come from a wide variety of educational settings including early years settings, primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, alternative provision and further education institutions such as sixth forms and colleges.

Whether you have completed Educational & Sporting Future’s Level 3 Teaching Assistant with SEND training or another Teaching Assistant qualification, this Level 5 programme has been developed to build on skills and knowledge gained from previous qualifications as well as practical experience in your setting. It is not a requirement that you have undertaken any previous Teaching Assistant qualifications. 

Apprenticeships are a great way to build on the skills and knowledge you already have, while also gaining practical, hands-on experience in a real-world setting. They offer a unique blend of theoretical learning and on-the-job training, allowing you to apply what you learn on the programme to your everyday work. This approach not only reinforces your understanding of key concepts but also helps you develop the practical competencies that are essential for success in your chosen field. Whether you’re just starting out in your career or looking to upskill and advance, this apprenticeship provides the perfect next step.

All apprentices will study core content covering a wide range of topics. This includes:

• Regulation and guidance
• Advancing learning
• Planning and assessment
• Professionalism
• Communication

In addition, each apprentice will complete additional content around Literacy

The programme runs for 18 months during which you will participate in a variety of activities:

• Online learning – study flexibly at a time and place that suits you
• Self-directed project work – apply new knowledge and skills through practical projects and research in your setting. Build a portfolio of evidence that will help embed your learning and allow you to have a positive impact from the very start
• Live online workshops – mandatory workshops (2 hours) twice per term with our experienced course leaders, plus follow-up discussions and opportunities to share good practice
• Progress reviews – one 60-minute review per term with your apprenticeship coach and your mentor

You will have termly progress reviews in which you’ll celebrate your growth and successes and discuss challenges you have been facing. These will be scheduled with your Mentor and Apprenticeship Coach at a time that is convenient for you.

The final progress review is combined with a Gateway Review. Once you have completed this, you’ll then undertake the End-Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA for this programme involves:

• Observation with questions – The assessor will observe the apprentice performing a range of normal work duties: 90 minutes
• Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: 60 minutes

Apprentices are required to pass both components. The results from these assessments are then combined to form your overall apprenticeship grade (fail, pass, merit or distinction).

The funding band for this programme has not yet been finalised, however it is anticipated that it will be £12,000. The cost will be able to be fully funded using the Apprenticeship Levy.

If your employer (school, nursery, MAT, or local authority) is an apprenticeship-levy paying employer (i.e. they have a wage bill in excess of £3m) then 100% of the apprenticeship is paid for from the employer’s levy pot. You will need to gain approval to access your employer’s levy and we advise that you discuss details with your business manager / financial director prior to registration.

If your employer does not pay the Apprenticeship Levy then the Government will fund 95% of the apprenticeship and your employer will need to commit to paying 5% of the fee, which is £600. ESF should be able to support your school or nursery to reclaim this £600 via a process known as Levy Transfer.

We anticipate that the first cohort will start in December 2024.

Please complete this expression of interest form to ensure you receive the latest updates regarding the start date.

• You must have worked as a Teaching Assistant (TA), Learning Support Assistant (LSA) or equivalent role for at least a year (full-time equivalent)
• You must have lived in England for the last three years and have the right to work in the the UK
• You must be employed at least 16 hours a week and spend at least 50% of your working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship
• You will need to provide evidence of having achieved grade 4 or above at GCSE (level 4) English and Maths. If you don’t have these qualifications, you can be supported through a functional skills programme
• Your employer must agree to appoint a workplace mentor to attend the termly progress reviews
• Your employer would need to agree and enrol you as an apprentice. We can support you with this

Please note: This programme is open to delegates in England only.

• Please complete our short application form
• You will then receive an email with your login details for ESF Learn, where you will continue your application. Please note, you will need to work with your Manager / school to complete some sections of the application

If you have any questions prior to applying, please email or call 01438 791068.

Educational and Sporting Futures are an Ofsted Outstanding and Award Winning Apprenticeship Provider that is part of Real Group. ESF is led by Teachers and Educational Psychologists and they focus on designing and delivering apprenticeships that work for teachers, teaching assistants, sports coaches and schools. Recently Real Training has been working more closely with ESF so that we can also incorporate our SEND courses into high quality apprenticeships. 

ESF delivers apprenticeships through Sporting Futures (UK) Training Ltd (this is the company on the apprenticeship register and also part of Real Group Ltd).