Study With Us

Various dates

18-21 months

City & Guilds

The primary role of the Teaching Assistant is to support the class teacher to enhance pupils’ learning either in groups or individually, ensuring pupils understand the work set, know their learning objectives and stay on task in order to make progress. This apprenticeship develops the key skills and behaviours required for a teaching assistant role.

You will work with an assessor who will guide you through your apprenticeship to produce a portfolio of evidence using e-portfolio. Portfolio sessions will include theory research, practical tasks, work-based projects and resource learning. Your assessor will plan and assess your practical work in the workplace through observation.

You will study the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to meet the demands of a teaching assistant’s role. Part of this study will include achievement of a recognised qualification where you will achieve 11 mandatory units:

• Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults
• Schools as organisations
• Support learning activities
• Promote children and young people’s positive behaviour
• Develop professional relationships with children, young people and adults
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people
• Support assessment for learning
• Engage in personal development in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings
• Support children and young people’s health and safety
• Understand child and young person development
• Understand how to safeguard the well being of children and young people

We also offer additional learning in Makaton, Smart Board use, paediatric first aid and further safeguarding training.

Functional Skills in English and Maths:
These are key elements of your Apprenticeship and are essential to the role of a teaching assistant. If you do not already have a GCSE at Grade 9-4 in these subjects, you will be required to study Functional Skills at the appropriate levels. English and Maths skills will support your apprenticeship programme, assisting you with assignment writing, research, job applications, communication, and problem solving, to mention just a few.

Most employers look for ability in these areas and the majority of university courses require you to have GCSEs at Grade 9-4 in English and Maths. This is why the development of maths and English is so important, whatever your field of study.

Completion of the required knowledge, skills and behaviours, including the qualification and functional skills, will lead to End Point Assessment. This consists of a practical observation with questioning, and a professional discussion supported by your portfolio of evidence, which will be carried out by an Independent End Point Assessor from NCFE.

Ongoing assessment will be made through e-portfolio. Sessions will be arranged with your assessor and support provided to allow the collection of evidence. Observations will be part of your qualification.

After on programme learning has taken place, you will complete an End Point Assessment. This consists of a practical observation with questioning, and a professional discussion supported by your portfolio of evidence, which will be carried out by an Independent End Point Assessor from NCFE.

GCSE Grade 9-4 including English and Maths.

Suitable employment within a school.

This is a work-based course; therefore, you will need to attend portfolio guidance sessions at regular intervals with your assessor which will help you to put together your course evidence.

If you are undertaking Functional Skills as part of your apprenticeship, you will be required to attend Castleford Campus for a week block of teaching, per Functional Skill subject. This will be discussed at your enrolment and induction.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you will be required to record the number of hours you spend learning and training. This will be equivalent to 20% of your working hours for the whole duration of the apprenticeship.

This can be achieved through a range of methods, such as work-related training, or self-study within your usual working week.

This will be agreed with your employer at the start of your apprenticeship.

Please contact the Apprenticeship Recruitment Team on 01924 789469 or email apprenticeships@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk