Level 3 Teaching Assistant SEND Apprenticeship - Oakleigh School and the Early Years Centre

Summary

We are a primary maintained special school in the Local Authority of Barnet for children who cater for pupils with a wide range of complex and profound learning difficulties. These include severe autism, complex medical conditions, physical and mobility difficulties, as well as severe developmental delay.

Wage

£14,560 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Teaching assistant (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8.20am - 3.50pm, with a 1-hour lunch break.

35 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

3

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work:

• Support the classroom teacher in all areas of teaching, learning and assessment, including using Tapestry
• Develop an understanding of the key strategies used across the school to support individual learning needs, e.g. PECS, TEACCH, Attention Autism, Intensive Interaction
• Attend training on key strategies and areas of school development
• Assist with the preparation of learning activities, displays, resources and visual supports
• Report pupils’ responses to learning activities and record achievement/progress as directed
• Be willing to take part in all aspects of teaching and learning, including intimate care, play and swimming sessions
• Understand and contribute to the emotional support of all pupils
• Support the behaviour and well-being of all pupils
• Support all of the pupils’ personal needs, including toileting, hygiene, dressing and eating. This may include gastrostomy management, suctioning and tracheostomy care, and administering medication, by an agreed plan, and under the direction of a healthcare practitioner and following appropriate training
• Follow manual handling procedures to support pupils with physical disabilities
• Follow Team Teach guidance in the positive handling of children
• Establish good relationships with pupils, acting as a role model and being aware of and responding appropriately to individual needs
• Encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher
• Follow school safeguarding procedures at all times
• Accompany teaching staff and pupils on educational visits, trips and out-of-school activities
• Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, safeguarding, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, and report all concerns to the safeguarding lead
• Respond to medical or fire alarms where appropriate
• Be willing to contribute and support the wider activities of the school, e.g. fayres and fundraising events
• Feedback to the teacher regarding information that may need to be shared with parents, for example, about personal care, health or changes in behaviour
• Work under the direction of an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech or Language Therapist to carry out daily programmes of exercises or routines with pupils as required

Where you'll work

Oakleigh Road North
London
N20 0DH

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

LET ME PLAY LIMITED

Training course

Teaching assistant (level 3)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Apply strategies to support and encourage the development of independent learners.
• Adapt communication strategies for the audience and context.
• Apply behaviour management strategies in line with organisational policy.
• Adapt resources to support all learners.
• Communicate with teachers to ensure clarity of the TA’s role.
• Apply teaching strategies to deliver learning activities or interventions.
• Build relationships with learners, teachers, other professionals and stakeholders.
• Comply with legislation, guidance, and procedures for Prevent, safeguarding and health & safety.
• Support the well-being and mental health of learners.
• Observe, record, and report on learners in line with organisational procedures.
• Apply methods of formative assessment.
• Use up to date technology safely, to support learning.
• Encourage safe use of technology by learners.
• Adapt teaching strategies to support all learners (for example, scaffolding, open questioning).
• Identify and respond to pastoral and academic behaviours in learners.
• Provide feedback to learners.
• Apply strategies to support and encourage the development of independent learners.
• Adapt communication strategies for the audience and context.
• Apply behaviour management strategies in line with organisational policy.
• Adapt resources to support all learners.
• Communicate with teachers to ensure clarity of the TA’s role.
• Apply teaching strategies to deliver learning activities or interventions.
• Build relationships with learners, teachers, other professionals and stakeholders.
• Comply with legislation, guidance, and procedures for Prevent, safeguarding and health & safety.
• Support the well-being and mental health of learners.
• Observe, record, and report on learners in line with organisational procedures.
• Apply methods of formative assessment.
• Use up to date technology safely, to support learning.
• Encourage safe use of technology by learners.
• Adapt teaching strategies to support all learners (for example, scaffolding, open questioning).
• Identify and respond to pastoral and academic behaviours in learners.
• Provide feedback to learners.

Training schedule

Teaching Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:

• An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation
• At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying

More training information

• This training plan has not been finalised
• Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4–9 (A*–C))
• maths (grade 4–9 (A*–C))

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

• Pre-employment checks. Please be aware that upon a successful offer of employment, the company completes digitalised right-to-work checks and DBS applications via an external provider – 'Matrix Screening'
• The company also completes an internal online social media search, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance