Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship
Funded by the Apprenticeship Levy

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 three specialisms, before confirming your chosen pathway during a progress review near the end of month 3 on the programme. Specialisms include:

• Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
• Social and Emotional Wellbeing
• Literacy curriculum provision
• PE, Health and Wellbeing curriculum provision

Please note: If you are already working as a qualified ELSA, you will still be able to choose the Social and Emotional Wellbeing pathway to further strengthen and deepen your knowledge and practical skills in this important area.

By gaining expertise in supporting and advancing the learning of students with SEND, you’ll ensure full compliance with SEND regulations and implement best practices for inclusive education. You’ll also gain the skills to confidently address diverse learning needs, provide individualised support for students, foster a supportive environment and provide capacity for early identification and intervention for SEND.

• Enhanced knowledge of SEND policies and procedures: Gain a deep understanding of national and local SEND policies, practices, processes, and procedures
• Improved understanding of SEND: Understand the theoretical background of a range of SEND, such as autism, attachment and trauma, and dyslexia
• Early identification and assessment skills: Develop skills in the early identification and assessment of SEND, using appropriate tools and techniques
• Deliver effective support for learners with SEND: Learn how to adapt provision and practices to effectively support learners with SEND and promote their learning and development
• Creation of an inclusive learning environment: Implement strategies to create an inclusive learning environment where every learner, including those with SEND, can thrive

By becoming a trained ELSA, you’ll be able to identify and address social and emotional needs, guide students in managing their emotions and building positive relationships in order to foster student well-being and create a positive and supportive school community.

Building on the core programme content, if you choose the Social and Emotional Wellbeing specialism, you will become a qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA).

• Enhanced knowledge of social and emotional wellbeing policies and procedures: Gain a deep understanding of national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to social and emotional well-being
• Improved understanding of the theoretical background of social and emotional wellbeing: Understand the theoretical background of supporting social and emotional well-being in educational contexts
• Knowledge of approaches to promoting social and emotional wellbeing: Learn the principles and approaches to promoting social and emotional well-being in educational contexts
• Skill development in using tools to promote social and emotional wellbeing: Develop skills in using appropriate tools to promote social and emotional well-being and advance learning
• Understanding of the impact of social and emotional wellbeing: Understand the impact of social and emotional wellbeing on learners’ development and learning
• Ability to implement effective strategies to advance social and emotional wellbeing: Implement effective strategies to advance social and emotional wellbeing in learning and assessment contexts

More about Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)

An Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) is a specialist teaching assistant who supports children and young people to develop essential emotional literacy and social skills. By working closely with students, ELSAs help foster a sense of safety and happiness in school, while equipping them with the tools to understand and manage their emotions effectively. They work with children either individually or in small groups, and can help with a range of issues, including:

• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Anger management
• Loss and bereavement
• Friendship issues
• Relationships
• Behaviour
• Conflict

ELSAs receive specialised training from Educational Psychologists (EPs) and benefit from ongoing supervision, ensuring they provide high-quality support. The ELSA curriculum covers:

• What is Emotional Literacy and how do we improve it?
• Building resilience
• Emotional regulation, including anger management and cognitive behavioural techniques
• Social and friendship skills
• Loss, bereavement and family break-up
• Therapeutic stories and social stories
• Active listening and reflective conversations
• Neurodiversity and emotions

In addition, there will be regular group supervision sessions for you to attend with your ELSA coach and other ELSAs on the programme, which will provide you with the opportunity to ask questions, reinforce and reflect on your learning and understand how to embed best practice.

NOTE: In order for you to remain an ELSA once the programme has concluded, you will need to continue attending supervision sessions. This is sometimes offered through your Local Authority or other organisations. A package will be available to continue your supervision sessions with us, for those who are interested.

What if I’m already working as an ELSA?

If you already have ELSA status but wish to continue developing your practical skills in social and emotional well-being, don’t worry – you can still join the programme and choose this specialism. In fact, you can bring your ELSA qualification in as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), meaning that your setting can access the apprenticeship with a reduced apprenticeship levy contribution.

On the programme, you are welcome to join your peers and attend the ELSA learning sessions to refresh your knowledge. There will also be additional content with practical activities to reinforce your learning and take your skills to the next level. You’ll also receive the same level of support from peers and expert coaches as those new to ELSA.

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.

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

• 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.

As a PE, Health and Wellbeing specialist, you’ll develop enhanced understanding of the curriculum, using this to plan and deliver engaging lessons and effectively track student progress. You’ll consider your pupils holistically, promoting a positive school environment.

• Enhanced curriculum understanding: Develop knowledge of the PE and school sports curriculum, including statutory and non-statutory frameworks, policies, and procedures.
• Improved lesson planning and execution: Understand the theoretical background of progression in PE and school sports, and develop the ability to plan and implement effective learning sequences.
• Effective student progress tracking: Gain skills in selecting and using appropriate assessment tools to monitor and advance student learning in PE and school sports.
• Holistic development focus: Recognise the importance of PE and school sports for children’s and young people’s overall learning and development.
• Compliance and adherence to standards: Develop the ability to implement national and local policies and procedures related to PE and school sports provision.
• Champion for PE and school sports: Demonstrate a commitment to advocating for and promoting the value of PE and school sports within the educational context.

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 requirements by choosing from SEND, Social and Emotional Wellbeing, Literacy or PE, Health and Wellbeing Curriculum 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:

• The headteacher is satisfied that they have the skills, experience and expertise
• 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

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 choose one specialist area and will complete additional content in this specialism:

• Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
• Social and Emotional well-being
• Literacy curriculum provision
• PE, Health and Wellbeing curriculum provision

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 SEND experts, 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

If you choose to study on the Social and Emotional Wellbeing specialist pathway, you will also need to attend one compulsory in-person learning day at a venue in London.

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 teaching and interacting with learners: 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of questions
• 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 are working with the HLTA National Assessment Partnership to be able to provide optional HLTA Status – costs of this optional additional assessment will be known soon.

• 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. If choosing the Social and Emotional Wellbeing specialism, your workplace mentor should be part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). As well as termly reviews, they will need to attend a 1-hour induction session at the start of the ELSA programme.
• 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.

• The first cohort for our SEND specialism starts on 10 December 2024. Please apply by 6 December 2024 to secure your space.
• Cohorts for our Social, Emotional and Wellbeing, Literacy and PE, Health and Wellbeing specialisms will launch in 2025. We encourage early applications for these programmes.

• 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 contact us.