About the role
This apprenticeship standard is designed as an 18 month programme and is for apprentices who wish to gain the skills, knowledge and behavioural competences required to work in a specialist teaching assistant role.
Specialist teaching assistants support provision related to special educational needs and disability (SEND), the social and emotional well-being, of learners, or within another area of specialist curriculum provision such as forest schools, EAL, subject-based interventions or music education.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for supporting the education of individuals or groups of learners, often identified by their supervisor. They must ensure the safety of the learners in their care. They may have responsibility for supporting the work of colleagues. Within settings where they are undertaking specified work, they will be working under the supervision of a qualified teacher.
On this page
Standard
On-programme
We provide a clear learning programme to take apprentices from entry through to the gateway for end-point assessment.
You can use our on-programme offer regardless of whether you are using Pearson as your end-point assessment organisation or not.
Qualifications
Whilst any entry requirements will be a matter for individual employers, typically an apprentice might be expected to have already achieved 5 GCSEs, including maths and English, Grade C or above or 4/5 (new grading). Some employers will accept other relevant qualifications and experience, including a relevant Level 2 qualification.
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment.
For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
As both an vocational and academic awarding organisation, we can offer a wide range of English and maths qualifications in line with your standards’ requirements, from Functional Skills through to GCSEs.
Learning resources
English and maths resources
We have a wide range of resources and useful tools to complement your programme, including assessment tools, podcasts and training events.
End-point assessment
As an ESFA-approved Assessment Organisation, we provide a full range of assessment services, resources and support from our experienced EPA team to equip you and your learners with the diverse requirements of the apprenticeship standards.
You can use Pearson as your end-point assessment organisation, regardless of whether you choose to use our on-programme offer or not.
The EPA consists of two distinct assessment methods:
- Practical observation with questions and answers
- Professional discussion supported by a portfolio of evidence.
Our range of EPA resources such as EPA specification, additional resources document and practice knowledge test are designed to enhance learners’ knowledge and/or hone essential skills required.
They are available to our customers who have signed up to Pearson EPA and include information on:
- Structure
- Grading
- Gateway requirements
- Assessment content
- Evidence requirement for each component
We have designed a step-by-step guide, with signposts to our key supporting information, resources and services available at every stage of the process.
