Level 3 Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools Course. Work-based training at your workplace. You study while working in a school support role, applying your learning directly in the classroom. The course covers planning, delivering, and evaluating learning activities, supporting whole-class teaching, and developing competence across a range of specialist responsibilities. You work under the direction of a qualified teacher who holds overall responsibility for the class. The course typically takes 12 months. You'll start with an identification and initial assessment to confirm this is the right level for you.
Who this course is for
The Advanced Level Apprenticeship is designed for learning support staff with a working role which requires competence in a specialist area and/or across a varied range of responsibilities. They will be working under the direction of a teacher who has overall responsibility for teaching and learning in the classroom. They will contribute to planning, implementing and evaluating learning activities and will work alongside the teacher to support whole class activities, as well as working on their own with individual, or groups of, pupils. Apprentices may work with children and young people with identified additional needs and English as an additional language.
Entry requirements
Identification, initial assessment
What you will learn
You'll contribute to planning and implementing learning activities alongside a qualified teacher.
You'll support whole-class activities and work with individual or small groups of pupils.
You'll develop competence in a specialist area of learning support.
You'll evaluate the effectiveness of learning activities and feed back to the teacher.
You'll understand your role and responsibilities within the school's teaching and learning framework.
You'll develop strategies for supporting pupils with a range of needs.
How you will learn
Learning takes place in your workplace. You build a portfolio of evidence drawn from your day-to-day role in school. Assessment is work-based, with observations of your practice, professional discussions, and written evidence demonstrating your competence. Your initial assessment confirms the right starting point and helps plan your programme.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. North of England Training will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Teaching assistant: supporting teachers across a range of subjects and year groups.
Higher-level teaching assistant (HLTA): taking on greater responsibility in the classroom.
Special educational needs (SEN) support assistant: working with pupils with additional needs.
Learning support assistant: providing targeted support in mainstream or specialist settings.
Behaviour support assistant: helping pupils manage behaviour and stay engaged in learning.
Inclusion support worker: supporting pupils with complex needs in school environments.
What you could study next
Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training: a route into further education teaching if you want to teach adults or post-16 learners.
Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training: a fuller teaching qualification for those moving toward a classroom teaching role in FE.
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS): for those considering a move into primary or secondary school teaching via an Initial Teacher Training programme.
Level 4 Award in Special Educational Needs Coordination: useful if you're moving toward a SENCO or specialist support role.
