Apprenticeships offer a practical way to develop skilled, confident staff while building capacity where it’s needed most.
They help schools, settings and wider organisations invest in their people, support career progression and strengthen practice from within. With Thrive’s dual-award apprenticeships, learners work towards a nationally recognised Level 5 qualification while also becoming Thrive Licensed Practitioners.
Staff are not only developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to excel in their careers, they’re also deepening their understanding of social and emotional development, behaviour, relationships and wellbeing.
Our dual-award apprenticeships include:
- Thrive Wellbeing Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Level 5
- Thrive Wellbeing Leadership Apprenticeship Level 5
- Thrive Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship Level 5
Each programme brings together role-specific professional development with Thrive’s relational approach. Learners work towards a recognised qualification while developing the confidence and understanding to apply their learning in practice.
Bringing professional standards and relational practice together
By combining the structure and accountability of the apprenticeship with Thrive Licensed Practitioner training, learners gain both a nationally recognised qualification, equivalent to a foundation degree, and a deeper understanding of children’s social and emotional development.
The apprenticeship element supports learners to build the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to progress in their role. Alongside this, Thrive Licensed Practitioner training helps them explore what may sit beneath behaviour, how development affects readiness to learn, and how trusted relationships can support emotional regulation, inclusion and engagement.
Together, these elements help learners apply new knowledge directly in their setting, reflect on real challenges and develop practice that can be felt by the whole school community.
Supporting teaching assistants to become wellbeing specialists
Teaching assistants often play a vital role in children’s daily experience of school. They notice small changes, support them through difficult moments and help children and young people feel safe enough to learn.
The Thrive Wellbeing Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship recognises that impact. It combines the Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship standard with Thrive Licensed Practitioner training, helping teaching assistants develop specialist knowledge in social and emotional development and respond to behaviour in a calm, relational way.
Through the apprenticeship, learners gain a recognised Level 5 qualification, become Thrive Licensed Practitioners and build the confidence to support a wide range of needs in their setting. As their practice develops, schools benefit from stronger in-house wellbeing expertise, a more consistent approach to behaviour and better support for children with social and emotional needs.
Developing leaders who can embed wellbeing strategically
A whole-setting approach to wellbeing takes planning, collaboration and leadership. It also requires an understanding of people, relationships and the conditions needed for lasting change.
The Thrive Wellbeing Leadership Apprenticeship Level 5 is designed for educators and leaders who want to embed Thrive across a class, department, school, MAT or wider organisation.
The apprenticeship develops the leadership and management skills learners need to plan effectively, engage stakeholders, deliver projects and make confident decisions. Alongside this, the Thrive element deepens their understanding of neuroscience, child development and attachment theory, helping them make informed decisions that support pupils, staff and wider organisational priorities.
As learners build confidence and progress in their careers, schools, MATs and wider organisations benefit from stronger leadership, more consistent practice and a more inclusive, emotionally supportive environment.
Strengthening early years practice from the start
In early years, relationships, routines and environments shape children’s first experiences of learning. Practitioners need to understand development, see behaviour as communication and lead practice in ways that support children, families and colleagues.
The Thrive Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship combines the Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner standard with Thrive Licensed Practitioner status. Learners develop the skills to lead high-quality provision while deepening their understanding of child development, emotional wellbeing and the role of relationships in learning and behaviour.
For early years settings, this can support earlier identification of need, stronger relationships with children and families, and greater team confidence as learners model, coach and lead practice.
Benefits for learners
A dual-award apprenticeship keeps learning closely connected to everyday practice. Learners build their skills on the job, using what they learn to shape their practice and reflect on the situations they encounter every day.
They can:
- gain a nationally recognised Level 5 qualification
- become a Thrive Licensed Practitioner
- build confidence in their current role
- develop specialist or leadership expertise
- apply learning directly in their setting
- take a clear next step in their career
It also strengthens professional identity, helping learners build the confidence, language and expertise to influence practice around them and make a meaningful difference in their setting.
Benefits for settings
For schools, settings and wider organisations, dual-award apprenticeships help build capacity from within. Staff develop expertise while remaining embedded in the setting where that expertise is needed most.
This can support:
- stronger in-house wellbeing expertise
- more confident and better-supported staff
- a calmer, more consistent approach to behaviour
- improved support for children with diverse needs
- shared language and understanding across teams
- leadership capacity that helps change become sustainable
Together, this makes the apprenticeship more than a training route. It helps settings strengthen the culture, practice and support that children, colleagues and families experience every day.
A connected approach to professional development
We offer dual-award apprenticeships because schools, early years settings and MATs need skilled, confident staff who can support children and young people in ways that are both practical and relational.
By combining Level 5 apprenticeship standards with Thrive Licensed Practitioner training, our programmes bring together professional recognition, practical application and Thrive’s evidence-informed approach to social and emotional development.
As learners gain qualifications, confidence and a clearer route for career progression, settings benefit from skilled practitioners and leaders who can strengthen practice from within. Most importantly, children and young people are supported by adults who are better equipped to understand their needs, respond with confidence and help them thrive.
