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A new funded pathway for teaching assistants in the earlier stages of their career, looking to gain a nationally recognised qualification while developing the skills to support children's social and emotional development.
Schools across England can now access a new funded route to develop teaching assistants through Thrive's Teaching Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship.
The programme combines a nationally recognised Teaching Assistant qualification with Thrive-Informed Educator status, creating a unique opportunity for teaching assistants to develop expertise in both classroom practice and children's social and emotional development.
Why we've developed this apprenticeship
As schools continue to focus on attendance, inclusion, behaviour and wellbeing, the role of the teaching assistant is evolving.
Teaching assistants are often the adults providing day-to-day support, building trusted relationships and helping pupils overcome barriers to learning. We developed this apprenticeship to help schools invest in these vital members of staff, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to support both educational and emotional development.
By combining professional qualification with Thrive-informed practice, the programme helps schools build capability from within while strengthening support for pupils across the setting.
Importantly, it also makes Thrive apprenticeship opportunities accessible to a broader group of educators in teaching assistant and support roles, enabling schools to develop Thrive expertise earlier in a practitioner's career journey.
More than a teaching assistant qualification
Teaching assistants today need a broad range of skills. Alongside supporting academic progress, they are helping pupils navigate challenges that can affect confidence, engagement, relationships and readiness to learn.
That's why the programme combines the nationally recognised Teaching Assistant qualification with Thrive-Informed Educator status.
Apprentices develop the knowledge and practical skills expected of a teaching assistant while also gaining an understanding of:
- The connection between emotional wellbeing and learning
- The importance of positive relationships
- Behaviour as communication
- Child development and unmet need
- Creating inclusive environments where all pupils can thrive
This combination helps schools develop teaching assistants who can contribute to both educational outcomes and whole-school wellbeing.
Bringing Thrive to more educators
One of the most exciting aspects of this new apprenticeship is the opportunity it creates for teaching assistants and support staff at the start of their careers.
Previously, Thrive apprenticeships have largely been suited to educators with more experience or specialist responsibilities. This programme creates a new entry point, allowing schools to introduce Thrive-informed practice from the outset.
For schools already using the Thrive Approach, it offers an opportunity to build capability more widely across the workforce. For those beginning their Thrive journey, it provides a practical and accessible introduction to relational and wellbeing-led practice.
Benefits for schools
The Thrive Teaching Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship helps schools to:
- Develop confident and capable teaching assistants
- Strengthen support for inclusion and pupil wellbeing
- Build a shared understanding of behaviour and emotional development
- Enhance workforce skills and capacity
- Support recruitment, retention and professional development
- Create stronger foundations for positive pupil outcomes
The programme combines workplace learning with structured training, allowing apprentices to apply new knowledge and skills directly within their role.
This creates a funded and practical pathway for schools looking to develop skilled support staff while strengthening their approach to learning, wellbeing and inclusion.
Explore the apprenticeship
Whether you're recruiting new teaching assistants or investing in the development of existing support staff, the Teaching Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship offers a unique opportunity to combine professional qualification with Thrive-informed practice.
Explore the Teaching Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship and discover how Thrive can help you develop confident practitioners who support learning, wellbeing and inclusion from day one.
For schools looking to develop more experienced practitioners, Thrive's Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5 Apprenticeship continues to provide a pathway into advanced practice, inclusion and specialist support.
