Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship FAQs

• Have a minimum of one year’s experience in a relevant role.
• Be employed in a role working closely with children and young people in a classroom environment.
• Have support from an employer and levy account holder.
• Have held UK residency for at least three years.
• Be based in England.
• Have achieved GCSE grade 9-4 (A* - C) or equivalent in English and maths. If you haven't secured a grade 4 (C) or above in GCSE English and maths, you will be required to complete Functional Skills Level 2 in these areas. You will be fully supported by your tutors using a range of materials best suited to you.

Suitable job roles may include; teaching assistants, attendance mentors, behaviour leads, higher level teaching assistants, social and emotional wellbeing teaching assistants, specialist learning assistant, specialist learning support and other support roles in a classroom environment.

Employers will need to allow full-time apprentices six hours per week of off-the-job training. Part-time apprentices must allocate 20% of their working hours for this purpose.
Employers will also offer a mentor and facilitate the apprentice’s monthly virtual sessions and overall development.

It’s fully funded for those working in local authority schools or those paying into the apprenticeship levy. For non-levy payers, the government offers co-funding, covering 95% of the cost, or levy transfers are available for additional support.

Yes, this programme is more comprehensive and requires a higher level of commitment. Over 18 months, participants complete the Thrive Licensed Practitioner training with the Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5 apprenticeship standard. This includes developing the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours for the apprenticeship, alongside dedicating 20% of their working time to off-the-job training.

The standalone Thrive Licensed Practitioner course is a shorter option, completed in just three months, and focuses solely on Thrive training. This may be a better fit for individuals whose primary goal is to become a Thrive Licensed Practitioner. 

However, the apprenticeship offers a broader development opportunity for those in classroom support roles, equipping participants with the tools to support the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people while achieving a nationally recognised Level 5 qualification. It’s ideal for individuals ready to deepen their expertise and make a meaningful impact in their roles.

Yes, it’s equivalent to a foundation degree (Level 5).

Completing this apprenticeship elevates your professional standing by earning a dual qualification: a Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant and Thrive Licensed Practitioner. You'll also be able to use post-nominal designations to demonstrate your commitment to professional standards and showcase your credentials and skills.

The apprenticeship equips you to support pupils' social and emotional wellbeing, create a nurturing environment, build effective relationships, apply advanced teaching strategies, develop and evaluate learning plans and enhance your personal and professional development. 

Delivered by Best Practice Network, an Ofsted ‘Good’ apprenticeship provider, this programme combines evidence-based approaches with practical, on-the-job training. It opens pathways to more senior roles, boosts your professional credibility, and allows you to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children you support.

Due to the time commitment, we recommend that only one candidate per setting takes part on any given cohort. 

The Thrive Wellbeing Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship focuses on promoting pupils’ social and emotional wellbeing, which often aligns closely with the needs of pupils with SEND. Many children with SEND face challenges in managing emotions, building resilience, or navigating social interactions, and this apprenticeship equips you with the tools and strategies to support these areas effectively.

However, the programme does not specifically cover areas such as SEND assessment, early identification of SEND, or targeted teaching strategies for specific needs like ASD, attachment and trauma, or dyslexia. While you’ll gain skills to foster an inclusive environment and address emotional barriers to learning, this apprenticeship is not a dedicated SEND programme.

If your primary focus is SEND-specific support, you may need to explore additional qualifications tailored to those needs. That said, this apprenticeship is an excellent choice for building expertise in helping all pupils, including those with SEND, thrive emotionally and socially.

Yes, sessions are scheduled within typical school hours, with options for morning or afternoon to align with off-the-job training requirements.

This apprenticeship is a work-based programme for people already in employment.

Your employer will need to give you time during your working hours each week for activities and learning related to your apprenticeship. This is called off-the-job training.

Best Practice Network and Thrive will work with employers to ensure this time is spent on activities that both build the apprentice’s capabilities and benefit the organisation.

Off-the-job training can include:

• Thrive training
• Inset days
• In-house training
• Mentoring
• Shadowing
• Conferences & seminars
• Reflective learning
• Networking
• Project work
• Research

The exact blend of activities will be agreed with the apprentice and employer at the start of the programme. 

Full-time apprentices are required to have six hours per week of off-the-job training, while part-time apprentices must allocate 20% of their working hours for this purpose.

This apprenticeship benefits your current role by equipping you with advanced knowledge and skills to enhance your effectiveness in the classroom and beyond. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of how to support pupils’ social and emotional wellbeing, an area critical for helping children overcome barriers to learning and thrive academically and personally.

This programme also broadens your expertise, enabling you to:

• Apply a range of teaching and assessment techniques to tailor support to individual learner needs.
• Build strong relationships with learners, colleagues, parents, and carers, improving communication and collaboration.
• Implement evidence-based strategies to promote positive behaviour and emotional resilience in pupils.
• Through this apprenticeship, you’ll not only enhance your professional skills but also position yourself as a key advocate for pupil wellbeing, making a lasting impact on the school environment and advancing your career.

This role is essential across educational settings—from early years, primary and secondary schools to alternative provisions and further education.