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.
• 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 that best suits you.

Suitable job roles could be; 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 (for example, secure facilities staff or care home staff that work directly with children and young people).

Employers need to provide six hours of off-the-job training per week, 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.

No, the Thrive Licensed Practitioner training is fully integrated into the Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5 apprenticeship. This means you won’t have extra work compared to other providers offering this apprenticeship. However, it’s important to understand that the apprenticeship is a significant commitment.

This 18-month programme is thorough, requiring consistent dedication, as well as 20% off-the-job training. It’s a much more in-depth experience than completing the standalone Thrive Licensed Practitioner course, which can be done independently in just three months.

If your primary goal is simply to become a Thrive Licensed Practitioner and you’re unsure about committing to the additional scope and demands of the apprenticeship, we’d recommend opting for the standalone course instead. This ensures you can focus on Thrive training without the broader requirements of an apprenticeship programme.

By enrolling, you’ll be embarking on a journey that equips you with comprehensive skills to support learners' social and emotional wellbeing while gaining a valuable Level 5 qualification. It's ideal for those ready to fully invest in this opportunity.

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. It equips you with advanced skills to support pupils' social and emotional wellbeing, develop inclusive teaching strategies, and lead on wellbeing initiatives within your school. You'll also enhance your leadership capabilities, enabling you to mentor colleagues and advocate for pupil needs effectively.

Delivered in partnership with Best Practice Network, an Ofsted ‘Good’ apprenticeship provider, this programme combines evidence-based approaches with practical, on-the-job training. It opens pathways to 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.

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.

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 can involve activities like shadowing, mentoring, attending training events, interactive online learning, and completing tasks that build new skills and knowledge relevant to the apprenticeship.

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:

• Implement evidence-based strategies to promote positive behaviour and emotional resilience in pupils.
• 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.
• Take on a higher level of responsibility by mentoring colleagues and contributing to the overall wellbeing strategies within your school.
• 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 primary and secondary schools to alternative provisions and further education.