LMP Education is proud to partner with Oasis Community Learning providing tailored apprenticeship training programmes to develop their staff. Since 2018, LMP has supported over 600 apprenticeships across the Oasis trust nationwide.
Oasis Academy Hadley utilised LMP Education’s apprenticeship programmes to further develop their school staff. Zoe Thompson the Executive Principal shared her thoughts utilising apprenticeships:
“Staff training and development is key to run a successful organisation. LMP have really helped with this. LMP has an excellent staff development programme that is well organised. The training and support that staff receive is excellent and their skills and knowledge improve to support the organisation.”
Robyn Williams is a Teaching Assistant at Oasis Academy Hadley, currently undertaking LMP’s Level 3 Teaching Assistant SEND Pathway Apprenticeship. Robyn shared her story with us:
“I chose a teaching assistant apprenticeship because I am passionate about supporting children’s learning and development. I enjoy encouraging young people to reach their potential and find it rewarding to see them grow in confidence.
The main benefits of an apprenticeship are the chance to earn while you learn. It allows me to gain valuable qualifications while also building authentic experience in the workplace. I also see it as a wonderful way to develop practical skills that cannot always be taught in a classroom, such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. Another benefit is that apprenticeships open clear career pathways- they give you a strong foundation to progress into higher-level roles. For me, it is the perfect balance of learning, gaining confidence and preparing for a long-term career.
I have been well supported throughout my apprenticeship by both my workplace and my LMP tutor. In school, my line manager and the teachers I work alongside have given me guidance, regular feedback and opportunities to observe lessons, which have helped me build confidence when delivering my intervention sessions. I have also had dedicated support from my apprenticeship tutor, who has checked in regularly to review my progress and set clear goals. The combination of on-the-job experience, feedback, and structured training has made me feel encouraged and supported at every stage.
During my apprenticeship, I have made a positive impact within the school community by supporting both students and staff in a variety of ways.
I have worked closely with students who have special educational needs and those who are EAL (English as Additional Language), providing one-to-one and small group interventions to help them with the curriculum. I have encouraged independence while also offering reassurance when needed. By adapting activities, using visual aids and breaking tasks into manageable steps, I have helped those pupils build confidence, develop their social skills, and achieve personal targets.
I have played an active role in the breakfast club, welcoming children to join the mornings and helping them start the day positively. This has included serving food and engaging children in conversations and activities that support their well-being. By creating a calm and friendly start to the day, I have helped set children up for better focus and readiness to learn.
I have supported teachers in the classroom by preparing resources, working with small groups, and assisting with behaviour management strategies. This has helped to reduce the teacher workload and ensure that the children receive more focused attention.
The most valuable skill I’ve gained during my apprenticeship is effective communication. Working with children of different ages and abilities has taught me how to adapt the way I speak and explain things so that every child can understand and feel included. This skill is really important to me because it not only helps people make progress in their learning, but also builds trust and positive relationships. I have also found that effective communication helps me work more effectively with teachers and other staff, which makes me a better part of the team.
After completing my teaching assistant apprenticeship, my next step would be to continue building experience in the classroom and work towards becoming a higher-level teaching assistant or taking on more responsibility within the school. In the future, I would like to explore further training, such as progressing into teacher training. I see this apprenticeship as the foundation for a long-term career in education, and I am keen to keep developing my skills so I can make the biggest difference to pupils’ learning and well-being.
My advice to anyone thinking of starting an apprenticeship would be to make the most of every learning opportunity. It is not just about gaining a qualification-it is about building real skills and confidence in the workplace. I would say be open to feedback because that is how you improve, and do not be afraid to ask questions, as colleagues and mentors are there to support you. Finally, stay organised and manage your time well so you can balance work responsibilities with coursework. If you go in with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, an apprenticeship can be a really rewarding experience.”
In discussing Robyn’s impact on the school Zoe said “Robyn’s work is exceptional, and she has made a huge difference to the learning and educational outcomes of the children she teachers and managers. Reading and phonics skills of the children she teaches have improved their outcomes brining much better chances on their lives.”
If you are interested in developing your teaching staff through apprenticeships, book a discovery call with the LMP team today!
