Engage Education is an international education recruitment agency that matches teachers, teaching assistants, and support staff with schools across the UK. Engage has partnered with LMP Education to provide Teaching Assistant apprenticeship training to support career development within the education sector.
Kaya (Ruqayyah) Angus is an Engage Education teaching assistant working at Ark Brunel Primary Academy in London. LMP Education has been providing Kaya with Level 3 training through our Teaching Assistant apprenticeship programme. Here is her story:
“What made me decide to do an apprenticeship was a combination of the course content that appealed to me, and it being a natural progression for my previous experiences and the skills I wanted to develop in working with children. After a few months as a Teaching Assistant and loving the role, the programme was presented to me and became the perfect opportunity, at the right time.
I had started the PGCE course at university but found that it didn’t feel like the right point in my life to pursue the role. I discovered I was enjoying supporting rather than leading and wanted to gain more experience in understanding the classroom and education, whilst improving my financial income.
For me, the benefits of an apprenticeship programme have been the support network, the qualification received at the end, the new opportunities that it presents and the fulfilment of getting to learn through both theoretical and practical applications.
I am most proud of the impact I have had on the children I work with, through the positive relationships I have built with them, and the growth that they have made in their learning and development.
The best thing about my role by far is the people; especially the young children I work with. I am so lucky to be part of such a wonderful school community, which also feels like a family.
My role has significantly increased my confidence and reduced anxiety; I discovered I can do more than I thought I could. I found I was also able to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
The development of my teaching and safeguarding skills has enabled me to protect the welfare and wellbeing of the children throughout their educational and developmental journey.
My advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship is don’t hesitate because you’re not sure about balancing studying and working; it’s a really interesting and rewarding experience that gives you the best of both. With the right support and effort, you can definitely do it!
I have had a great support network whilst on the programme, my mentors in school have really helped me to grow as a teaching assistant and welcomed me into a community. My LMP tutor, has been brilliant at explaining the theory and knowledge that we need to apply into practice, and incredibly supportive of the journey towards End Point Assessment. Their support, alongside my agency consultant, have really made my experience on the programme as smooth and rewarding as it could be.
After completing my apprenticeship, I would like to continue developing as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant, whilst keeping an open mind towards the future possibility of training as a teacher, through an apprenticeship or school direct route.”
Best of luck Kaya!
Do you want to start a career in education? Explore our Teaching and Early Years apprenticeships!
