Claire Martin is a 50-year-old Teaching Assistant at Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancashire. She embarked on a Level 3 Teaching Assistant SEND Pathway Apprenticeship with LMP Education in November 2023.
After working as a Teaching Assistant for 8 years, Claire sought to advance her career while balancing her full-time job and family commitments. An apprenticeship programme allowed her to study and develop her skills during working hours, making it an ideal choice given her responsibilities.
Claire highlights the ability to dedicate time to studying and developing her skills during work hours as a significant advantage of the apprenticeship program. With a full-time job and two teenage children, setting aside additional time for study would have been challenging. The programme enables her to learn continuously, access support from colleagues, line managers, and her employer whenever needed.
“One of the best things about my apprenticeship is supporting students to be the best that they can be. Developing professional relationships with pupils to support their wider learning and support them to develop skills that will see them school and into their lives beyond.
My tutor Ria is always available, via email, telephone and through our regular online meetings. My colleagues and line manager also support me daily to develop my skills and are always available to answer questions whenever I need support.
I think the most important skill I have learned so far is supporting the whole individual as much as we can. Even though we are supporting teaching and learning, pupils struggle to learn when they are not comfortable, confident and happy. If we can help a pupil feel accepted and valued in the classroom, we are closer to helping them to access the teaching and learning around them.
I look forward to developing my role at my school, taking on additional responsibilities and seeing where the future takes me!”
We wish Claire the best of luck with her apprenticeship!
Find out more about Teaching Assistant with SEND Pathway.
