The launch of the new Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant programme provided a much-needed progression route to the teaching assistant profession. This long awaited programme could help tackle the growing crisis of support staff recruitment within schools and give those looking to get into education a clear career path within the field.

The Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant programme was approved for delivery last month and there has been high levels of interest and a positive response from across the education sector. At the launch event, Alex Morris from the Department for Education’s (DfE) School Support Staff Policy Team, said: ‘It’s great to hear so many people from across the sector talking with such passion, enthusiasm and knowledge about the really important role that teaching assistants play in our schools.’

Previous TA progression routes

Prior to the launch of this programme teaching assistants had very few progression routes available. In the apprenticeship route, Teaching Assistants could begin in a Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship and had the option to continue onto a Level 4 Higher Level Teaching Assistant programme. Additionally, they could choose to seek higher education through a teaching degree. Learn more about LMP’s Teaching Assistant Development Programme.

This new Level 5 apprenticeship is equivalent to a foundation degree giving Teaching Assistants a strong viable path to progress in their profession outside of higher education, while getting valuable hands-on experience.

The TA recruitment and retention crisis

The education sector has been dealing with a support staff hiring crisis for some time. Shrinking budgets in schools made hiring difficult, and low wages and lack of recognition for TAs meant that many choose to leave to the profession in search for other career paths.

Introducing a viable career path for teaching assistants to move on to providing a clear pathway and journey. The Specialist Teaching Assistant programme will also allow teaching assistants to specialise in a specific field such as SEND or EAL allowing them to become more attractive to employers and provides better job satisfaction for TAs.

Become a Specialist Teaching Assistant

LMP Education are thrilled to offer one of the first ever cohorts of a Specialist Teaching Assistant programme.

TAs can specialise in one of three options:
SEND specialist teaching assistants support the implementation of SEND policy, processes, and procedure. They will advance learning for those learners with SEND.

Social and emotional well-being specialist teaching assistants support the implementation of policy, processes, and procedure in this area. They will focus on learners’ social and emotional well-being, to advance learning.

Curriculum provision specialist teaching assistants provide support for learners and advance learning in a specialist curriculum or subject area of expertise. This may include, but is not limited to, supporting with advancing learning through early reading or early maths interventions, supporting a specific subject area or forest school provision, or supporting provision for learners with English as an additional language (EAL).

The first cohort starts on 31 January 2025, join the waiting list today!

Learn more about the Specialist Teaching Assistant Programme.

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