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.
Niamh Collins is a Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprentice at Oasis Academy Media City who utilised the apprenticeship path to grow her skills. Here is her story:
“I chose this programme because it gave me an opportunity to gain a more thorough understanding of my job as a teaching assistant and develop more skills that I could utilise in the classroom. It’s a great way to combine theory and practical experience!
An apprenticeship is a great way to deepen your knowledge and gain more confidence in your job. It allows you to upskill yourself and opens doors for more opportunities.
I have been really well supported by LMP Education. My tutor is incredibly helpful – I meet with her regularly to check in on my progress, and I can email her any time with any questions or concerns, and she always gets back to me quickly. My school is supportive too and gives me dedicated time in my timetable to focus on my apprenticeship.
I believe I’ve made the biggest impact in being the TA for the Nurture provision. I’ve been able to support students in Year 7 and 8 with some of the highest cognitive and behavioural needs in English and Maths. Our Year 7 class was initially working at a Year 2 level at the start of the year, but by the end of the year the whole class had massively improved, and all were on or above target in Maths. One of the biggest changes though, is that there was a clear difference in the confidence that all the students had with English and Maths and themselves, which was amazing to see.
One of the most valuable skills I’ve learnt is to continuously reflect on my practice. By being receptive to and implementing feedback that I get given, both at school and by my tutor, it means I keep continuously improving as a teaching assistant and can support the students better.
After completing this programme, I want to take on more responsibility as a HLTA or Specialist TA and then look at becoming an Educational Psychology in the future.
My advice to those considering an apprenticeship would be that if you want the chance to become more knowledgeable and skilful and you have extra time to commit to it, then go for it!”
Well done Niamh, best of luck in the future!
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