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Teaching Assistant Sports Pathway Apprenticeship Level 3

This programme combines the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship with the Level 3 Diploma in Delivering Physical Activity and Sport within the School Environment, equipping learners with the skills to plan and deliver engaging, safe, and inclusive PE and sport sessions.

While the focus is on promoting teamwork, resilience, leadership, physical fitness, and wellbeing, the pathway also includes embedded SEND training, giving learners the confidence to adapt activities and support pupils with a range of needs

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Apprenticeship Level

3 Advanced

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Typical Duration

17 Months

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Training Method

Blended Learning

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Assessment Method

Observation with Questions and Portfolio with Discussion

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Funding Value

£7,000

EPA Organisation

NCFE

The next cohort for this programme starts 2 December

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Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Sports Pathway Level 3

This Level 3 Teaching Assistant Sports Pathway Apprenticeship provides rewarding and fulfilling career path involving hands-on learning and supporting with physical education.

This work-based training programmes allows you to learn and earn whilst working towards the Level 3 Apprenticeship and Diploma in Delivering Physical Activity and Sport within the School Enrivonment.

This programme uses the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Standard along with an embedded coaching qualification to enable those in a Sports Teaching Assistant role to achieve a relevant qualification whilst working in this position.

Delivered through Articulate Rise, this flexible, interactive programme features 9 expertly designed modules, covering crucial topics such as child development, classroom support strategies and safeguarding practices.

Watch video - Teaching Assistant Finn

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Employer benefits

Boosted PE Delivery: A sports TA helps deliver more effective, structured, and inclusive PE lessons—especially useful for large classes or limited teaching time.

Wider Access to Sport: With extra support, you can offer more lunchtime and after-school sports clubs, engaging a broader range of pupils.

Targeted Interventions: Sports TAs can work with specific pupils—those with low confidence, challenging behaviour, or SEND—to build social skills, teamwork, and resilience through physical activity.

Improved Behaviour and Focus: Physical activity is linked to better behaviour and concentration. Having a dedicated sports TA means more pupils get the chance to release energy constructively.

Supports School Improvement Plans: Increased physical activity can improve attendance, engagement, and overall pupil wellbeing—linking directly to Ofsted’s focus on personal development.

Hiring an apprentice is a cost-effective way to grow your team. This apprenticeship is government-funded (up to 100% depending on the size of your business) and can be funded using the apprenticeship levy.

Apprentices are trained on the job, allowing you to shape their skills to fit your school’s specific needs. Apprenticeships open doors for people from different backgrounds, helping schools reflect their communities.

This programme is ideal for learners who are passionate about education with a particular interest in physical education and sports and are looking to get into a career in teaching or are currently working as Teaching Assistants and would like to upskill and gain a qualification.

By the end of the programme, learners will be a key part of the school community, working alongside teachers to create an inclusive, inspiring environment where every child can thrive both in the classroom and on the field.

Typical job roles

Teaching Assistant, Curriculum leader, Head of Department, Sports Assistant, Support Teacher.

As well as ensuring full competency as a Teaching Assistant, this standard provides a foundation for potential progression into a number of career paths in the educational sector. These roles include the Higher-Level Teaching Assistant, Specialist Teaching Assistant, Assistant Teacher and Teacher.

Discover our Teaching Assistant Development Programme!

To start this apprenticeship, you must have lived in the UK 3+ years minimum and have a form of UK ID required at enrolment. You must be age 16+ (with no upper age limit) with no prior learning within the area of study.

Hands-On Experience: You’re in the thick of it—helping run PE lessons, sports clubs and school sports events.

Active Learning: You’re not stuck behind a desk. Your learning happens on the pitch, in the gym, and in the classroom.

Coaching & PE Support Skills: Learn how to structure sessions, deliver warm-ups, support skill development and adapt activities.

Child Development Knowledge: Understand how physical activity supports mental health, behaviour and learning.

Recognised Qualification: upon completion of this programme, you will receive a nationally recognised certification.

Ongoing support: access to a LMP Tutor providing 1-2-1 support throughout your apprenticeship.

Progress to Further Qualifications: You can use this apprenticeship as a route into teaching, youth work, fitness or specialist coaching roles.

In this comprehensive Level 3 programme you will gain knowledge that will be able to implement in your day-to-day role such as understanding the need to provide feedback, recognising the different stages of child development through school, understanding the need to accurately observe, record, and report on pupils’ participation, conceptual understanding and progress.

You will support in PE classes as well as classroom activities, promoting self-belief, social inclusion and high self-esteem which will play an integral part to pupils’ wellbeing.

– Learners must be a minimum of 17 years old at registration and 18 years old at certification

– Sports background desirable but not essential (e.g. GCSE PE, BTEC Sport, Community Activator Level 2)

– Being able to shadow colleagues at the start (e.g. lead warm-ups) then progressing onto full class delivery (assisted)

– Being able to complete a 1st Aid course during the course