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Teaching Assistant SEND Pathway Apprenticeship Level 3

Gain practical experience and theoretical knowledge with this Level 3 SEND Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship. Learn skills to effectively support students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the classroom. Suitable for those who are passionate about advocating for children with SEND and ensuring they are heard and supported.

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Apprenticeship Level

3 Advanced

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Typical Duration

16 Months

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Training Method

Blended Learning

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Assessment Method

Portfolio

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Funding Value

£7,000

EPA Organisation

NCFE

The next cohort for this programme starts 8 September

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Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship SEND Pathway Level 3

This Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship provides rewarding and fulfilling career path involving hands-on learning and the implementation of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) policies, processes, and procedures.

Work will support learning for students with SEND, ensuring that tailored strategies are in place to meet these learners’ needs. You may collaborate with SENCOs and external agencies to provide specialised support.

This work-based training programmes allows you to learn as you earn earning a wage while working towards a nationally recognised Level 3 certificate.

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 plus SEND specific workshops.

You will support learning for those learners with SEND and the implementation of SEND policy, processes, and procedures.

Learn more about LMP Education’s SEND offering.

Watch Video - Teaching Assistant Malana

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Employer benefits

Taking on a SEND Teaching Assistant Apprentice is a valuable investment for employers looking to strengthen their team and nurture future talent in the education sector.

Tailored Training for SEND: Apprentices are trained with a focus on inclusion, differentiation, communication strategies, and behaviour management—all vital for supporting SEND pupils.

Immediate Impact: As they learn, apprentices provide one-to-one or small group support, helping pupils with EHCPs, autism, speech & language needs, SEMH, and more.

Support for Teachers & SENCOs: Apprentices can take on routine support tasks, freeing up time for teachers and specialist staff to focus on planning and interventions.

Improved Outcomes for SEND Pupils: With more support available, students with SEND often make stronger progress and feel more included.

Supports Ofsted & Inclusion Goals: Investing in trained SEND support staff demonstrates your school’s commitment to inclusive education and can strengthen inspection outcomes.

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.

The programme is ideal for Teaching Assistants working in mainstream or specialist schools who want to achieve a recognised qualification whilst gaining additional support for the SEND responsibilities.

The programme combines practical experience and theoretical knowledge to increase skills to effectively support students with SEND. This role will typically work with small groups of children with SEND to help them get the most out of classroom life and provide a positive impact on their learning outcomes.

SEND Teaching Assistants provide individualised support, promote inclusion, and help students with SEND thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Typical job roles

Teaching Assistant, SEN Teaching Assistant, Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Specialised Teaching Assistant, 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 SEND Higher-Level Teaching Assistant, Specialist Teaching Assistant, Assistant Teacher and Teacher.

LMP Education offers various progression paths for this apprenticeship including a Level 4 Higher Level Teaching Assistant SEND Pathway Apprenticeship and a Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship.

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.

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

Impact Lives Daily: You’ll support pupils with a range of needs—autism, ADHD, speech & language, SEMH, physical disabilities—and help them thrive.

Specialist Knowledge: You’ll gain training in areas like autism strategies, Makaton/PECS, sensory needs and differentiated instruction.

In-Demand Skills: SEND experience is highly valued across the education sector—especially as inclusion becomes more of a priority.

Teaching Assistant Development Programme: access a suite of Anspear CPD courses designed to support TAs with additional skills and knowledge.

Career pathway: this apprenticeship programme offers a potential fast track to a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship or Specialist Teaching Assistant

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

As a SEND Teaching Assistant apprentice, you will develop a wide range of skills including developing learning strategies for pupils, embedding effective behaviour management strategies, and recognising, adapting and responding to all pupils encompassing SEN/emotional vulnerabilities.

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 the implementation of SEND policy, processes and procedures. Gain confidence by building skills and knowledge, whilst preparing for the responsibility of influencing positive SEND outcomes.