The broad purpose of the occupation is to support the education of learners by providing specialist support. Specialist teaching assistants plan, implement, and adapt activities in order to advance learning. They draw on research to develop a critical understanding of their specialist area and establish relationships with learners, families, other professionals and external agencies to support the education of the learners they work with.

Specialist teaching assistants contribute to developing a sense of inclusion and belonging for the benefit of the learners within the communities that they serve and reflect on both their own practices and support the training and development of others within their specialist area. They will specialise in one of three options:

• SEND
• social and emotional wellbeing
• curriculum provision

Gateway to completion requirements

For the Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant, the requirements are:

• the off-the-job requirements from the apprenticeship funding rules have been met
• English and maths qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules
• confirmation from the employer that the apprentice has met
• the behaviour requirements as set out in the apprenticeship assessment plan
• all assessment components have been taken and passed

Apprenticeship Assessment

The apprenticeship assessment for Specialist Teaching Assistant contains two methods of assessment. A Professional Discussion that must be NCFE assessed and a Portfolio with Q&A which can be delivered using one of two models offered by NCFE.