APPRENTICE LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT
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Company: Our Lady's Catholic High School
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Location: Preston, PR2 3SQ
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Type: Apprenticeship
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Salary: Apprenticeship Minimum Wage
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Sector: Education and early years
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Ref: NAS-2000039103
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Application Deadline Date: 10/07/2026
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Start Date: 01/09/2026
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Positions Available: 2
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Working Week: A typical working day will follow the school timetable, starting between 8:40am and 8:55am (depending on the day) and finishing at 3:00pm, with an earlier 2:30pm finish on Tuesdays.
Brief Description
An exciting opportunity has now arisen for 2 dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to join our SEND department. This is a structured pathway to gain practical classroom experience and work towards a recognised Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification, all while actively contributing to the success and wellbeing of our pupils.
Training to be Provided
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training to work towards a Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification. This will include dedicated, protected off-the-job training time to complete coursework, build an evidence portfolio, and attend sessions with the assigned apprenticeship training provider. Internally at Our Lady's, the apprentice will receive robust, on-the-job mentoring from both myself and the SEND Intervention Lead.
We will provide hands-on training covering safeguarding protocols, our Catholic ethos, and how to effectively utilise a range of different teaching and learning approaches to support pupil access to learning.
They will also receive specific coaching on de-escalation techniques, adapting resources, and effectively navigating the UK SEND Code of Practice within a mainstream setting.
Future Prospects
Upon successful completion, the apprentice will hold a nationally recognised Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification. They will emerge as a highly competent, confident practitioner with substantial hands-on experience in a highly successful and supportive mainstream secondary school environment.
While a permanent position cannot be guaranteed at the outset, the apprentice will be exceptionally well-prepared to apply for permanent Learning Support Assistant or Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) roles within Our Lady's or the wider education sector. The experience and qualifications gained will also provide an excellent foundation for those looking to progress into pastoral management, specialist SEND roles, or university-level teacher training in the future.
Vacancy Detail
A typical working day will follow the school timetable, starting between 8:40am and 8:55am (depending on the day) and finishing at 3:00pm, with an earlier 2:30pm finish on Tuesdays. After a morning briefing with the SENDCO and teaching staff, the core of the day will involve supporting pupil access to learning using appropriate strategies and resources as directed by the class teacher.
The apprentice will support the provision for pupils with additional needs and assist in the implementation of individual education health care plans. Duties will be highly varied; one lesson may involve providing specific support in literacy, numeracy, and SEN strategies to enhance curriculum delivery, while another might involve implementing targeted support programs for pupils in relation to their individual needs, such as daily exercise routines.
Throughout the day, the apprentice will provide 1:1 mentoring for pupils and offer support for distressed pupils under the guidance of senior staff. They will also actively assist in maintaining classroom discipline through the consistent implementation of the academy's behaviour management strategies, specifically, our 'Behaviour 4 Learning' framework. The day concludes with providing constructive feedback to pupils and teachers regarding progress, achievement, attendance, and behaviour.
Other Information
Please note that in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, an online search will be carried out as part of our due diligence on shortlisted candidates.
Disclosure and Barring Service check.