This National Apprenticeship Week (9th to 15th February), we are proud to celebrate the vital role apprenticeships play in developing confident, skilled professionals – particularly within the SEND workforce – and to reflect on the strong partnerships that make this possible.
CIT are supporting over 50 apprenticeships and we are delighted to work closely with BeReady, delivering all their Level 3 SEND Teaching Assistant Masterclasses, Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Masterclasses, and Early Years Educator with SEND training. Alongside this, we also contribute specialist training as part of apprenticeships delivered through Priory Apprenticeships, ensuring apprentices benefit from high-quality, evidence-informed input at key points in their programmes. Across these partnerships, our focus is always on equipping Teaching Assistants and early years practitioners with practical, in-class strategies that make a real difference for pupils.
In November, LEARN’s SEND Consultant Alison Redfern, delivered a Level 5 session for Priory Apprenticeships focusing on high-quality teaching (HQT), scaffolding and questioning – exploring how TAs can use these approaches to support learning effectively within the classroom. Looking ahead, further sessions are already planned, including a June session on planning and assessment, using these to provide meaningful feedback to both pupils and teachers, and an October session led by Jacqui on professionalism and communication, with a particular focus on understanding and supporting SEMH.
A key strength of our work with BeReady is the flexibility built into the training offer. Every module is available both live and as a recorded session, enabling apprentices to engage in a way that fits around their roles in school and early years settings. We support those new to the TA role through Level 3 training, provide bespoke modules tailored to EYFS contexts, and deliver Level 5 specialist content in areas such as language as a learning tool, delivering effective interventions, promoting independence, and understanding learning difficulties.
Central to all of this is our commitment to quality. We deliberately draw on internal expertise, deploying colleagues with the strongest experience and knowledge in each area to ensure training is relevant, credible and impactful. By working closely with apprenticeship providers and with one another, we are able to offer coherent, specialist support that helps Teaching Assistants develop their practice and confidence over time.
This National Apprenticeship Week, we celebrate apprentices, providers and partners alike – and the collective effort to ensure all Teaching Assistants can access high-quality training that supports inclusive practice and positive outcomes for pupils.
More about our apprenticeships to follow later in the week!
