First celebrated in 2012, National Teaching Assistants’ Day was conceived in recognition of Teaching Assistants in primary, secondary and SEND schools across the country.
Celebrated on September 29th, the day gave us opportunity to reflect on the vital yet often under-appreciated work Teaching Assistants do and the positive impact they can have in the classroom.
In this blog, Ignite Training speaks to two apprentices about their experiences of the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship and their thoughts on the next steps in their professional development.
Dynamic learning
Lahna enrolled in the apprenticeship with considerable previous experience in education and decided to enrol in the apprenticeship to strengthen her career development.
Lahna said: “The experience has been incredible, with a great mix of individual and group work and hybrid online and in-person delivery.
“I have particularly appreciated having a responsive tutor at Ignite who has consistently provided informative feedback on my work.
“The apprenticeship has allowed me to obtain valuable experience and gives me a wealth of possibilities to consider for the next steps in my professional life.
“I would highly recommend Ignite Training’s apprenticeships for anybody looking to up-skill and achieve their future career ambitions.”
Flexible and adaptable
Aimee is another apprentice whose sports studies at sixth form were disrupted by the pandemic.
Lockdown put her studies on hold and she took some time to reflect on the range of options open to her. She became aware of the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship, and contacted Ignite to explore the opportunity further, and is now coming towards the end of her Level 3 apprenticeship Tyndale Primary School.
Aimee said: “My experience with Ignite has been excellent, and my tutor has provided great one-to-one support and regular catch ups.
“From the start, they have made sure the training was right for me and my career goals.
“Sport is my passion, and I was unsure if the Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship would be active enough.
“However, when I started speaking to Ignite, they reassured me that they could be flexible and shape the apprenticeship to fit my preferences.
“They have consistently co-ordinated with the school to ensure I could participate in PE lessons, which has helped me plan my next steps.
“This has kept the door open for me to go down the sports route and continue my studies on the Level 4 Sports Coach apprenticeship.”
Apprenticeships for all
Sorcha Murphy, Business Development Manager at Ignite Training, said: “Lahna and Aimee’s experiences reflect Ignite’s approach to apprenticeships.
“Our aim is to broaden the horizons of our apprentices and increase the opportunities available to them, whether that be gaining employment in a relevant field or providing a stepping stone to continue their studies further.
“A major misconception around apprenticeships is that they are aimed solely at post-GCSE school leavers as an alternative to A-Levels and University.
“In reality, nothing could be further from the truth – they are an excellent, cost-effective option to earn while you learn and boost your professional development at any stage of your career.”
Get in touch!
Interested in learning more about our education provisions? Visit our dedicated apprenticeships and courses page by clicking here or contact our friendly team direct via:
Email: s.murphy@ignitesportuk.com
Phone: 07704 346073
