Trainee Teaching Assistant (SEND) – Paid Apprenticeship

Trainee Teaching Assistant (SEND) – Paid Apprenticeship

Location: Pudsey
Salary: £10.00–£13.00 per hour (above apprenticeship rate)
Job Type: Full-time, Fixed-Term Apprenticeship (11 months)
Start Date: September 2026

Start a rewarding career in education – earn while you learn

Are you passionate about supporting young people and looking to begin a career in education?

Engage Education is recruiting a Trainee Teaching Assistant to work in a welcoming SEN school while completing a fully funded Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship. You’ll gain valuable classroom experience, receive expert mentoring, and earn a nationally recognised qualification – all while being paid from your first day.

This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in becoming a Teaching Assistant, SEND Specialist, HLTA, or Teacher.

What you’ll be doing

As a Trainee SEND Teaching Assistant, you’ll support students aged 2–19 with a range of additional needs, including:

• Autism
• ADHD
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs
• Moderate learning difficulties
• Speech, language and communication needs

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting students on a 1:1 basis and in small groups
• Helping pupils access learning across the curriculum
• Promoting positive behaviour and emotional wellbeing
• Delivering literacy, numeracy and intervention activities
• Following EHCP targets and individual support plans
• Preparing learning resources and assisting teachers during lessons
• Encouraging independence, confidence and engagement

What we’re looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you are:

• Passionate about supporting children and young people
• Patient, caring and enthusiastic
• Looking to start a career in education or SEND
• Reliable with excellent communication skills

This role would suit:

• Psychology or Education graduates
• Youth Workers
• Support Workers or Care Assistants
• Sports Coaches
• Teaching Assistants looking to gain a qualification
• Career changers
• Anyone with transferable experience supporting young people

Apprenticeship requirements

To be eligible, you should:

• Be able to commit to the full 11-month apprenticeship
• Have GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above (preferred)
• Not already be enrolled on another government-funded apprenticeship or training programme

What you’ll receive

• Competitive pay of £10.00–£13.00 per hour
• Fully funded Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship (CACHE)
• Earn while you learn with no course fees
• Dedicated mentor and ongoing support from Engage Education
• School-based training with real classroom experience
• Free CPD opportunities
• £50 Amazon referral bonus
• Full DBS application support
• Clear progression into permanent Teaching Assistant, SEND, HLTA and teacher training pathways

Apply today

If you’re ready to begin a rewarding career supporting young people with SEND, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today to become a Trainee SEND Teaching Assistant and gain a recognised qualification while earning a competitive salary.

All applicants must hold, or be willing to obtain, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full support with the application process will be provided.