The level 5 apprenticeship ‘Specialist Teaching Assistant’ (STA) is described as follows: ‘Specialist teaching assistants support provision related to special educational needs and disability (SEND), the social and emotional well-being, of learners, or within another area of specialist curriculum provision such as forest schools, EAL, subject-based interventions or music education.’
STAs will work alongside colleagues across all ages and abilities in primary, secondary and special schools, alternative provision, sixth forms and colleges, and other education settings such as music hubs.
The training includes standard core elements of advancing learning, planning and assessment, communication, professionalism, regulation and guidance, and one of the following specialist themes: Specialist Educational Needs and Disabilities; Social and emotional well-being; Curriculum provision.
On the Music Mark website, Lynne Allsopp and Edsential music service leader Alison Corten write:
‘As a consequence of this apprenticeship, Music Educators will:
- become knowledgeable practitioners who can advance learning in an informed and enabling manner within their specialist area, leading others through their thoughtful practices.
- be able to adapt practices in a principled way.
- be capable communicators interacting with learners, parents, professionals, colleagues and agencies to the support and advocate for the quality of learning.
- benefit from exploring the productive connection between research, key concepts and systematic knowledge so as to expand and enrich their approaches to working with children and young people.
- develop others by working alongside them directly with children and young people.’
With an approved funding band of up to £12,000, eligible employers will now be able to use their levy towards the training costs.
Further details can be found here.
