Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Foundation Degree

The FdA Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship offers an exciting opportunity for both current and aspiring teaching assistants, support assistants, and learning mentors to build on their existing skills while gaining an academic qualification. The apprenticeship focuses on developing the knowledge and expertise needed to support the diverse and complex needs of learners within our education system.

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

To apply for the FdA Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship, you need to meet the following requirements:

Employer support, including agreeing to the 8 hours per week of off-the-job training during term time.

Relevant role as a teaching assistant or support worker in an educational setting

Personal statement demonstrating your professional experience, commitment to the role, and your motivation for taking the apprenticeship.

Please note: Applicants who do not meet the standard academic entry requirements may still be considered based on experience and employer endorsement.

Funding

Apprenticeships are fully funded by your employer if their wage bill is over £3 million each year.

The government will fund up to 95% of the apprenticeship’s course fees, up to the relevant funding band, if the organisation has spent all its levy or has an annual wage bill below £3 million each year. Employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy contribute 5% towards the total cost of the apprenticeship, the ESFA will contribute the other 95% directly to the University. Employers must have an account with the Apprenticeship Service Account to be able to reserve Government funding for an apprenticeship. This reservation ensures that funds will be available to pay for the training from the point the apprenticeship starts.

UK students: Employer / Government funded

UK/Home: Employer / Government funded

September 2026

• Leeds Trinity University, Online, United Kingdom