Apprenticeships in LA-maintained schools

Training through the apprenticeship route is becoming an increasingly popular way for Norfolk settings to access CPD for the full range of staff who work in education be it catering staff, support staff, teachers, leaders or school business managers. This is due to both the variety and quality of the training available. This Support Staff Apprenticeship Pathways PDF (PDF) [274KB] highlights some of the apprenticeships available to the schools' workforce at a variety of levels.

The CPD can be fully funded through the apprenticeship levy meaning that schools only pay salary costs.

Please take a look at the webinar below for further details!

Apprenticeships for Schools webinar

We are happy to help LA-maintained schools with any queries - just email them to us at NCCapprenticeships@norfolk.gov.uk.

(Please note that information for multi-academy trusts is found on the Apprenticeships Norfolk website; email queries from MATS only should be sent to apprenticeships@norfolk.gov.uk.)

• Apprenticeships offer schools a cost-effective way to improve the skills of their workforce through offering a broad range of funded CPD opportunities for employees in many roles.
• Apprenticeships can not only be used to upskill existing employees but can also be used to recruit and train new staff.
• Every school is different, so apprenticeships can be tailored to suit the needs of the school by contextualising the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to be relevant to the specific need of the apprentice’s workplace
• They combine work with practical, on and off-the-job training and study.

In summary, apprenticeships can upskill staff, raise morale and reduce staff turnover.

Employing an apprentice can be an effective way to grow talent and develop a skilled and qualified workforce. An apprenticeship is a training opportunity, so it is important to acknowledge that the apprentice won't be fully competent straight away. You will need to accommodate this in your recruitment process and think about how you can gradually increase the complexity of their work.

Apprentices should ideally be contracted for at least 30 hours per week. Staff who work 16 hours or more per week can also be considered for an apprenticeship, but the course will take longer to complete. Ideally, the position should be permanent, but the contract must at least be long enough to cover the full length of the apprenticeship. Apprenticeships can last between 12 and 60 months depending on the subject and level.

If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please contact the NCC Apprenticeships Team who will be able to support on the following:

• Job description review
• Impartial training provider selection process
• Support with vacancy promotion
• Advisory support throughout the apprenticeship

The following leaflets may be of benefit to schools

• Apprenticeships available in Norfolk schools (PDF) [424KB]
• How could your school use apprenticeships (PDF) [425KB]
• School process flow charts (PDF) [147KB] for new and existing employees

Information on the types of available apprenticeships

• School support role apprenticeships (PDF) [180KB]
• Teaching apprenticeships (PDF) [205KB]
• Leadership and management apprenticeships (PDF) [204KB]

The training provider will work closely with your school to ensure that your apprentice receives:

• An induction programme on starting
• A detailed training plan (including on-the-job training)
• Regular progress reviews
• Opportunities to put into practice off-the-job learning so that they can achieve their qualifications/requirements of the apprenticeship
• Mentoring and general support throughout the apprenticeship

The Teaching Assistant Level 3 apprenticeship pathway has been used by a rising number of Norfolk schools since 2019, with many using this route for multiple members of staff as well as returning year on year to use the qualification.

The primary role of the Teaching Assistant is to support the class teacher to enhance pupils’ learning either in groups or individually, ensuring pupils understand the work set, know their learning objectives and stay on task in order to make progress.

The Teaching Assistant Level 3 apprenticeship is an 18-month qualification which is being completed alongside the day-to-day work. Every apprentice is given 20% of their paid hours by their employer for off-the job training and study time.

For further information, please see information on the Teaching assistant (opens new window) apprenticeship, on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website (opens new window).

It's vital that we bang the drum for apprenticeships as a great way to enhance your career, regardless of your age or where you are in your working life. It's not just young people starting out (although that's still crucial), an apprenticeship can be equally valid and valuable for colleagues who already have established careers and want to take the next step or diversify their skills. It's important that we push ourselves as individuals, and as an organisation, to stay ahead of developments and remain relevant to today's employment market and apprenticeships offer a real opportunity to do just that.

We created some information videos to share with schools

• Children, Young People and Families Practitioner Level 4 information video
• Early Years Lead Practitioner L5 information video
• School Business Professional - Barnsley College
• Teaching Assistant Level 3 information video
• Teacher Apprenticeship Level 6 information session

Our newsletters for Norfolk schools and other learning providers will include information to help you keep up-to-date with our apprenticeship programme at the County Council.

• Spring 2023 (PDF) [395KB] - this issue includes:
  • What's new?
  • Apprentice updates
  • Meet the NCC Apprenticeships Team
  • Myth buster: Apprenticeships are too expensive
  • Apprenticeships your school could offer
  • Get in touch!
• Autumn 2022 (PDF) [407KB] - our first issue includes:
  • Information on the Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5 apprenticeship
  • Updates
  • Meet the Team
  • Myth buster
  • Case study

The NCC Apprenticeships Team are here to help and support you with the apprenticeship set up, application, and funding advice.

If you would like to find out more about how apprenticeships could work for you and your school, please contact NCCapprenticeships@norfolk.gov.uk and we will be happy to help.