JCL Skills Solutions
411 followers
October 14, 2025
Across the country, schools are facing increasing pressure to meet complex learner needs while managing limited budgets, stretched staff teams and rising SEND demand. For many leaders, the question is no longer how to do more, but how to do it sustainably.
At JCL Skills Solutions, we believe the answer lies within your existing team. When schools invest in the professional growth of their staff, they don’t just fill gaps, they build capacity, confidence and stability from the inside out.
Our Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship has become one of the most effective ways for schools to strengthen SEND provision and retain valuable staff. Designed to professionalise the TA role, it equips support staff with the skills, understanding and leadership qualities needed to make a measurable impact, from targeted interventions to classroom collaboration.
Many schools continue to rely on short-term measures such as agency staff or repeated recruitment cycles, but this approach is costly and disruptive. By contrast, developing existing staff through a funded apprenticeship pathway creates expertise that stays in your school, year after year.
The Education Committee’s 2025 workforce report highlights that retention among support staff remains a significant challenge, with many leaving due to workload and lack of progression. The Level 5 apprenticeship directly addresses this by providing clear career routes, recognised qualifications and professional pride.
Impact Across Every Level of the School
The ripple effects of upskilling support staff are far-reaching:
- Teachers gain skilled partners who understand pedagogy, differentiation and inclusion.
- Pupils benefit from consistency and expert support, particularly those with SEND or additional needs.
- Leaders gain capacity and stability, reducing dependency on supply and creating stronger in-house expertise.
- Governors and parents see clear value in a school’s investment in staff development.
When TAs complete the Level 5 programme, they return with new ideas, evidence-based practice and the confidence to lead interventions and mentor others. This helps embed a culture of professional learning and continuous improvement across the school.
The Financial Advantage
Funding this development is simpler and more affordable than many schools realise. Levy-paying schools can use their existing apprenticeship funds, while non-levy schools contribute just 5% around £600 toward the total cost.
Compared with ongoing agency or recruitment expenditure, this investment quickly pays for itself through improved retention, reduced turnover, and higher staff morale.
The latest DfE SEND data (2024) shows that 18.4% of pupils in England now have identified SEND, the highest figure on record. With this growing demand, schools need consistent, specialist support that can only come from within a well-trained and confident team.
Our Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship equips staff to manage complex needs effectively, enabling schools to create calmer, more inclusive learning environments where every child can thrive.
Join Our Next Free Webinar
If your school is exploring how to strengthen SEND provision, retain staff, and make every pound of your training budget count, join our next live Q&A session:
🗓 Wednesday 29th October 2025
🕕 6:00pm – 7:00pm
💻 Free online webinar
🎙 Hosted by Claire Lee (Managing Director) and Neil (Course Leader & Former Headteacher)
They’ll share practical insights on how the Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship can transform support teams and improve outcomes for learners across your school.
👉 Reserve your place now: https://shorturl.at/ZP8sc
Because the strongest schools don’t just react they build from within.
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