JCL Skills Solutions
411 followers
October 30, 2025
Schools today face an urgent reality: the challenge is no longer simply recruiting, but retaining the people who make the greatest difference. With rising SEND demand, high teacher and support-staff turnover, and ever-tightening budgets, leaders are asking: How do we keep the staff we value, not just hire new ones?
At JCL Skills Solutions we believe the answer lies in offering clear pathways for support staff, especially those working in SEND and intervention roles. When staff see that there is a meaningful route for progression, responsibility and recognition, retention improves and the whole school benefits.
Recent research underscores the scale of this issue. The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) reports that the unfilled vacancy rate for teachers is now six times higher than pre-pandemic. Meanwhile, the annual Gatsby Foundation-commissioned Teacher Recruitment and Retention report shows that fewer teachers now expect to remain in the profession for three years compared to earlier benchmarks. What this means for support staff is stark: when staff feel stuck without progression, when they face heavy workload or feel undervalued, their job satisfaction falls and retention becomes harder.
Support staff often join the profession because they care deeply about making a difference. They want to support learners, build relationships and deliver positive impact. Yet the reality can feel frustrating: limited progression routes, repetitive tasks, little recognition for growing excellence.
A defined career pathway changes that. When a school invests in a support staff member’s development, they are saying: We believe in you. You matter. You can grow here. That investment builds morale, commitment and loyalty.
The Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship is a powerful example of this approach in action. By offering support staff a professional qualification that enhances their role, leadership potential and sense of purpose, the apprenticeship transforms the TA role from a supporting position into one of partnership and leadership.
When staff return from such training:
- They bring new ideas, renewed confidence and higher job satisfaction.
- Teachers feel supported by proactive specialists who collaborate rather than cover.
- Schools develop stronger internal capacity, reducing reliance on agency cover.
- Stakeholders, governors, parents and inspectors see the impact of investment in staff rather than short-term fixes.
Retention isn’t just about keeping warm bodies in seats; it’s about building an environment where every staff member flourishes.
- Staff who feel supported stay longer, reducing recruitment costs and disruption.
- A stable support-team supports better outcomes, stronger relationships and improved morale across classrooms.
- Schools that grow talent internally build a culture of aspiration, learning and continuous improvement.
Investing in staff through the Level 5 apprenticeship makes financial sense. For levy-paying schools, existing funds can be used; non-levy schools typically contribute just 5 % around £600 towards the total cost. Compared with recurring agency or recruitment expenditure, the return on investing in retention is significant.
With SEND demand at record levels, schools cannot afford weak retention. Pupils with SEND require consistency, expertise and understanding yet high staff turnover undermines exactly that. By building specialist roles within your team and offering clear progression, you secure the quality of provision and the stability of your school community.
Join us to explore how
If you are a Headteacher, SENCO, Business Manager or school leader thinking about how to strengthen your team’s retention and build purposeful career routes for support staff, we invite you to our next free webinar:
Breaking the Cycle, A Smarter Solution Than Recruitment or Agencies
📅 12 November 2025 | 🕕 6:00-7:00pm | 💻 Online Free
Our Managing Director, Claire Lee, and Course Leader (ex-Headteacher), Neil, will discuss how the Level 5 Specialist TA Apprenticeship is being used to build retention, morale and sustainable capacity in schools.
👉 Reserve your place now: Here
Because retention starts with giving staff a path and the strongest schools invest in the journeys of their people.
INNOVATE | EDUCATE | EMPOWER
Sources:
https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/teacher-labour-market-in-england-annual-report-2025