Apprentice to Distinction Achiever: Isla’s Teaching Assistant Story
At Stockwell Academy, apprenticeships continue to play a vital role in developing confident, skilled practitioners ready to make a real impact in the classroom. One standout success is Isla, who has achieved her Teaching Assistant apprenticeship with a Distinction, marking a significant milestone at the start of her career in education.
Starting Her Journey
Isla joined Stockwell Academy after discovering the apprenticeship on Indeed, driven by a strong passion for working with children and gaining meaningful classroom experience.
From the outset, she was welcomed into a supportive environment and quickly became part of the daily rhythm of the foundation stage. Her role involved supporting children’s learning, assisting with behaviour management, helping set up the classroom, and working closely with teaching staff to support both learning and personal development.
Reflecting on her early experience, Isla said, “I quickly became more confident and built relationships with the staff and the children.” She also described her initial expectations clearly: “I expected to gain experience of working in a classroom and develop my skills over time, with support from my colleagues.”
Developing Skills and Confidence
As the apprenticeship progressed, Isla developed a strong set of transferable skills, including communication, teamwork, and behaviour management. She also built a deeper understanding of safeguarding, school procedures, and child development theory, which strengthened her ability to support pupils effectively. She reflected on her development, “I have developed a range of practical and transferable skills such as communication, behaviour management, teamwork, and more.” Personally, the experience also helped her develop resilience and patience when managing the demands of a busy classroom environment.
Making a Difference in the Classroom
Isla’s contribution had a noticeable impact on both pupils and staff. Her manager, Julia, Year 1 Teacher and KS1 Phase Leader, highlighted how she supported a wide range of classroom responsibilities, including phonics, small-group learning, behaviour support, and daily routines. Julia explained, “Isla worked as a teaching assistant in a busy foundation stage unit, supporting both learning and care on a daily basis.”
She also noted the wider impact on teaching and learning, “Her presence has enabled teaching staff to be deployed more effectively, particularly by leading small-group sessions and supporting targeted learning, planning and assessment.” Isla’s work helped ensure smoother classroom routines and allowed staff to focus more closely on pupil progress and targeted support.
Support and Team Development
A key factor in Isla’s success was the supportive approach of the staff team, who gradually built her confidence and responsibility over time. Julia shared, “The team embraced the apprenticeship role as a valuable addition to classroom practice.” She also highlighted the importance of consistent guidance: “Staff provided clear guidance and ongoing support to help her develop her skills within the foundation stage setting, while also gradually increasing her responsibility as her confidence grew.” Isla herself recognised the value of this environment, “Everyone I worked with was incredibly supportive and helpful.”
Achievements and Future Aspirations
One of Isla’s proudest achievements has been recognising the positive impact she has had on the children she supports each day. The experience has also helped confirm her long-term career ambitions within education. Following the completion of her apprenticeship, Isla will remain at Stockwell Academy as an employed Teaching Assistant before progressing to university in September, where she will study Primary Education at Lincoln Bishop University to become a teacher herself.
Advice for Others
Looking ahead, Isla plans to use everything she has learned throughout her apprenticeship to support her studies, future placements, and eventually her own classroom practice.
For anyone considering an apprenticeship, Isla’s advice is: “I would say go for it, especially if you prefer learning on the job. It is a great way to develop real-life skills.”
A Distinction-Worthy Finish
Isla’s journey is a strong example of how apprenticeships can build confidence, capability, and career direction in a real classroom setting. Her dedication and consistent development throughout the programme have led to a well-earned Distinction, reflecting both her hard work and the positive impact she continues to make at Stockwell Academy.
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Emily Simpson
Emily is our Digital Marketing/Learner Engagement Apprentice and is involved with all things social media and content development. She is also responsible for attending career events and maintaining relationships with local schools and colleges.