Autism Support Practitioner Apprenticeship
A Level 5 specialist apprenticeship that builds expertise within your school to support autistic children and young people with confidence.
Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5 apprenticeship • Around 18 months • Funded through the Apprenticeship Levy
About the programme
Autistic pupils make up a growing proportion of learners in mainstream and specialist settings, and they do best when the adults around them understand autism and adapt their practice. The Autism Support Practitioner Apprenticeship gives experienced teaching assistants and support staff the specialist knowledge, skills and confidence to support autistic children and young people well.
Developed by Best Practice Network with Liberty Academy Trust, an award winning provider of autism education, the programme is built on the Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant standard. It combines evidence informed strategies with a deeper understanding of autism, sensory processing, communication differences, and behaviour as communication, so staff can adapt environments, personalise support and lead targeted help under the direction of a teacher or special educational needs coordinator (SENCO).
You will study over around 18 months, with facilitated online sessions, structured online learning and a portfolio of evidence, plus monthly coaching from an experienced practitioner, designed to fit around a busy support role. The programme is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy.
Who it’s for
- Teaching assistants who want to better support autistic pupils and have a greater impact on their learning and engagement
- SEND teaching assistants and learning support assistants looking to deepen their expertise with evidence informed strategies
- Higher level teaching assistants (HLTAs) ready to take on a more specialist role in autism support within their school or trust
What you’ll gain
- An accredited Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant qualification, alongside a Liberty Academy Trust certification
- A deeper understanding of autism, sensory processing and communication differences, and how to read behaviour as communication
- Practical strategies to create structured, low arousal environments, support regulation and wellbeing, and enable access to learning without lowering expectations
- The confidence to work in partnership with teachers, special educational needs coordinators, families and other professionals, using a strengths based, autism affirming approach
Find out more and apply
This apprenticeship is delivered by Best Practice Network, part of the Supporting Education Group, in partnership with Liberty Academy Trust. View the full course details, entry requirements and upcoming cohort dates, or speak to us about building it into your wider SEND strategy.