Education
Apprenticeships | Careers | Learning
Who We Are
At ACL Essex, we believe that great schools are built on great people. As the largest provider of adult learning in Essex and part of Essex County Council, we work in partnership with schools across the county to strengthen leadership, management, and professional skills that support whole-school improvement.
Our professional apprenticeships are ideal for school staff already in post— helping you upskill your team, nurture future leaders, and build capacity from within. From aspiring middle leaders to experienced senior staff, our flexible, high-quality training is designed to meet the unique needs of the education sector.
Whether you’re developing your next generation of school leaders or investing in your current team, ACL Essex is here to help you grow a confident, capable workforce that delivers lasting impact.
Apprenticeships
Grow your organisation’s skills, strengthen leadership capability, and retain top talent with government supported apprenticeship training.
Work-Based Training
Flexible, accredited training programmes tailored to your needs — without requiring apprenticeship funding or levy payments.
Funding and Support
We simplify the funding process, helping you navigate available options, including accessing our Levy Transfer Service for fully funded training.
aclessex.com/employers
acl.businessdevelopment@essex.gov.uk
03330 139 502
Apprenticeships
At ACL Essex, we support schools in developing confident, capable staff through high-quality apprenticeship programmes. Our training helps build stronger support teams and more resilient school communities.
These programmes are designed for current school employees — helping to nurture emerging talent, strengthen leadership, and prepare your team for future challenges in education.
Flexible Learning for Busy School Environments
Our flexible delivery model combines inperson workshops with online learning, making it ideal for school timetables. Our cohort-based approach also encourages collaboration and shared learning across schools and educational settings.
Investing in Your School’s Future
Apprenticeships aren’t just for new staff. Upskilling your existing team fosters innovation, boosts morale, and builds a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals ready to support your school’s success.
Proud to be an Ofsted ‘Good’ provider.
Rated December 2023.
Our Programmes
Level 3 Teaching Assistant
Support teachers, engage pupils, and build the essential skills to thrive in a school environment.
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant
Specialise in areas such as SEND, emotional well-being, EAL, or forest schools. Gain the tools to support learners with diverse needs.
Level 3 Team Leader
Learn how to lead small teams, manage performance, and create a positive working environment.
Level 5 Coaching Professional
Develop coaching techniques that help colleagues reflect, improve, and reach their goals.
Level 5 Operations Manager
Gain the skills to manage school operations effectively and align your work with strategic goals.
Level 3 Teaching Assistant
Duration
18 months
Start Dates
This apprenticeship is offered four times per year
Study Modes
Online live teaching and classroom-based learning
Cost
£5,000 (levy-funded) / £500 (non-levyfunded with 95% government support)
Why Choose This Programme?
The Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprenticeship offers schools a structured, high-quality route to developing confident, capable support staff who make a measurable impact in the classroom. Aligned with national standards, this programme equips teaching assistants with the knowledge and practical skills to support learning, manage behaviour effectively, and contribute to inclusive education. It’s fully
funded, minimising cost to the school, and designed to integrate seamlessly into the working day—ensuring minimal disruption and maximum benefit. Investing in this programme means investing in a stronger, more skilled workforce that supports pupil progress and whole-school improvement.
Programme Highlights:
Develop a deep understanding of child development and how to support learning at every stage, learn strategies to deliver engaging and inclusive support, gain confidence in using assessment and feedback, build skills to adapt communication and resources for learners with diverse needs, understand and apply safeguarding, Prevent, and health & safety procedures effectively, strengthen collaboration through professional conduct and use technology safely and effectively to support learning.
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant
Duration
24 months
Start Dates
This apprenticeship is offered four times per year
Study Modes
Online live teaching and classroom-based learning
Cost
£12,000 (levy-funded) / £1,200 (non-levyfunded with 95% government support)
Why Choose This Programme?
This programme offers a powerful opportunity to develop highly skilled specialist teaching assistants who can make a meaningful impact across a wide range of educational settings. Whether supporting learners with SEND, promoting social and emotional wellbeing, or delivering targeted curriculum interventions, specialist TAs are trained to plan, adapt, and evaluate learning activities with confidence and care. They
build strong relationships with learners, families, and professionals, contributing to a culture of inclusion and achievement. With a strong emphasis on reflective practice, research-informed approaches, and collaboration, this apprenticeship helps schools grow internal expertise, strengthen provision, and raise outcomes for all learners.
Programme Highlights
Promote inclusion, equality, and respect by challenging stereotypes and supporting the school’s ethos, follow safeguarding and confidentiality procedures, work collaboratively to support every learner’s progress, reflect on practice and seek professional development, use tailored strategies to meet learners’ individual needs, encourage independent learning and positive behaviour and contribute to teaching, assessment, enrichment, and the creation of engaging, inclusive learning spaces.
Level 3 Team Leader
Duration
12 - 18 months
Start Dates
This apprenticeship is offered four times per year
Study Modes
Blended learning – live online sessions and in-person workshops
Cost
£5,000 (fully levy-funded) or just £500 for non-levy schools (with 95% government funding)
Why Choose This Programme?
Designed for aspiring or newly appointed team leaders in education, this apprenticeship equips school staff with the practical leadership skills needed to manage people, projects, and priorities effectively. It’s a cost-effective way to grow confident, capable leaders from within your existing team—supporting school improvement and staff retention..
Programme Highlights
Understand leadership styles and how to apply them in a school setting, set SMART goals and manage team performance with clarity, use coaching and mentoring to support colleagues’ development, navigate conflict and build strong relationships with stakeholders, improve time management and personal effectiveness, make informed decisions using data and evidence.
Level 5 Coaching
Professional Duration
14 months
Start Dates
This apprenticeship is offered four times per year
Study Modes
Blended learning – live online sessions and in-person workshops
Cost
£5,000 (fully levy-funded) or £500 for non-levy schools (with 95% government funding)
Why Choose This Programme?
Coaching is a powerful tool for developing confident, reflective staff who can support others to grow and thrive. This programme helps school leaders and experienced educators build the skills to have meaningful coaching conversations that improve performance, boost engagement, and support professional development across the school community.
Programme Highlights
Practical coaching models and frameworks tailored for education, developing emotional intelligence to support effective coaching relationships, goal setting and action planning to drive progress, understanding ethics, confidentiality, and boundaries in coaching and techniques to enhance individual and team performance in school settings
Level 5 Operations
Manager
Duration
Typically, 24 months
Start Dates
This apprenticeship is offered four times per year
Study Modes
Blended learning – live online sessions and in-person workshops
Cost
£9,000 (fully levy-funded) or £500 for non-levy schools (with 95% government funding)
Why Choose This Programme?
Strong operational leadership is essential in today’s school environment. This programme develops confident, strategic managers who can lead teams, manage resources, and deliver schoolwide improvements. Whether overseeing finance, facilities, administration, or support services, participants gain the tools to drive efficiency, manage change, and align operations with school priorities.
Programme Highlights
Strategic planning and setting key performance indicators (KPIs), project and risk management tailored to school operations, budgeting and financial planning in an educational context, leading diverse, high-performing teams across departments, stakeholder and relationship management within and beyond the school and critical thinking, problem-solving, and data-informed decision-making.
Work-Based Training
ACL Essex offers a variety of professional development programmes outside of apprenticeships to help build skills and strengthen education provision. Our team can guide you through the funding process to ensure training remains accessible and affordable.
Key Programmes
Level 2
Diabetes Care and Management, Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities, Understanding Behaviour that Challenges, Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties and Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.
Level 3
Principles of Leadership and Management, Understanding Autism, Diabetes Care and Management and Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.
Scan the QR code or visit aclesssex.com/employers to browse our full offer.
Funding & Support
Funding Your Apprenticeship and Training Programmes
Our dedicated team work with you to find the right funding streams and ensures your investment in training delivers maximum impact.
Apprenticeship Levy
For Employers with Payroll Over £3m:
• 0.5% of payroll allocated into an apprenticeship account.
• 100% funding available for eligible apprenticeship training.
Benefits
• Fully funded workforce training.
• Tailored training solutions to meet business goals.
Non-Levy Paying Employers
For Employers with Payroll Under £3m:
• 95% government-funded apprenticeship training.
• Only a 5% employer contribution required.
Levy Transfer Service
ACL Essex can connect non-levy paying employers with levy-paying businesses willing to transfer unused funds, covering 100% of training costs.
How We Can Help:
• Simplify the funding process.
• Maximise available support.
• Ensure training solutions are accessible and aligned with your organisation’s needs.