Sports Coach / Teaching Assistant Apprentice
Location: St Oswald’s Primary School, Mollington, Chester
Hours: 30 hours per week
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 12:00pm–6:00pm
Salary: Approximately £872–£1,040 gross per month
Programme length: Approximately 12 months
Employer: Vara Sports & Education
Start date: September
About the Role
Vara Sports & Education is looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and motivated individual to join our team as a Sports Coach and Teaching Assistant Apprentice.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about sport, enjoys working with children and wants to begin a long-term career within education.
You will be based at St Oswald’s Primary School, supporting children during the school day and helping to deliver engaging sports, physical activity and wraparound-care sessions.
Throughout the apprenticeship, you will gain practical school-based experience while completing a recognised qualification worth approximately £12,000, with no training costs to pay.
Your Responsibilities
Your role may include:
- Supporting teachers and teaching assistants in the classroom
- Working with individual children and small groups
- Supporting pupils with additional needs
- Helping children remain engaged and included in learning
- Assisting with PE lessons and physical activities
- Planning and delivering fun, age-appropriate sports sessions
- Supporting lunchtime and after-school activities
- Setting up, checking and safely storing equipment
- Promoting teamwork, confidence, independence and positive behaviour
- Following safeguarding, health and safety and school procedures
- Building positive professional relationships with pupils, staff and families
- Completing apprenticeship coursework and attending required training
You will receive guidance, mentoring and ongoing support throughout the programme.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who:
- Is passionate about sport, physical activity and education
- Enjoys working with primary-aged children
- Is friendly, enthusiastic and approachable
- Communicates clearly and confidently
- Is patient, reliable and well organised
- Can work effectively as part of a team
- Is willing to learn and respond positively to feedback
- Can act as a positive role model for children
- Is committed to inclusion and supporting children of all abilities
- Can reliably travel to St Oswald’s Primary School each day
Previous experience in sport, coaching, childcare, volunteering or education would be helpful, but it is not essential. Full training and support will be provided.
A driving licence and access to a vehicle would be beneficial but are not essential, provided you can travel reliably to the school.
Benefits of the Apprenticeship
- Gain a recognised qualification worth approximately £12,000
- Pay nothing towards the cost of your training
- Earn a monthly salary while completing your qualification
- Gain valuable experience within a primary school
- Receive protected time to complete apprenticeship work
- Develop skills in coaching, classroom support, behaviour management, safeguarding and SEND
- Work alongside experienced teachers, teaching assistants and sports coaches
- Receive regular mentoring, training and feedback
- Build confidence leading groups and supporting individual children
- Gain valuable experience for your CV
- Opportunity to progress into a permanent, full-time salaried role following successful completion, subject to performance and a suitable vacancy being available
Benefits of Working for Vara
- Supportive and friendly management team
- Ongoing professional development
- Clear career-progression opportunities
- First refusal on suitable future coaching, teaching and school-support roles
- Opportunities to work across our growing network of primary schools
- Optional additional paid work during school holidays and half terms
- Opportunities to work at Vara holiday camps and wraparound-care provisions
- Access to further qualifications and specialist training
- Employee rewards and recognition
- Staff social events and wellbeing initiatives
- A positive working culture built around our value of “Always Be Kind”
- The opportunity to work for a growing, award-winning sports and education company
Future Progression
This is more than a one-year course. Our aim is to help the successful applicant develop the skills, qualifications and confidence needed to build a long-term career in sport and education.
Potential future opportunities may include:
- Sports Coach
- Teaching Assistant
- SEND Teaching Assistant
- Higher-Level Teaching Assistant
- PE Lead
- Wraparound-Care Leader
- Holiday Camp Leader
A permanent full-time salaried role may be offered following successful completion of the apprenticeship, subject to satisfactory performance and a suitable vacancy being available.
Requirements
Applicants must:
- Have the right to work in the UK
- Be eligible to complete an apprenticeship
- Be available Monday to Friday, 12:00pm–6:00pm
- Be willing to complete all required training
- Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
- Complete Vara’s full safer-recruitment process
Safer Recruitment
Vara Sports & Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
The successful applicant will be subject to:
- An enhanced DBS check and relevant barred-list checks
- Identity and right-to-work checks
- Satisfactory professional references
- Qualification and employment-history checks
- Discussion of any gaps in employment or education
- Any further safeguarding checks relevant to the position
Pay: £872.00-£1,040.00 per month
Application question(s):
- Do you have a DBS on the update service and have the paper copy with it ?
- How many years experience do you have working with children ?
Work Location: In person
