Apprentice of the Month –

Chloe Duckering – Level 3 Teaching Assistant

 

Chloe is a Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprentice based at St Michael’s Church of England Primary School, where she supports pupils across the classroom and beyond. With a strong passion for working with children and a clear ambition to continue her journey into early years teaching, Chloe’s apprenticeship is already having a meaningful impact on the children she works with.

 

A passion for supporting children from the very beginning

For Chloe, the desire to work with children started early. Reflecting on her own primary school experience, she explains that the role models around her played a huge part in shaping her career ambitions.

“Ever since I was in primary school myself, I wanted to work with children. I always wanted to become a role model, similar to the ones I used to look up to.”

That motivation led Chloe towards an apprenticeship route, giving her the opportunity to gain real, hands‑on experience in a school environment while developing the skills and confidence needed to support young learners effectively.

 

Growing in confidence and adapting to every learner

Throughout her apprenticeship, Chloe has gained valuable insight into what it really means to support a classroom full of children with different needs, personalities and learning styles. One of the biggest lessons for her has been understanding how no two learners are ever the same.

“Learning the different personalities in a classroom has been massive for me. I’ve developed confidence in myself, learned how to help the class achieve their goals, whether big or small, and how to teach in both structured and playful ways.”

Supporting learning in this way has helped Chloe build strong relationships with pupils while also developing the adaptability and patience that are essential in education.

 

Seeing real progress makes it all worthwhile

One of Chloe’s standout moments so far has come from working one‑to‑one with a pupil during phonics sessions. Watching a child grow in confidence and ability over time has reinforced why she chose this career path.

“A really good memory for me would be seeing the progression of a child I worked with one‑to‑one during phonics. Watching him improve week by week and retain what he had learned was amazing.”

Moments like this highlight the powerful impact apprentices can have in schools, particularly through consistent support, reassurance and encouragement.

 

Looking ahead

Chloe has clear ambitions for where she would like her career to lead. Building on the foundation she is developing through her apprenticeship, her long‑term goal is to progress into early years teaching.

“I’d love to work towards becoming an EYFS teacher.”

Her apprenticeship is providing her with the experience, knowledge and confidence needed to take those next steps with purpose.

 

Would Chloe recommend an inspire+ apprenticeship?

Without hesitation, Chloe says yes.

“I would definitely recommend becoming an inspire+ apprentice because it provides opportunities for yourself and your future career. It’s enjoyable, gives you valuable experience, and is a great chance to meet new people.”

Chloe’s journey is a brilliant example of how apprenticeships open doors, build confidence and create meaningful pathways into education, while making a real difference to children along the way.

To find out more about our apprenticeships, visit

www.inspireplus.org.uk/become-a-pe-apprentice