Apprentice of the Month –
Leo Moore – Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprentice
Leo Moore is a Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprentice at South Witham Academy, where he supports pupils both in the classroom and through PE lessons. Having progressed through multiple apprenticeship levels with inspire+, Leo’s journey demonstrates how apprenticeships can provide a clear pathway into teaching while building valuable experience and confidence along the way.
Building a pathway into teaching
For Leo, a passion for sport has always played a significant role in his life. With a love for football and physical activity, pursuing a career that combined education and sport felt like a natural fit.
Leo began his apprenticeship journey as a Level 2 Community Activator Coach before progressing onto a Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprenticeship. Looking back, he recognises how valuable that route has been in helping him develop both professionally and personally.
“As someone who loves football and sports, going into teaching sports was the right pathway for me. I started on a Level 2 Community Activator Coach apprenticeship and after passing that, I moved up to the Level 3 Teaching Assistant course.”
The apprenticeship route appealed to Leo because it offered practical, hands-on experience while providing a clear pathway towards his ultimate goal of becoming a teacher.
“inspire+ offer a simple way to work yourself up to be a teacher whilst gaining valuable experience along the way.”
Growing in confidence through experience
One of the biggest changes Leo has noticed since starting his apprenticeship has been the growth in his confidence.
Leading PE sessions on a regular basis has pushed him outside of his comfort zone and allowed him to develop the skills needed to engage and inspire young people.
“It has helped me significantly with my confidence by teaching in front of children on a daily basis and pushing me out of my comfort zone.”
Alongside developing his teaching skills, Leo has also gained valuable experience working with children with SEND. By observing colleagues, seeking advice and learning from experienced practitioners, he has broadened his understanding of how to support pupils with a range of needs.
“I have gained my confidence significantly by putting myself in challenging situations and leading all of the PE sessions. I have learned how to deal with children who have SEND by taking advice and watching how others support those children.”
Making a difference beyond the classroom
One of Leo’s most memorable experiences highlights the impact that teaching assistants can have on young people’s wellbeing, not just their academic progress.
When a pupil with SEND was struggling to regulate their behaviour in the classroom, Leo took the time to understand what was behind their challenges.
“A SEND child found it quite difficult to regulate their behaviour in the classroom, so I took them outside for a walk around the playground and talked about what they were struggling with.”
Through open conversation and listening, Leo helped the pupil identify their feelings and think about positive ways to move forward.
“They opened up to me about what they were feeling and we talked about what we could do to try and fix it. After that, we came back into the classroom, they completed their work and had a very positive day.”
For Leo, this experience reinforced the importance of building relationships, showing patience and understanding the individual needs of each child.
Looking ahead
Leo has a clear vision for his future and plans to continue progressing through the apprenticeship pathway.
His ambition is to become a primary school teacher, building on the knowledge and experience he has gained at each stage of his journey.
“After completing my Level 3 course, I will move onto the Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship and then hope to do the Level 6 teaching qualification.”
With a strong commitment to learning and development, Leo is already taking important steps towards achieving his long-term career goals.
Why Leo recommends an inspire+ apprenticeship
Having experienced the apprenticeship pathway firsthand, Leo wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others considering a career in education.
“I couldn’t recommend inspire+ enough. They help you gain so much experience about teaching in schools and help to give you the knowledge and confidence needed for a teaching career.”
Leo’s story highlights how apprenticeships can provide a practical route into education, helping aspiring teachers gain real-world experience, build confidence and make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people.
To find out more about our apprenticeships, visit
www.inspireplus.org.uk/become-a-pe-apprentice