September is getting closer, but that does not mean your opportunity to recruit the right people has passed.
For schools, breakfast clubs, after-school provisions, activity clubs, holiday programmes and wider education settings, the weeks leading up to a new academic year can be some of the busiest of the year. There are timetables to organise, classrooms to prepare, activities to plan and teams to coordinate before children and learners return.
If you still have a vacancy to fill, the pressure can feel even greater. You may have expected to recruit by now, but the right candidate has not appeared. Perhaps someone accepted another position, a vacancy opened unexpectedly or your plans for September changed. Whatever the reason, being short-staffed at the start of a new term is not something any organisation wants to face.
However, there is still time to recruit. The key is to think differently about who you are looking for and how you approach the recruitment process.
For many education and activity providers, the instinct is to look for someone who already has extensive experience in exactly the role that needs to be filled. Experienced professionals can be incredibly valuable, but they are also in high demand. Schools, clubs and education providers across the country are competing for talented staff, which can make it increasingly difficult to find experienced candidates at short notice.
This is where apprenticeships can offer another route. Instead of searching exclusively for someone who already has every skill you need, you can recruit someone with the right attitude, enthusiasm and potential, then support them to develop those skills within your organisation.
An apprentice is an employee, which means they become part of your team and gain practical experience through their day-to-day role. Alongside their employment, they complete structured training and work towards a recognised qualification that is directly relevant to their career.
For employers, this creates an opportunity to address an immediate recruitment need while also investing in the future of the organisation. For schools and childcare settings, this could mean bringing in a Playworker apprentice to support children through safe, creative and inclusive activities. For schools that need additional classroom support, a Teaching Assistant apprentice can develop the skills needed to support pupils and teachers effectively. Existing Teaching Assistants who are ready to progress can develop specialist knowledge through a Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship, while colleges and further education providers can develop teaching talent through the Level 5 Learning & Skills Teacher apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships are not limited to one type of education setting, which means there are different routes available depending on the needs of your organisation.
The Level 2 Playworker apprenticeship is particularly suited to breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, holiday activity providers, community settings and organisations that support children through play. Apprentices develop the skills needed to create safe, inclusive and engaging environments while gaining valuable experience working directly with children.
The Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprenticeship provides a structured route into classroom support. It helps apprentices develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to contribute to teaching and learning across a range of educational settings.
For experienced Teaching Assistants who are ready to take their careers further, the Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship offers the opportunity to develop more advanced skills, particularly when supporting pupils with additional needs.
For further education providers, colleges and adult learning organisations, the Level 5 Learning & Skills Teacher apprenticeship supports individuals who are developing the teaching skills and subject expertise needed to work with learners aged 16 and above.
These different routes allow employers to think beyond simply filling a vacancy. You can consider what your organisation needs now, as well as the skills and people you will need in the future.
That is one of the biggest advantages of apprenticeship recruitment. You are not simply bringing someone in to cover a September staffing gap. You are giving them the opportunity to learn your systems, understand your organisation and develop alongside your existing team.
Over time, an apprentice can become a highly capable member of staff who understands your setting from the inside out. They learn how your team works, develop relationships with colleagues, understand your expectations and standards, gain confidence through practical experience and take on greater responsibility as their skills develop.
For employers, this can create a stronger long-term recruitment strategy than continually searching for experienced candidates whenever a vacancy appears.
There is also another reason not to write off your September recruitment plans: you do not have to manage the process alone.
At Educationwise, we provide a free recruitment service to employers looking to take on an apprentice. We can help advertise your vacancy, attract suitable candidates and shortlist applicants, reducing the time and administrative pressure involved in finding someone.
This can be particularly useful at this time of year. Your team already has plenty to prepare for, and the run-up to September is rarely quiet. Adding a full recruitment campaign to an already busy workload can quickly become overwhelming.
Our recruitment support can help you get your vacancy in front of potential candidates without requiring you to manage every stage of the process yourself. It also allows you to consider candidates based on their potential, rather than ruling people out simply because they do not already have years of experience.
This can open up a much wider pool of talent. Someone who is enthusiastic about working with children but has never worked in a school before could become an excellent Playworker. Someone looking for their first opportunity in education could develop into a confident Teaching Assistant. An experienced member of your existing team could be ready to progress into specialist support or teaching.
Recruitment is not always about finding the finished product. Sometimes, it is about finding the right person and giving them the opportunity to develop into the professional your organisation needs.
This approach can also benefit your existing team. Bringing in an apprentice can provide additional capacity, allowing experienced employees to focus on their own responsibilities while supporting the apprentice’s development. It can also create opportunities for mentoring, knowledge sharing and progression within your organisation.
Most importantly, apprenticeship recruitment helps you build a workforce that can grow with your organisation.
The start of September does not have to be the end of your recruitment window. An apprentice who joins shortly after the beginning of term can still make a meaningful contribution while developing their skills throughout the year.
Recruitment should not be viewed as something that only happens before the first day of the academic year. Your organisation will continue to change, children and learners will continue to have different needs, staff will progress, responsibilities will change and new opportunities will emerge.
Having a clear approach to workforce development means you can respond to those changes rather than constantly reacting to them.
If you are looking at your September staffing plans and thinking that you should have recruited by now, do not assume that you have missed your opportunity. You still have options.
Whether you run a school, breakfast club, after-school provision, activity club, holiday programme, college or wider education setting, an apprenticeship could help you bring new talent into your organisation while developing the skills your team needs.
With Educationwise’s free recruitment service, finding an apprentice does not have to mean taking on the entire recruitment process yourself.
Your September recruitment is not over yet. If you still have a vacancy to fill, now is the time to explore your options, consider the potential within apprenticeship recruitment and find out how Educationwise can help you build the team you need for the new academic year and beyond.