HUGH Baird College has partnered with Sefton Council and local primary schools to address a critical shortage of qualified Teaching Assistants (TAs) in the Region, launching a ground-breaking 20-week pilot programme that is already changing lives and strengthening the borough's education workforce.

As Colleges Week 2026 celebrates the contribution of further education across the country, Hugh Baird College is highlighting its adult learning programme as a powerful example of what colleges can achieve when they work hand in hand with local partners to meet real community need.

Developed in close collaboration with Sefton Council, the programme was designed specifically to target adult learners seeking to retrain or return to employment after a career break. The recruitment focus was deliberately inclusive, opening new pathways to individuals who were previously unemployed or working in part-time roles in retail and warehousing, offering them a structured route into a rewarding career in education.

The course was built around a blended model combining academic study with hands-on experience. Learners committed to two days of college attendance and 2 days of placement in a local primary school each week, ensuring that classroom theory was immediately reinforced in real-world settings.

The College curriculum covered essential competencies, including children's mental health, managing challenging behaviour and introductory British Sign Language (BSL). Before placements began, the College supported every participant in obtaining a DBS check, ensuring all learners were safeguarding-compliant and classroom-ready from day 1.

The inaugural cohort of learners, recruited through community outreach, delivered results that speak for themselves:-

· Every single learner completed their work experience placement, gaining vital practical insight into daily school life.

· 2/3 progressed into education roles or further professional training.

· Participants reported a significant boost in personal confidence, with the BSL training and direct classroom experience highlighted as the defining elements of the programme.

Following the success of the 1st cohort, a 2nd pilot is scheduled for 2026. The programme is expected to become a permanent feature in Sefton Council's education workforce pipeline, providing a consistent supply of qualified, well-prepared TA support staff for the borough's schools for years to come.