Advice needed on becoming a teaching assistant

[Empusa]

Really hope some of you could help!

DH wants to become a teaching assistant, and currently has a volunteer placement at a local primary school. He'd like to end up working with children with special needs.

He applied for a place at a local college, but they've been being particularly obstructive (moving goalposts constantly), so there is no chance of him going to that college.

We've tried a college further away, but they'll only take him on if he finds a placement near to them, which seems a pain when he's found a school he'd really like to work with near us.

We've contacted the Apprenticeships organisation, but they've told him that he can't be a volunteer and do an apprenticeship, he has to be employed.

Are there any other options?

I would say that getting as much experience as possible is vital and preferably in different key stages. It's also good to volunteer at a school which has a diverse intake so he would gain knowledge of SEN, EAL, etc. The best course to go on is probably one sponsored by the school once he has a job - bit of a vicious circle really!
Have you heard of the Helping in Schools course? It's run by the WEA where I live. I did it about 8 years ago and it was excellent. You needed to be an unpaid volunteer to do it and I found it invaluable. Good luck.