Teaching Assistant
What is the work like?
As a teaching assistant you would support teachers with their everyday work in the classroom, so that they can concentrate on teaching. You could have another job title such as classroom assistant, non-teaching assistant or learning support assistant.
Your exact duties would vary depending on the school and the age of the children, but would typically include:
- getting the classroom ready for lessons
- listening to children read, reading to them, or telling them stories
- helping children who need extra support to complete tasks
- supervising art and craft activities and displaying work
- looking after children who are upset or have had accidents
- playing educational games with children and encouraging younger children to learn through play
- helping with outings and sports events
- carrying out routine administrative tasks.
You may support children with particular individual needs, working one-to-one or in small groups.
In some schools you could have specialism, such as literacy, numeracy, Special Educational Needs or music. Bi-lingual teaching assistants are often employed in schools with a lot of children whose first language is not English.
Higher Level Teaching Assistant
As a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) you would have more responsibility, which could include:
- working alongside teachers to support learning activities
- helping to plan lessons and prepare teaching materials
- acting as a specialist assistant for particular subjects
- sometimes leading classes
- supervising the class in the teacher's absence
- supervising other support staff.
You would also assess, record and report on the progress of children you work with.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
It is up to local education authorities and individual schools to decide what qualifications and experience they expect you to have when you apply for a teaching assistant job, so you can get an idea of what you are likely to need by looking at jobs advertised locally. You could also check with your local education authority.
If you have enough experience of working with children, you may be able to start work and complete teaching assistant qualifications on the job.
Most qualifications for teaching assistants are aimed at people who are working or volunteering in schools. Because of this, a useful starting point can be to volunteer to help in a local school for a few hours a week.
Before you can begin either paid work or volunteering you will need CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance.
To begin teaching assistant qualifications, you would usually need to be working or volunteering in a school for a set number of hours a week.
You could complete one of the following:
- NVQ Level 2 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
- Level 2 Certificate for Teaching Assistants.
You may need qualifications such as GCSEs or the equivalent, in English and maths – you should check with colleges for their entry requirements.
See the further training and development section below for details of higher level qualifications.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk (link opens in new window).
For more information on careers and qualifications visit Skills4Schools (link opens in new window).
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are working as a teaching assistant you would normally complete a short, nationally-approved induction training programme. Some local education authorities also have a range of in-house training, some leading to qualifications.
The teaching assistant qualifications you can complete include:
- NVQ levels 2 and 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
- Level 2 and 3 Certificate for Teaching Assistants.
As the qualifications involve being assessed in work situations, your teaching assistant job would need to include responsibilities appropriate for the qualification you wish to complete – level 2 is suitable if you are new to the job or have limited responsibilities, level 3 is for experienced teaching assistants with more responsibilities.
As an experienced teaching assistant, you may be able to study for a foundation degree. These are available at a number of colleges and universities, and have various titles, such as Teaching Assistants and Teaching and Learning Support.
For information about foundation degrees see Foundation Degree Forward (link opens in new window). To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (link opens in new window).
Higher Level Teaching Assistant
With experience you may also be able to take on more responsibility by applying for training and assessment for Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status. You would need the support of your head teacher or school manager before you could be considered for this. For details visit HLTA (link opens in new window).
For more information on careers and qualifications see Skills4Schools (link opens in new window).
Where can I go for more information?
London
SW1W 9SZ
Teaching Information Line: 0845 6000 991
Related profiles...
Nursery/Primary School Teacher (Scotland)
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Full-time salaries for teaching assistants can be from £11,000 to £16,000 or more a year.
- Full-time salaries for Higher Level Teaching Assistants can be up to £18,000 or more a year, although this would vary depending on the LEA and the responsibilities of individual jobs.
There is no national pay scale, and wage rates are set by each Local Education Authority (LEA). As many teaching assistants are part-time or paid only in term-time they would earn a portion of full-time rates (known as 'pro-rata' payment).
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would work during school hours, Monday to Friday, in term-time. You may also be involved in activities such as staff training and school outings which could mean working extra hours. Many teaching assistants work part-time.
You would work either alongside the teacher in the classroom, or with individual children or small groups in a separate room. You may also accompany children on trips outside the school.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- experience of working with children
- the ability to build good relationships with children, parents and carers, and teachers
- flexibility and creativity
- the ability to work as part of a team
- good reading, writing and numeracy skills
- patience
- the ability to manage groups of children and deal with challenging behaviour.
In some jobs it could be useful if you have other skills such as computer literacy or fluency in community languages.
What opportunities are there?
You could work as a teaching assistant in nursery, infant or junior schools, special schools, secondary schools or independent schools.
With experience you may be able to progress to senior assistant or be assessed for Higher Level Teaching Assistant status.
You could go on to train as a teacher if you meet the entry requirements which apply to all teachers. To find out about careers in teaching check the Teacher profiles or visit Training and Development Agency for Schools (link opens in new window).
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
LG Jobs
Times Educational Supplement
eteach.com
Teachernet
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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