Teaching Assistant Jobs

Teaching assistants play a vital role in schools all over the country.

Not only is working as a teaching assistant an incredibly rewarding role, but it is also a great way to experience life in the classroom before deciding to become a teacher.

Are you looking for teaching assistant or educationjobs?

No matter your location, find full and part time teaching assistant jobs with The Big Job Site UK.

What is a teaching assistant?

A teaching assistant (TA) is someone who assists teachers by providing teaching and learning support. Teaching assistants are key figures in the classroom, supporting teachers and helping children with their education and social development.

What does a teaching assistant do?

The roles and responsibilities of a teaching assistant will change depending on the school they teach at. However, generally speaking, the job involves:

1. Getting the classroom prepared and ready for lessons
2. Listening to children read, or reading to them
3. Helping children who might need extra support
4. Helping teachers to plan learning activities
5. Supervising group activities
6. Clearing away materials and equipment after lessons
7. Helping with outings and sports events
8. Carrying out administrative tasks

With so much variety, working as a teaching assistant is an incredibly varied and rewarding job.

What teaching assistant contracts are available?

Teaching assistant roles are either full time or part time, and can be permanent or temporary, such as when covering for someone on maternity leave. Most teaching assistant contracts are term-time only.

Teaching assistant FAQs

Do you have questions about working as a teaching assistant? Discover our most frequently asked questions below.

What do I need to be a teaching assistant?

Individual schools will have their own entry requirements. However, most will require you to have qualifications in literacy and numeracy at GCSE level or equivalent.

Previous qualifications in nursery work, childcare, or youth work can also be beneficial, and you can also become a teaching assistant through an apprenticeship scheme.

Before you can beginworking with children, you will need to have background checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Are teaching assistants public sector workers?

Yes, teaching assistants are public sector workers.

Is teaching assistant a good job?

A teaching assistant is an incredibly rewarding and worthwhile job, with the results of your work evident in the achievementsand progression of the children you work with.

In fact, watching children grow and learn is something truly special and makes working as a teaching assistant one of the most rewarding jobs there is.

Will teaching assistants get a pay rise in 2022?

There is currently no national pay scale for teaching assistants, and most TAs are paid depending on the pay scale of their local authority.

However, unions representing teaching assistants and other support staff have submitted a pay claim demanding a pay rise of at least £2,000 or the current rate of inflation, whichever is higher for each individual, by April 2023.

Can teaching assistants cover PPA time?

Suitably experienced level 3 teaching assistants or above can cover unplanned teacher absence or PPA for a day or two if no one else is available. A level 1 or 2 teaching assistant, however, doesn’t have the work experience, qualifications, or training to do so.

Do teaching assistants get holiday pay?

Whether you get holiday pay will depend on the type of contract you have. Permanent, full time contracts provide paid leave for school holidays, however, most TAs are employed on term time only contracts, which means you won’t get paid for school holidays.

How much do higher level teaching assistants earn?

Teaching assistants’ salaries vary depending on their level of experience. However, as a general guide, full time, permanent TAs can expectto earn the following:

• Level 1: £17,364
• Level 2: £18,000-£20,000
• Level 3 and above: £25,000

What do teaching assistants wear?

When working as a teaching assistant, it’s important to be smart yet comfortable. You don’t need to dress as formally as you would in an office, but jeans are definitely a no no! Work trousers and a smart top, dresses, or skirts and tops are typical outfits worn by TAs.

Apply to become a teaching assistant

If you want to work as a teaching assistant, discover the current teaching assistant jobs and vacancies below, or sign up for email job alerts to be the first in the know about the latest teaching assistant jobs.