Fully Accredited

Get a qualification and certificate

Industry Leading

100% online courses. Learn from home.

Rated 'Good'

By Ofsted. Trusted training company.

How to become a Primary Teaching Assistant

Our career advice page will tell you everything you need to know about becoming a Primary Teaching Assistant.

Job Overview

A Primary Teaching Assistant is responsible for helping the teacher with classroom activities and duties. This may include helping prepare and set up the classroom for lessons, helping children with reading, writing and learning and reporting progress of children to the teacher. The children are typically aged 6-11.

Typical Work Hours

32-40 hours a week subject to term times. Some staff work all year round while some take term holidays.

Income

Income varies from £12,000 to £23,000, depending on experience and whether the role is part-time or full-time.

General Duties

  • Lesson preparation
  • Monitoring progress
  • Supervise activities
  • Following safeguarding protocol
  • Supporting pupils with their work

What Qualifications Do I Need to be a Primary Teaching Assistant?

Entry Requirments

  • For a Level 2 Primary Teaching Assistant course, you may need 2 GCSEs at 9-3 (A*-D)
  • For a Level 3 Primary Teaching Assistant course, you may need 4 GCSEs at 9-4 (A*-C)
  • For an apprenticeship, you may need 5 GCSEs at 9-3 (A*-C)

Qualifications

We offer a online Level 2 Primary Teaching Assistant course package which includes Level 2 Childcare and Level 2 SWISC. Click here to find out more. 

Work experience for a Primary Teaching Assistant

Proffesor,Giving,Presentation,In,Lecture,Hall,At,University,Workshop.

You can gain relevant Primary Teaching Assistant work experience through working with children, examples of this are:

  • Community Activities- Such as brownies, scouts, football coach.
  • Volunteering- Helping out at summer camps, day trips and after-school activities.
  • Work Experience Placement- Depending on your education level, you may be able to gain a work experience placement as a classroom assistant.
  • Tutoring/Mentoring- Providing help and/or coaching in a sport or subject.

Please note you may require a DBS check.

Tip: Make sure the experience is with a similar age group as the children you would be working with as a Primary Teaching Assistant.

What Skills Does a Primary Teaching Assistant?

Untitled-design-7.png

You’ll need a range of skills for a Primary Teaching Assistant role. These include:

  • Excellent communication and listening
  • Ability to remain calm
  • Ability to work well under pressure
  • Ability to be able to build relationships
  • Be able to adapt to work on different activities
  • Sensitivity and understanding

Primary Teaching Assistant Support Map