How to Become a Teaching Assistant
The Role of a Teaching Assistant
A Teaching Assistant (TA) or Learning Support Assistant (LSA) plays a crucial role in supporting teachers within a school. Their duties typically include taking daily attendance and reporting it to the teacher, working one-on-one with students to enhance their performance, and answering questions about the lesson.
The specific responsibilities of Teaching Assistants can vary between schools, but here’s a general overview of what you might expect in this role:
- Help teachers prepare lesson materials and equipment
- Get the classroom ready for lessons and clear away afterwards
- Work with groups and individual pupils to make sure they understand their work and stay focused
- Watch, record and report pupils' progress to teachers
- Supervise group activities, including outings and sports events
- Provide a safe and healthy environment and follow safeguarding procedures
- Help teachers manage class behaviour
- Look after children who are upset or unwell
- Lead classes with help from the teacher
Teaching Assistant Skills & Requirements
You can start a career as a teaching assistant by obtaining a relevant qualification, such as a Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges. Entry requirements for these courses vary depending on the specific course, qualification, and provider.
- Sensitivity and understanding for building good relationships with children
- Excellent verbal communication skills for motivating children to learn
- Active listening skills to understand the childrens' needs
- Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- To enjoy working with other people
- The ability to teach pupils how to do something
- The ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
- To be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Teaching Assistant Salary
Teaching assistant salary and pay scale often match the local government pay scale, but it varies depending on the area and type of school. Independent, academy, and free schools aren’t required to follow local authority pay guidelines for teaching assistant jobs.
The starting salary for Level 1 teaching assistants is usually £17,842, in line with the local government pay scale.
Level 2 teaching assistants can expect to earn between £18,000 and £20,000.
Level 3 teaching assistants can earn up to £25,000 if they have additional specialisms or SEN responsibilities.
HLTAs (Higher Level Teaching Assistants) can expect to earn between £22,500 and £29,000, depending on experience.
- The average salary for a Teaching Assistant in London is £23,872
- The average salary for a Teaching Assistant in Leeds is £19,697
- The average salary for a Teaching Assistant in Birmingham is £19,697
- The average salary for a Teaching Assistant in Manchester is £17,610
- The average salary for a Teaching Assistant in Cardiff is £25,959
However, the average annual salary for a teaching assistant may be around £12,081 due to term time working and variations in hours.
Teaching Assistant Working Hours
The average working hours for a full time teaching assistant are 32-40 hours a week subject to term times. Some staff work all year round while some take term holidays.
The summer term stretches from the end of the Easter break to mid-July.
It includes a half term week long holiday in late May.
This is usually the busiest time, with later students sitting their GCSE’s.
The academic school year starts in early September, with the term stretching till Christmas.
The winter term is a half term holiday, usually a week long at the end of October.
Most schools have a 2 week end of term holiday stretching over New Year and Christmas.
This is the spring term and stretches from early January to Easter.
Easter usually falls on a different weekend each year, so the end of term two-week break can be either early April or late March.
This term also included a week-long half term break, usually in mid-February.
Teaching Assistant Career Progression
After starting out as a teaching assistant, you’ll have the opportunity to increase your salary and role responsibilities by progressing to a new level.
Typically, there are three levels of experience within the standard teaching assistant role each with their own pay scale/salary. Although most teaching assistants go on to become teachers, there’s plenty of options available to further your career for example:
- As an assessor
- As a private tutor
- As an examinations officer
- In educational research
There is also the option to go into a specialised role such as an SEN teaching assistant or a HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) which would offer a higher salary and more challenging role.
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