Teaching Assistant
Also advertised as: Classroom Assistant, Cover Supervisor, graduate teaching assistant, higher education teaching assistant, Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant
Supports pupils' learning in the classroom, often working closely with those who need extra help.
What the job involves
Teaching assistants work alongside teachers to help pupils learn. You support small groups or individuals, prepare resources, help manage behaviour and often specialise in SEND. Many teaching assistants go on to qualify as teachers through an apprenticeship.
Typical responsibilities
- Support individuals and small groups with learning
- Prepare classroom resources and displays
- Support pupils with additional needs
- Help manage behaviour and routines
- Feed back pupil progress to the teacher
Common employers
- Primary and secondary schools
- Special schools
- Academy trusts
- Supply agencies
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£19,000 – £23,000 a year
With experience
£24,000 – £28,000 a year
Typical hours
Term time only, typically 30 to 35 hours
Working environment
Classrooms and school grounds
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Patience
- Literacy and numeracy support
- Behaviour management
- Safeguarding
- Communication
Transferable skills you may already have
- Working with children
- Explaining things simply
- Volunteering in schools
Requirements employers ask for
- Patience
- Literacy and numeracy support
- Behaviour management
- Safeguarding
- Communication
- Enhanced DBS
- GCSE English and maths grade 4 or above
- Enhanced DBS
- assessment processes
- supervise practical courses
- prepare lesson content
- guarantee students' safety
- provide assistance to lecturer
- university procedures
- give constructive feedback
- assist students in their learning
- provide lesson materials
- curriculum objectives
- assess students
Useful but not essential
- Working with children
- Explaining things simply
- Volunteering in schools
- Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprenticeship
- SEND specialist training
- manage resources for educational purposes
- conduct quantitative research
- conduct qualitative research
- conduct scholarly research
- escort students on a field trip
- assist students with their dissertation
- liaise with educational support staff
- assign homework
Helpful qualifications
- Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprenticeship
- SEND specialist training
Licences and checks
- Enhanced DBS
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Teaching Assistant (Level 3)
- Experience route — Build evidence in a related role, then move across using your recorded achievements.
- Apprenticeship route — An apprenticeship lets you earn while you train towards this role.
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Education
- Related subject: Childcare
- Related subject: Psychology
Where this career can lead
next
Higher Level Teaching Assistant
next
SENCO support role
next
Qualified Teacher
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- School holidays off
- Direct route into teaching
- Widely available locally
What people find hard
- Term-time pay is pro-rata and low
- Emotionally demanding pupil needs
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a teaching assistant?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a teaching assistant earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £19,000 to £23,000 a year, rising towards £28,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Working with children, Explaining things simply, Volunteering in schools.
Related careers
Primary School Teacher
Plans and teaches the full curriculum to a class of primary-aged children.
School Business Manager
Runs the finances, premises and administration behind a school's day-to-day operation.
Secondary School Teacher
Plans and delivers lessons to pupils aged 11 to 18 in a specialist subject.
Special Educational Needs Coordinator
Coordinates support for pupils with additional learning needs across a school.
Education Welfare Officer
Works with families and schools to tackle poor school attendance and safeguarding concerns.
Further Education Tutor
Teaches vocational or academic subjects to students aged 16 and over in colleges and training providers.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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