Teaching Assistant

The challenging and varied role of a Teaching Assistant is ideal for anyone hoping to make a positive impact on the lives of children and step in to the education sector.

As a Teaching Assistant, your role may vary from day to day, and can include 1:1 support for pupils with Special Education Needs, delivering Maths and English booster sessions for small groups or general classroom duties, assisting the teacher in setting up activities and general admin tasks.

Job titles vary and you may also be known as a:

• Learning Support Assistant
• 1:1 SEN Support worker
• SEN Specialist
• Behaviour Mentor
• GTA / General Teaching Assistant
• Classroom Assistant
• HLTA / Higher Level Teaching Assistant

What will a working day look like?

Your duties will depend on your experience, training and TA status. Generally, your duties may include (but not be limited to)

• Delivering tailored teaching activities to pupils on either a one-to-one basis or in small groups
• Ensuring that the pupils you support are able to engage in learning and stay on task during the lesson or activity
• Supporting the social and emotional development of pupils, reporting any issues when required
• Supporting the teacher in managing challenging pupil behaviour and promoting positive behaviour
• Listening to pupils read and read to pupils as a class, group or one-to-one
• Helping with the planning of some lessons
• Carrying out administrative duties, such as preparing classroom resources
• Creating art displays of pupils' artwork
• With experience, you might be able to take on a specialism such as literacy, numeracy or SEN

Salary

• Working as a Teaching Assistant through Teaching Personnel, you will receive a daily rate, which will be paid weekly
• The daily rate will vary between £57 and £70, depending on your level of experience and the demands or the role

Qualifications

Although entry routes into Teaching Assistant roles are varied, you'll usually need a combination of relevant experience and qualifications.

Typically, employers seek one of the following:

• BA Special Educational Needs, Disability & Inclusion
• BA Early Childhood Studies
• BA Education Studies
• CACHE Level 2 / 3 Teaching Assistant
• Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• Level 2 / 3 Childcare

To work with children, young people and vulnerable groups, you will need to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Skills

You'll need to show:

• good communication and listening skills
• the ability to build and maintain rapport with adults and children
• calmness under pressure and when dealing with challenging or confrontational behaviour
• flexibility and adaptability
• You may also need relevant language skills depending on the service users and communities you support

Work experience

You'll need relevant work experience with children in an Educational setting. This can be either in a paid or voluntary capacity. You may also be able to find experience in:

• children's homes
• family community centres
• nurseries and schools

For more information, or to discuss Teaching Assistant roles in your area, please call the Leeds and Wakefield Primary Branch and send your up to date CV.