A teaching assistant - sometimes defined as a teacher's helper - assists the main class instructor. The services they provide help teachers focus more of their attention on educational activities. The teaching assistant's responsibilities encompass both secretarial and educational tasks.
TAs can be hired by a local council and work in different schools, or they could be hired to work in a specific school. They use their diverse knowledge and abilities in a variety of classroom settings and in other educational contexts.
A teaching assistant supports the teacher in charge of a class, providing a variety of supplementary services as requested by the teacher. The TA’s daily responsibilities may include administrative activities such as attendance checking, marking assignments, overseeing tests and generally supporting pupils as they study.
They also assist with the monitoring of kids' conduct in the classroom, corridors, canteen, playgrounds, and on school trips. Some specially trained teaching assistants provide additional support for children with special needs, and those who require more support with schoolwork.
A teaching assistant provides pupils with support under the instruction of the primary teacher. They will often provide support for the entire class as a group, while also helping individual pupils on a one-to-one basis. Additional practical duties performed by a teaching assistant may include setting up apparatus and preparing materials for the day's lessons, along with basic cleaning and tidying at the end of the day.
A teaching assistant must be patient, enjoy working with children and be able to multitask at the highest level. They must also have strong verbal communication and writing skills - a good working knowledge of a second language can also be advantageous. Basic first aid training is required in some schools for all teaching assistants, though is not mandatory elsewhere.
Other responsibilities that may be assigned to a teaching assistant include:
As there is no standard level of pay for teaching assistants, salary and conditions of employment will differ from one employer to the next.A TA’s salary varies depending on their exact role, the responsibilities they take on and the specific educational setting. Many TAs are employed on part-time or term-time only contracts, so pay can be lower than for full-time teachers.
However, the largest percentage of teaching assistants work full-time, on the basis of an annual salary. One of the most appealing aspect of becoming a teaching assistant is the way in which most TAs enjoy the same time off as teachers - including the long summer break.
Employers will expect to see evidence of relevant experience and an appropriate educational/training background, when looking to hire a new teaching assistant. Expertise in areas such as mental health in children, and special educational needs (SEN) can also give candidates a major edge when applying for TA roles.
GCSEs in Mathematics and English with a grade of C or above are the only formal requirements for becoming a teaching assistant in the United Kingdom. This subsequently means that TA positions are highly competitive, so ensuring that you have the appropriate qualifications on your CV is important.
There are four levels of teaching assistants from entry to higher level, depending on the expertise, certifications, and training of the individual in question. A Higher-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) is a more senior teaching assistant with greater responsibilities like supervising staff, planning lessons and leading classes.
There are a variety of TA certifications and courses that can be taken to demonstrate competence and proficiency as a candidate. The more accomplishments and endorsed award you have on your CV, the more likely you are to get the job as a TA.
Teaching assistants can earn the following certifications, for example:
Explore various free courses on our website. You can even take a start with one of our Free Teaching Assistant courses today.
Although teaching assistant positions differ, it is preferable to have appropriate job experience. Experience may involve work in the following fields:
Taking care of children
The most crucial requirement to become a teaching assistant is that you enjoy working with children. Nevertheless, you will also need:
Total commitment to the safety and well-being of students.