Frequently Asked Questions
What does the role of a teaching assistant involve?
- Helping the children with tasks such as reading or writing
- Providing additional support to children with special needs or international language students
- Helping the teacher prepare for lessons e.g. setting up the classrooms
- Encourage and support the children
- Assist the teacher with marking and correcting the children’s work
- Help organise school trips and activities
- Attending teacher meetings and reviews
Do I need qualifications to become a teaching assistant?
Technically you do not need qualifications to become a teaching assistant, but having relevant qualifications will work to your advantage.
There is an increasing number of applications for teaching assistant vacancies, so schools can be more selective and often favour candidates with qualifications.
Below are some of the main criteria that will be expected of a teaching assistant:
- For an entry-level position, you will usually need to demonstrate good reading, writing and numeracy skills and have some experience working with children
- Most schools will require GCSE level qualifications in maths and English
- The school will carry out a background check via the Disclosure and Barring Service
How much should a teaching assistant be paid?
The salary for a teaching assistant in the UK can vary depending on factors such as location, level of experience, and the specific responsibilities associated with the role.
Tradewind Recruitment is committed to offering competitive compensation packages for teaching assistants, ensuring that their hard work and dedication are duly recognised.
For detailed and up-to-date information regarding pay rates for teaching assistant positions, please refer to our job listings or get in touch with our recruitment team.
Is there a demand for teaching assistants?
Absolutely, there is a consistent and growing demand for skilled and dedicated teaching assistants in the UK's education sector.
As classrooms become more diverse and inclusive, the need for additional support for both mainstream and special education students continues to rise.
Teaching assistants play a pivotal role in providing personalised attention, fostering student engagement, and contributing to effective classroom management.
At Tradewind Recruitment, we are attuned to this demand and actively connect talented teaching assistants with fulfilling opportunities across various educational settings in the UK.
More Information On Teaching Assistant Jobs at Tradewind
At Tradewind, we have thousands of jobs for teaching assistants across the UK for all entry levels; those who are entirely new and thinking about becoming a teaching assistant, right through to seasoned teaching assistants looking for a change.
A teaching assistant is a very rewarding job role and is ideal for someone that enjoys working with children and supporting their development.
A teaching assistant works very closely with the teachers to ensure that the students are safe and cared for whilst in the classroom and elsewhere on the school grounds.
It is the perfect job for someone who is just beginning their teaching career and needs some experience.
If the teacher is busy with another pupil and other children in the classroom need help they can ask the teaching assistant, so you can also gain a huge amount of knowledge about most subject areas, depending on the age range.
Teaching assistants work in most schools, including nursery, primary, junior, secondary, independent and special schools.
What can I do to improve my prospects?
Here at Tradewind Recruitment, we run regular CPD sessions via webinars that will improve your application success, including:
Introduction to Teaching Assistants
There are also a number of NVQ courses that will improve your chances of securing a job as a teaching assistant, such as the Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools, and the Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.
Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA)
If you are already working as a teaching assistant and have achieved the above qualifications you can advance your career to the next level by completing a foundation degree in relevant subjects, such as learning support and teaching, or education studies.
These qualifications will assist you in becoming a higher-level teaching assistant (HLTA).
Take a look at our latest Teaching Assistant jobs and apply today:
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