There are more than half a million Teaching Assistants and other similar school staff in England, providing valuable support to teachers and pupils alike. From helping to develop lesson plans to providing one-to-one classroom assistance, TAs are often called on to help pupils fulfil their potential. For candidates keen to work as a TA while balancing their other commitments, pursuing part-time Teaching Assistant roles may be the most suitable professional option for you.
However, there are numerous factors to consider before deciding to take on a part-time TA role, and this guide will help you decide whether this meaningful career path is right for you. We will delve into the roles and responsibilities of a part-time Teaching Assistant and examine the various advantages and considerations associated with the profession.
Exploring the part-time Teaching Assistant role
Whether you are looking for experience before embarking on a teaching career or you are looking for a rewarding part-time position with flexible hours, applying for part-time Teaching Assistant jobs can be a fulfilling career choice.
Skills and responsibilities of a part-time Teaching Assistant
Before applying for part-time TA positions, it is important to familiarise yourself with the skills and responsibilities that these roles entail. Part-time TAs perform a vital role in ensuring that young people receive an excellent education, from supporting Teachers to helping pupils enhance their learning.
Part-time Teaching Assistant job responsibilities include:
- Enriching students’ understanding of concepts by offering explanations, demonstrations, and activities
- Assisting the Teacher in the delivery of engaging lessons
- Helping Teachers prepare materials needed for the lesson
- Providing support for pupils on an individual or small group basis
- Supervising students during break times and lunch periods
Ideal part-time TA candidates must possess a combination of key professional qualities, such as a passion for working with children, emotional resilience, and effective written and verbal communication. To thrive in the role, it is also essential to have exceptional time management and organisational abilities. With the perfect blend of all these skills, you will be well-equipped to flourish as a TA.
How to become a part-time Teaching Assistant
There are various ways to become a part-time Teaching Assistant, and your chosen route will likely depend on your circumstances. Entry-level positions will typically require candidates to possess GCSEs (or equivalent) in English or Mathematics; however, if you are going for more senior positions, having an undergraduate degree or experience in childcare, nursery, or youth work is likely to interest employers.
While it is by no means a mandatory requirement, having professional qualifications will demonstrate that you are committed to furthering your skills. These certifications can be taken at colleges, with assessment methods consisting of portfolio assignments, presentations, and exams. Relevant courses include:
- Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools
- Level 2 or 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
- T Level in Education and Early Years
Candidates can enter the profession by taking intermediate or advanced apprenticeships. These courses involve a salaried position in a school during your training. Undergoing an enhanced criminal records check via the Disclosure and Barring Service is mandatory for all school roles, so be sure to get this sorted before you send off your first applications.
Although the path to becoming a full-time teaching assistant is similar, there are a number of key differences. We urge you to read our How to become a teaching assistant guide if you wish to learn more about the importance of Teaching Assistant jobs, deciding whether to pursue primary or secondary roles, and the steps candidates should follow to become TAs.
What you can expect as a part-time Teaching Assistant
It will come as little surprise that TA working hours often match those of the school day, especially during term time. Even if you work part-time, you can still expect to generally work core hours of 9 am to 3 pm, with a little leeway on either side. You may also be required to oversee after-school clubs and other events depending on your experience, while attendance at training sessions might also be needed at certain points throughout the academic year.
Ultimately, part-time TA roles should provide an abundance of flexibility, enabling you to find a work-life balance that suits you.
Advantages and challenges of part-time Teaching Assistant roles
Choosing the next step in your career is a process that requires an abundance of careful thought and research. As with any profession, life as a part-time Teaching Assistant has distinctive benefits and drawbacks. To make sure that these positions are right for you, you should spend some time weighing up the various advantages and considerations.
If you value a highly flexible schedule and the opportunity to decide when and how often you work, pursuing part-time TA positions may be the best professional path for you. However, if you are looking for a consistent timetable and the chance to earn a higher salary, you may wish to reconsider your options.
Here, we will explore the benefits and considerations that come with TA roles:
Three benefits of part-time Teaching Assistant jobs
From those looking to see if working in a school is suitable for their skills to people seeking a part-time role that allows them to transform their passion for working with children into a profession, part-time TA positions attract candidates for various reasons. Let’s take a look at 3 of the most significant advantages of the role:
1. Flexibility
A key advantage of securing a part-time TA position is that you will have a high level of flexibility regarding your work schedule. This can be especially beneficial if you have a variety of other commitments, such as other part-time jobs, university obligations, or family responsibilities. Here is a breakdown of the kind of flexibility you can expect as a part-time TA:
- Work days: You may have the choice to pick the specific days you are available to work, a useful arrangement that enables you to seamlessly fit your job responsibilities around your personal life.
- Working hours: Regarding working hours, your employer may allow you to choose the number of hours you work per week.
- Schedule types: Part-time TA positions may require you to be available all year round or just within term time. If the latter is the case, you’ll be able to enjoy breaks during the school holidays.
It is best practice to be open about your availability and preferred work schedule. Many schools will be happy to accommodate your needs, especially if you possess all of the mandatory and desirable candidate qualities.
2. An excellent way to gain experience
Those who are looking to gain valuable classroom experience in preparation for a Teaching career would greatly benefit from taking up a part-time TA position. Not only can these roles provide aspiring Teachers with a golden opportunity to develop their key classroom skills, but they can also help them learn how to build rapport with students, get to grips with the realities of working with children, and enhance their understanding of the curriculum.
The hands-on classroom experience you pick up while working as a part-time TA will be crucial when applying for PGCEs or other vocational teaching courses. You’ll gain first-hand insights into how to handle student behaviour, adapting teaching styles based on the needs of the pupils, and lesson planning.
For those who are not yet completely sure whether a career in the classroom is right for them, part-time school support roles can help them make a final decision.
3. Ideal for developing interpersonal skills
Part-time TA positions enable people to develop a wealth of transferable skills that they can use to apply for jobs in other industries. In this sense, job-seekers who aren't necessarily set on an education career but wish to enrich their interpersonal skills would undoubtedly gain invaluable experiences as a part-time TA. So, how exactly can part-time TA positions help strengthen interpersonal skills? Here’s how:
- Active Listening and Patience: It’s very common for students to require explanations and additional clarity on what their Teacher has explained. TAs are often expected to support students in processing information, a task that requires plenty of patience and the need to exercise active listening skills.
- Interacting with a Variety of Personalities: TAs have to interact with pupils from diverse backgrounds. Learning how to adapt your style based on the individual needs of the children you’re working with will enable you to develop your communication skills.
- Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques are part and parcel of many professions, and working as a TA will help you to learn the best practices for effectively de-escalating situations calmly and fairly.
- Building Rapport: Teaching assistants must use positive communication to encourage and empower pupils every day. Building trust with pupils with diverse needs will enable you to better connect with people personally, preparing you for most career paths.
Three challenges of part-time Teaching Assistant jobs
Although part-time Teaching Assistant positions offer a number of eye-catching advantages, the profession also comes with several considerations. Life as a part-time Teaching Assistant certainly can be exciting and fulfilling; however, acknowledging one's own set of challenges is important. To ensure that you are ready to make a well-informed decision about whether to pursue these roles, we’ll examine three of the most common drawbacks:
1. Time management considerations
Many people who enter the part-time Teaching Assistant profession may encounter time management challenges. This is particularly the case for those who have to juggle their TA workload with university coursework or other work commitments. Dealing with this workload balance may prove to be stressful, so ensuring that you are managing your time effectively is vital for preventing burnout.
Part-time TAs may also encounter time management challenges that arise from preparation time. While the onus is largely on the Teacher to prepare lessons, part-time TAs are sometimes expected to carry out preparation duties, such as preparing education materials, organising student work, or setting up the classroom. Of course, the nature of specific duties will be outlined in each school’s policy; however, aspiring TAs must be ready to devote some time to lesson preparation.
2. Limited salary expectations
Another drawback of working as a part-time Teaching Assistant is the somewhat limited salary expectations. According to the National Careers Service, full-time Teaching assistants, on average, earn between £14,000 and £21,000 per year, and those who choose to work part-time can expect an income in the lower part of that range.
Remember that your salary will vary depending on how much you work and your responsibilities, with employment conditions set by the school or the local authority. Generally, if you take on greater responsibility, you can expect to be paid more accordingly, owing to their pro-rata salaries.
However, although part-timers are paid less than their counterparts in other industries, they nevertheless enjoy a selection of attractive benefits. For instance, many part-time TA roles offer competitive hourly wages, and schools might provide additional incentives like health insurance or paid time off.
3. Inconsistent schedules
Before becoming a part-time TA, you must prepare yourself for inconsistent scheduling. Your school may provide you with a variable schedule that requires you to cover absences so that you can expect a different set of working hours every week. The lack of a rigid, fixed schedule may prove to be frustrating to those who prefer the certainty of fixed working hours.
As we have repeatedly mentioned throughout this guide, every school has unique needs and circumstances. Schools with an above-average pupil-to-teacher ratio will require more support staff, meaning part-time TAs will be asked to work more shifts. This could lead to constant schedule adjustments, which may not suit those who prefer consistent work patterns.
Key takeaways from whether part-time TA jobs are right for you
Pursuing a part-time Teaching Assistant role offers a fulfilling and flexible career path for those passionate about education and seeking work-life balance. With responsibilities ranging from supporting teachers in delivering engaging lessons to providing individualised student assistance, part-time TAs are instrumental in shaping young minds.
While the profession presents advantages such as flexibility, valuable classroom experience, and the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills, it also entails challenges like time management considerations, limited salary expectations, and inconsistent schedules.
Individuals considering this career path should carefully weigh these factors to determine if part-time TA roles align with their personal and professional goals. By doing so, they can make an educated decision about embarking on this rewarding journey in education.
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Contact us today to learn more about how we can provide you with an exceptional job search experience.
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