Teaching assistant

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• volunteering
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You could take a college qualification to get started, for example:

• Level 2 or 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education
• T Level in Education and Early Years

Entry requirements:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level

Apprenticeship

You could do the Teaching Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship to become a teaching assistant.

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Volunteering

You could get experience by volunteering in a local school or community organisation.

Volunteering can sometimes lead to paid work or a chance to get a qualification.

DirectApplication

You can apply directly for jobs through schools, local authorities and academy trusts . Each school sets its own entry requirements, though you'll usually need GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths.

You'll also need to show that you can work well with children, teachers and parents. A qualification in nursery work, childcare, playwork or youth work will give you an advantage.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• sensitivity and understanding for building good relationships with children
• excellent verbal communication skills for motivating children to learn
• active listening skills to understand the childrens' needs
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be flexible and open to change for working on different activities
• to enjoy working with other people
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
• thinking and reasoning skills
• concentration skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• knowledge of psychology for understanding the needs of your pupils
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• customer service skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• maths knowledge
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• a good memory

What you'll do:

Teaching assistants support teachers and help children with reading, writing and learning activities.

As a teaching assistant, you could:

• help teachers prepare lesson materials
• set up and tidy classrooms for lessons
• work with students to make sure they understand
• watch, record and report the progress students make
• look after children who are upset or unwell
• lead classes with help from the teacher

Location : You could work at a school or at a special needs school.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Salary:

Starter : £14,000
Experienced : £21,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

30 - 40 hours term time

Working Pattern is evenings occasionally

Career Path:

With experience, you could take a course to become a higher level teaching assistant (HLTA).

With further study you could become a fully qualified teacher. You can learn about routes into teaching from Get into teaching