How to become a teaching assistant (TA)

What does a teaching assistant do? 

The role of a teaching assistant is to:

• Support the classroom teacher to prepare lesson materials and arrange the learning space to ensure the classroom is a suitable place for learning
• Support students with their reading, writing and learning activities as well as their social development both in and outside the classroom
• Work with students to make sure they understand the classroom content and record and report the progress they make

Depending on the school and setting, directed by the Headteacher, roles can vary. You could be supporting whole class, small groups or 1:1 focus. 

Is being a teaching assistant a good job?

Many teaching assistants cite the flexibility of the role as being one of its key benefits. Full- and part-time roles are common and, as they’re term-time only, it can be an ideal job if you have children of your own. It's also a very rewarding role that enables you to have an impact on the lives of the children you work with every day.

As a TA, you can also specialise in areas that interest you or will complement your skills. If you speak a foreign language, have an aptitude for working with pupils with special needs and disabilities, or have a passion for a specific subject, your school may encourage you to develop your skills in these areas and carry out a more specialised role.

How to become a teaching assistant 

To become a TA, there are multiple routes you could take which include:

• Enrolling onto a Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship*
• Taking a college course 
• Applying to schools directly
• Volunteering in your local school to gain experience

*please note you will need to be employed by the school to apply for the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship programme. 

Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship 

Teaching apprenticeships offer practical on-the-job training combined with study. As an apprentice you’ll:

• Be an employee earning a wage and getting holiday pay
• Work alongside experienced staff
• Gain job-specific skills and experience
• Get time for training and study related to your role (20% of your normal working hours)

Entry requirements

To enrol onto an apprenticeship, you will need:

• To be employed within a school as a teaching assistant, learning support assistant or specialist support assistant for the duration of the apprenticeship,

• Be assigned an in-school mentor who can support you throughout your apprenticeship,

• Have the full support of your school before applying,

• Have a minimum of functional skills level 2 for English and maths before your End Point Assessment*. 

*If you don't have level 2 in Functional skills in Maths and English or Maths and English GCSE – pass, then we offer training and additional tutor support for these. 

The level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship takes 18 months to complete, and a further three months to complete your End Point Assessment (EPA).

To learn more about how you can enrol onto our Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship, visit our course page.

Direct application

Each school will have its own requirements for its teaching assistant roles, though usually, you will need a minimum GCSE grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths to be considered.

You may also need to demonstrate that you can work well with students in your chosen age phase to support the school, teachers and parents.

Prior qualifications in childcare and education, nursery work, play or youth work will give you an added advantage.

How to become a teaching assistant with no experience 

Volunteering in your local school 

Volunteering offers lots of value to individuals looking to gain experience in the classroom. It can help you decide if teaching is right for you, as well as demonstrating your commitment to taking up the role as a career route.

In some cases, volunteering can lead to paid employment or a chance to get a qualification in the setting where you volunteer.

Below are some of the roles you could take up as a volunteer in school to gain the valuable experience you need:

• Volunteer tutor
• Training mentor
• Sports coach
• Extra-curricular activity leaders

To find volunteering opportunities, you can search online, or you can speak to your local school to explore any potential opportunities they may have.

Do you need qualifications to be a teaching assistant?

There are no nationally specified requirements for becoming a teaching assistant, though each local authority or school will outline their specific requirements. Once you’re working as a TA, you will usually complete an induction course, and many local authorities will offer you the opportunity for training and professional development once you’re in post.   

Generally, it would also be helpful for you to have knowledge of the education sector but it's not essential. Skills an employer may look for in a Teaching Assistant application might be: 

• Excellent literacy and numeracy skills
• Strong track record of raising levels of achievement and motivation
• Ability to build strong relationships with children and parents
• Ability to support students to make progress through providing personalised experiences
• Ability to remain patient and calm
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Be passionate, energetic and patient
• Creativity skills to design materials and activities

Employers are looking for employability skills and transferable skills as a starting point so you can grow and develop with support in the role.  

Skills needed to be a teaching assistant

As a TA, you’ll be acting as a role model and mentor for the children you work with, so it’s vital that you have good reading, writing, numeracy and communication skills. Good organisational skills, patience, flexibility, creativity and an ability to build relationships with primary or secondary school children, teachers and parents will stand you in good stead.

Career progression of teaching assistants

There's quite a lot of scope for career progression as a teaching assistant. Typically, there are four grades of teaching assistant:

• Level 2 teaching assistant
• Level 3 teaching assistant
• Higher level teaching assistant (HLTA)
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) teaching assistant

Conclusion

Teaching assistants are an essential part of the classroom, supporting teachers and helping children with their educational and social development.

While there are many grades of a TA, the role offers ample opportunity for career development and progression to become a higher-level teaching assistant (HLTA), or to gain more specialist knowledge to work with children with special educational needs.

To learn more about starting your career as a teaching assistant, visit our Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship course page to get all the information you need on becoming an apprentice where you can learn, earn and build your career with a nationally recognised, Level 3, fully funded apprenticeship.