Teaching Assistant Salary Expectations

Teaching assistants are key figures in the classroom. They are considered as professionals in education and have many responsibilities that impact the pupils they work with. The hard work, determination and skill set required to fill the role is reflected in their salary, with three different salary levels for three different experience levels. 

Here at CTC Training, we have a range of teaching assistant courses available.

Interested in becoming a Teaching Assistant? Find out what salary you can expect in this article.

Is there a national pay scale for TAs?

There is no national pay scale for TAs. Instead, the amount a TA gets paid will depend on the pay scale of their local authority, the pay scale of the school, plus the TA’s level, experience and qualifications.

State-funded schools follow the local government pay scale for school staff. However, there is no requirement for academies or private schools to follow these guidelines.

Your pay will also depend on whether you are full time or part-time. It is common for a TA to be employed on a part-time or casual contract. Some schools pay TAs pro-rata for term time only.

What are the average salaries?

You will be given varying levels of responsibilities, depending on your experience qualifications and skills. The more responsibilities you have, the greater your pay will be.

Full-time, permanent TAs can expect the following average salaries:

• Level 1: £17,364
• Level 2: 18,000-20,000
• Level 3 and those with additional specialisms or SEN responsibilities: £25,000

If you’re paid daily, you can expect to earn between £40-£60 per day, or £9 an hour. Always make sure you know how much you will be getting paid before accepting a job offer.

Holidays

Whether you get holiday pay will depend on the type of contract you have. Permanent full-time contacts provide paid leave for school holidays. However, most TAs are employed on term-time-only contracts, which means you don’t get paid for school holidays. However, TAs on term-time-only contracts can still enjoy four or five weeks of holiday a year.

When are school holidays?

• There is a half-term holiday of one week towards the end of October
• Most schools have an end-of-term holiday of two weeks over Christmas and New Year.
• A one-week-long break for half term in February
• There will be a two-week holiday for Easter

TA Working Hours

A standard TA role sees you working during regular school hours, Monday to Friday, during term time. However, responsibilities might occasionally stretch beyond the classroom: early starts for breakfast clubs, late stays for after-school care, training days and parents’ evenings. Some schools offer additional summer activities, which could be an opportunity for extra earnings. It’s worth noting that while school holidays like half-term and summer are typically counted within your annual leave, taking time off during the term is usually restricted.

Which qualifications do I need to become a teaching assistant?

There are no mandatory qualifications required to become a teaching assistant, but earning them will boost your prospects when searching for a job and enhance your skills when you’re on the job.

Relevant qualifications include:

• Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF)

• Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)

• Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)

• Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)

• Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)

• Level 4 Certificate in Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) (RQF)

You can find out everything you need to know about qualifying to become a teaching assistant here.

CTC Training hosts online courses that will help you into a career in teaching. Whether you’re already in a teaching role or just keen to get into one, our courses will provide you with the skills you need to progress in your career.

CTC Training offers a range of courses to be completed at your leisure. Simply enrol on any of our courses and you’ll gain access to the 24/7 student portal where you can find course content and upload assessments on a schedule that suits you. 

Visit our learning support course page to find out more about our teaching assistant courses. If you have any further questions, please contact our team.

Give us a call on 0195 276 9025 if you have any questions.