Jobs for Teaching Assistants – All You Need to Know...

Teaching Assistants play a crucial role in supporting educators, teachers, and pupils in various educational settings. Here are some jobs for teaching assistants:

1. Classroom Teaching Assistant: A classroom teaching assistant works alongside the classroom teacher to support students with various tasks such as preparing teaching materials and resources, supervising students during class, recording progress, and managing the classroom when required.

2. Special Education Teaching Assistant: Special education teaching assistants work with students who have special educational needs and disabilities. They provide support to students in various areas, including academic, social, and emotional development plus managing interventions as required. Often, students with SEND require one to one support throughout the day, so the teaching assistant often takes on the role of a key worker to just one or a small number of students.

3. Online Teaching Assistant: With the advent of online learning, these teaching assistants provide support to students in virtual classrooms. They help students with technical issues, facilitate online discussions, mark work, and provide feedback to students.

4. Tutor: tutors work one-to-one with students to provide academic support in specific subjects. They may help students with homework, study for exams, and develop study strategies. Since the pandemic, the need for tutors has increased greatly as the attainment gap has widened. Tutoring often provides an opportunity for additional income as the working hours are often outside of standard school hours. Often, tutors do not need to be qualified teachers, and experience as a teaching assistant is sufficient to perform well in this role.

These are just a few examples of jobs for teaching assistants. The specific responsibilities of a teaching assistant will vary depending on the educational setting and the needs of the students and staff they work with.

Here are the steps to becoming a teaching assistant:

1. Have the right personality – there is no mandatory minimum qualification required to be a teaching assistant but having determined, resilient, caring and empathetic character traits will be advantageous. Whilst considered to be rewarding, being a teaching assistant can also be demanding both physically and mentally.

2. Gain experience: Having experience working with children or in an educational setting can be beneficial when applying for a teaching assistant position. Consider volunteering at a school or working as a tutor to gain relevant experience.

3. Apply for positions: Check with local schools, colleges, and universities, or search online job boards such as Senploy

4. Attend an interview: If you are selected for an interview, be prepared to discuss your experience, qualifications, and your interest in working as a teaching assistant. It's a good idea to research the school or organisation beforehand to demonstrate your knowledge and interests. Further advice on attending an interview can be found here .

5. Complete required training: Most schools or organisations may require teaching assistants to complete training before starting their job. This training may include topics such as child development, behaviour management, and working with students with special needs. By completing this training, you will gain confidence and be better prepared to start your new job.

6. Obtain any required certifications and checks: All education jobs require an enhanced DBS and other vetting to be completed prior to starting your new role. Information about the DBS application process can be found on this website.

Overall, becoming a teaching assistant requires a passion for working with children, young people, and supporting fellow educators.

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