Teaching Assistant
Support teachers and students in the classroom — helping children and young people with their learning, behaviour, and wellbeing.
Low
Very high
3–6 months to gain a Level 2 or 3 qualification; many schools hire and train on the job
Level 2 or 3 (no degree required for most roles)
What you do
Teaching assistants (TAs) work alongside classroom teachers to support learning for the whole class and for individual pupils who need extra help. You might work one-to-one with a child who has additional learning needs, lead a small group, prepare classroom resources, or assist with reading and numeracy activities. Senior and specialist TAs take on pastoral responsibilities, lead interventions, and support pupils through difficult personal circumstances.
Why this career is resilient
Teaching assistants rely on human relationship-building, physical presence, and moment-to-moment responsiveness to children — capabilities that cannot be automated. Demand for SEND (special educational needs and disability) support is growing substantially, and the government has consistently signalled investment in school support staff. The role is locally rooted: children need support in schools near where people live.
A typical day
A typical school day involves arriving before pupils to set up resources, supporting the teacher during lessons, working with small groups on literacy or numeracy, eating lunch with younger pupils or supervising the playground, attending a short staff briefing, and completing brief records of any notable events or pupil progress.
Routes in
Full-time college course
Study full-time at a further education college, usually for 1–2 years. You will need to fund yourself or apply for a student loan (available for Level 4+ courses).
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Starting salaries typically £18,000–£22,000 (term-time working hours). Higher-level teaching assistants (HLTAs) earn £24,000–£28,000.
Training costs: Many TA qualifications cost £300–£800 and can be done part-time or online. Some schools fund training directly.