How to become a teaching assistant
Updated 31 Oct 2026 · Reviewed by School Jobs UK
Answer first
You can become a teaching assistant without a degree or a TA qualification. Most schools ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths, some experience with children, and an enhanced DBS check, which the school arranges.
Job alerts for teaching assistant jobs
Get new jobs by email as they're posted. Free.
1,423 live teaching assistant jobs · typical pay £25,923–£28,173 FTE (median £26,565)
What a TA does
Teaching assistants support pupils' learning under a teacher's direction: working one to one or with small groups, helping pupils with SEND, preparing resources and supporting behaviour. Many work term-time only, during school hours.
Step by step
- 1. Get some experience with children: volunteering in a school, a youth group, a breakfast or after-school club, or a lunchtime role.
- 2. Check your English and maths: most schools ask for GCSE grade 4 (C) or equivalent; Functional Skills Level 2 is often accepted.
- 3. Consider a qualification (optional): a Level 2 or Level 3 teaching assistant course, or a TA apprenticeship to earn while you train.
- 4. Apply: use the school's person specification to write your supporting statement, giving examples of working with children.
- 5. Pre-employment checks: enhanced DBS check, references, right to work and safeguarding training.
Pay
Most TAs are paid on the NJC pay spine, from £13.28 an hour (spine point 3) in 2026/27. Term-time TAs are paid for the weeks they work plus holidays, split over 12 months, so actual pay is lower than the full-time figure. Typical advertised pay on School Jobs UK: £25,923–£28,173 FTE (median £26,565).
Career path
Teaching assistant → Level 3 or specialist TA (e.g. SEN) → HLTA → teacher training. Cover supervisor is a common sideways move.
Live jobs and pay right now
From live adverts on School Jobs UK. Pay is full-time equivalent; figures from fewer than 5 adverts are hidden.
Typical pay £25,923–£28,173 FTE · median £26,565 (163 adverts)
Latest teaching assistant jobs
£26,427–£27,274 FTE
Part time
Posted 1 day ago via Teaching Vacancies
£36,693–£37,794 FTE · £31,562.73–£32,509.79 actual
35 hours per week · term time only
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
£26,427–£26,847 FTE
Part time
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
£18,605–£20,279
30 hours per week · term time only
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
Teaching Assistant
St Thomas' CofE Primary Academy · Stoke-on-Trent
TST Grade 4, SCP 6–7
Part time
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
£12,403–£13,519
20 hours per week · term time only
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
Learning Support Assistant
Thorpe Acre Infant School · Loughborough
Salary not disclosed
Full time · Temporary
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
Learning Support Assistant
East Coast College · Lowestoft
£25,168.50–£25,490 FTE
Part time · Temporary
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
£19,562 actual
Full time
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
Salary not disclosed
Full time · Part time
Posted 2 days ago via Teaching Vacancies
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a TA?
You can start straight away if a school offers you a post. Qualifications take from a few months (Level 2) to around a year (Level 3).
Can I become a TA at 16?
Some schools take apprentices from 16, but most TA posts are for adults.
Is being a TA a good route into teaching?
Yes. Many teachers started as TAs; a teacher degree apprenticeship lets you train without a degree.
Related answers
What is an EHCP?
An education, health and care plan (EHCP) is a legal document for a child or young person aged 0–25 in England who has special educational needs and needs more support than their school or college can normally provide. The local authority writes it, and it sets out the child's needs, the outcomes they're working towards and the support they must receive.
Do I need a DBS check to work in a school?
Yes. Schools in England must carry out an enhanced DBS check on staff before or soon after they start, and for anyone working closely with pupils ("regulated activity") it includes a check of the children's barred list. The school usually arranges and pays for it as part of its safer recruitment checks.
Can you be a teaching assistant without qualifications?
Yes. There's no legal requirement to hold a teaching assistant qualification, and many schools hire people without one. Most ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths, some experience with children, and an enhanced DBS check, which the school arranges.
TA vs HLTA: what's the difference?
A higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) has met the national HLTA standards and can take on more responsibility than a teaching assistant (TA), including teaching whole classes under a teacher's direction and covering planned lessons. HLTAs are usually paid on a higher grade, and HLTA status comes from an assessment, not a degree.