Overview
Teaching assistants support teachers and help children with their educational and social development, both in and out of the classroom
What’s involved?
The roles and responsibilities of teaching assistants are varied and differ between schools. Your job can include:
- Knowledge of national curriculum EYFS, KS1, KS2
- getting the classroom ready for lessons
- listening to children read, reading to them or telling them stories
- helping children who need extra support to complete tasks
- helping teachers to plan learning activities and complete records
- supporting teachers in managing class behaviour
- supervising group activities
- looking after children who are upset or have had accidents
- clearing away materials and equipment after lessons
- helping with outings and sports events
- taking part in training
- carrying out administrative tasks
To support pupils with particular individual needs, some teaching assistants work one-to-one, while others work in small groups. Many schools employ teaching assistants with particular specialisms, including literacy, numeracy, special educational needs (SEN), music and creative arts. If you are bilingual, you might do more work with children whose first language is not English.
Experienced and specially-trained teaching assistants can be expected to supervise a class for a teacher who is off sick or undertaking training. While every class must be allocated a qualified teacher, higher level teaching assistants (HLTAs) would be expected occasionally to lead a lesson.
Skills and experience you’ll need
- An ability to build good working relationships with both pupils and adults
- Good organisational skills
- Flexibility and creativity
- Enjoy working with children
- Good literacy and numeracy skills
- Ability to manage groups of pupils and deal with challenging behaviour
- Patience and a sense of humour
Entry requirements
Many will require you to have qualifications in literacy and numeracy at GCSE or equivalent. Previous qualifications in nursery work, childcare, play work or youth work can be useful for finding work.
- Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools
- Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
Please contact Simone on 02085497212 for more information or submit your cv to recruitment@dev-education.supremerecruitment.co.uk