Teaching Assistant Job Description
Use this template to create a clear, practical Teaching Assistant advert that sets out duties, working pattern and the essential skills you need. It is written for employers recruiting in primary and lower-secondary settings across the UK.
What does a Teaching Assistant professional do?
A Teaching Assistant works alongside teachers to support classroom learning, run small-group and one-to-one interventions, help manage behaviour and contribute to pupils’ wider care and development.
Teaching Assistant job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Teaching Assistant
About the role
[School name] is seeking a reliable Teaching Assistant to support classroom learning for children aged [Age range] at our [Location] site. This role is term-time [Full-time/Part-time] for approximately [Hours per week]; duties include supporting teacher-led lessons, running small-group interventions, assisting pupils with additional needs, maintaining records and supervising breaktimes. An enhanced DBS check and safeguarding training will be required. Salary: [Salary range or pay scale].
Key responsibilities
- Support the classroom teacher with planning and delivering lessons, including preparing resources and adapting materials for different learners
- Work with small groups or provide one-to-one support to deliver targeted interventions (eg. phonics, reading, numeracy)
- Support pupils with additional needs, following individual education plans (IEPs) and liaising with SENCO where appropriate
- Help manage classroom behaviour according to the school's policy and promote positive learning routines
- Monitor and record pupil progress and report observations to the teacher to inform assessment
- Supervise pupils at break/lunch, during arrival/departure and on educational visits when required
- Assist with everyday pastoral care tasks, including supporting wellbeing and basic hygiene needs where necessary
- Maintain confidentiality and follow safeguarding procedures, including reporting concerns promptly
Essential skills and experience
- Right to work in the UK
- Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check before starting
- Experience working with children in a school, nursery or similar setting
- Good literacy and numeracy skills (GCSEs or equivalent in English and Maths or demonstrable equivalent competence)
- Basic understanding of child safeguarding and commitment to following school safeguarding policies
- Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a classroom team
- A patient, reliable approach and the ability to follow teacher guidance and direction
Desirable
- Level 2 or Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification (eg. CACHE, NVQ) or working towards one
- Previous experience supporting pupils with SEND or complex needs
- Phonics, speech and language or English as an additional language (EAL) training
- Paediatric first aid or willingness to undertake first-aid training
- Experience delivering structured small-group interventions and using assessment records
- Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status or equivalent experience
What we offer
- Pension scheme (auto-enrolment where applicable)
- Paid induction and ongoing continuing professional development
- Term-time working pattern (where applicable) with published school holiday schedule
- Access to staff wellbeing and support resources
- Opportunities for progression and specialist training depending on school needs
- Flexible working options for part-time roles where operationally possible
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Teaching Assistant role?
Teaching Assistants provide practical and pastoral support in classrooms to help teachers deliver learning and to improve pupil outcomes. They run interventions, support pupils with additional needs, assist with behaviour management and supervision, and help maintain records and resources. The role is classroom-facing and closely linked to the teacher’s plans and school policies.
Typical hours & contract
Often term-time only with options for full- or part-time hours. Contracts vary by school — some are permanent, others temporary or on a supply basis.
Core responsibilities
Supporting teacher-led lessons, delivering small-group work and interventions, assisting with SEN provision and supervising pupils across the school day.
Who you work with
Classroom teachers, SENCOs, other support staff, parents and external specialists, depending on pupil needs.
Typical Teaching Assistant responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Support the classroom teacher with planning
Support the classroom teacher with planning and delivering lessons, including preparing resources and adapting materials for different learners
Work with small groups or
Work with small groups or provide one-to-one support to deliver targeted interventions (eg. phonics, reading, numeracy)
Support pupils with additional needs
Support pupils with additional needs, following individual education plans (IEPs) and liaising with SENCO where appropriate
Help manage classroom behaviour according
Help manage classroom behaviour according to the school's policy and promote positive learning routines
Monitor
Monitor and record pupil progress and report observations to the teacher to inform assessment
Supervise pupils at break/lunch
Supervise pupils at break/lunch, during arrival/departure and on educational visits when required
Assist with everyday pastoral care tasks
Assist with everyday pastoral care tasks, including supporting wellbeing and basic hygiene needs where necessary
Maintain confidentiality
Maintain confidentiality and follow safeguarding procedures, including reporting concerns promptly
Teaching Assistant skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Right to work in the UK
- Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check before starting
- Experience working with children in a school, nursery or similar setting
- Good literacy and numeracy skills (GCSEs or equivalent in English and Maths or demonstrable equivalent competence)
- Basic understanding of child safeguarding and commitment to following school safeguarding policies
- Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a classroom team
- A patient, reliable approach and the ability to follow teacher guidance and direction
Useful where relevant
- Level 2 or Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification (eg. CACHE, NVQ) or working towards one
- Previous experience supporting pupils with SEND or complex needs
- Phonics, speech and language or English as an additional language (EAL) training
- Paediatric first aid or willingness to undertake first-aid training
- Experience delivering structured small-group interventions and using assessment records
- Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status or equivalent experience
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Teaching Assistant job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be specific about the age range and year groups
Clearly state whether the role supports Reception, KS1, KS2 or mixed-age classes — candidates often specialise by key stage.
Set out working pattern and contract type
Indicate term-time only vs. full-year contracts, expected weekly hours and whether flexible or split shifts are required.
Separate essential from desirable requirements
List legally or practically required items (eg. DBS, right to work, basic qualifications) as essential and training or preferred experience as desirable.
Highlight training and progression
State available CPD, qualifications support and routes to HLTA or specialist SEND roles to attract development-minded candidates.
Teaching Assistant salary considerations
Teaching Assistant pay varies widely depending on experience, qualifications, contract type and local pay arrangements. Rather than a fixed national figure, consider the factors below when setting or advertising pay for this role.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Teaching Assistant candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What age groups and class sizes will I support?
Candidates need to know the year groups, typical class sizes and whether they will be assigned to one class or across multiple classes.
What are the exact working hours and weeks?
Clarify start/finish times, breaks, term-time only status and any expectation for extracurricular or inset days.
What training and CPD do you provide?
Experienced applicants want to know about induction, ongoing training, funding for qualifications and progression routes.
Will I support pupils with SEND or 1:1 needs?
State whether the role involves working with pupils with EHCPs, medical needs or behavioural support to set realistic expectations.
What safeguarding checks are required?
Confirm whether an enhanced DBS is required, whether you accept recent DBS certificates and the school's safeguarding procedures.
Is the role permanent, fixed-term or supply?
Candidates will want clarity on contract length, notice periods and whether the position could become permanent.
Where to post a Teaching Assistant job
Teaching Assistant vacancies reach the best candidates through a mix of channels: general UK job boards for broad reach, education-specific sites and local authority vacancy pages for active school applicants, and specialist SEND or early years forums when recruiting for those roles. Consider also local community channels, school social media and teacher networks — targeting nearby applicants is particularly effective for term-time roles.
Related education job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Teaching Assistant job description FAQs
Do Teaching Assistants need an enhanced DBS check?
Yes. Working with children requires an enhanced DBS disclosure. Candidates should either hold a recent enhanced DBS or be willing to obtain one before starting.
Which qualifications should I insist on?
Many schools expect basic literacy and numeracy (GCSEs or equivalent) as essential. Level 2 or 3 TA qualifications are desirable for more senior or specialised roles but are not mandatory for all positions.
Should I advertise as term-time only?
If the contract is term-time only, state this clearly. It affects candidate availability and salary perception; some applicants prefer term-time roles while others need full-year contracts.
Can a TA lead lessons independently?
TAs routinely deliver small-group or intervention sessions and may lead planned activities, but responsibility for whole-class teaching rests with the qualified teacher unless the TA holds HLTA status and the school policy permits it.
How do I attract candidates with SEND experience?
Highlight the SEND duties, describe the types of needs they will support, and list any specialist training or mentoring you offer. Use SEND-specific job boards and local SEN networks when advertising.
Ready to hire a Teaching Assistant?
Use this template to create a clear vacancy and share it across local and education-focused channels. If you need help posting to multiple boards or reaching suitable candidates, consider using targeted recruitment services to extend your reach.
