Classroom Assistant Job Description
Support teachers to deliver inclusive learning, help pupils with class tasks and contribute to a well-run classroom environment.
What does a Classroom Assistant professional do?
A Classroom Assistant works under teacher supervision to support teaching and learning, supervise groups, help with classroom routines and provide targeted support to pupils including those with additional needs.
Classroom 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.
Classroom Assistant
About the role
[School/Academy name] is looking for a reliable Classroom Assistant to join our team supporting [Key Stage or age range]. You will work alongside teachers to help deliver lessons, support small groups and individuals, assist with classroom resources and promote positive behaviour. This role is [hours per week] during term time, starting [start date].
Key responsibilities
- Support the classroom teacher to prepare and deliver learning activities and resources.
- Work with small groups or individual pupils to reinforce learning, including reading and basic numeracy tasks.
- Supervise pupils during classroom activities, breaktimes or on educational visits as required.
- Support pupils with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities according to individual plans and teacher guidance.
- Help maintain classroom order and positive behaviour using the school’s policies and routines.
- Assist with basic administrative tasks such as photocopying, display preparation and record-keeping.
- Monitor and report pupil progress, concerns or safeguarding issues to the teacher or designated safeguarding lead.
- Contribute to a safe, inclusive and welcoming classroom environment.
Essential skills and experience
- Enhanced DBS clearance (or willingness to obtain before starting) and satisfactory safeguarding checks.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Good verbal communication skills and basic literacy and numeracy.
- Experience working with children, in a school or childcare setting, or demonstrated transferable experience.
- Ability to follow lesson plans and instructions from teachers and to take direction.
- Practical patience, reliability and the ability to manage behaviour calmly and consistently.
Desirable
- Level 2 or Level 3 supporting teaching and learning qualification or equivalent (e.g. CACHE, NVQ).
- Paediatric first aid qualification.
- Experience supporting pupils with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).
- Training in behaviour management or positive handling.
- Experience working with a particular Key Stage or age range specified by the school.
What we offer
- Pension scheme (employer contribution as per policy)
- Paid training and professional development opportunities
- Sick pay (as per school policy)
- Term-time working pattern (if applicable)
- Employee Assistance Programme (placeholder)
- Local travel or cycle-to-work scheme (placeholder)
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 Classroom Assistant role?
A Classroom Assistant provides day-to-day support in schools by assisting teachers with lesson delivery, supervising pupils and helping with classroom organisation. They work across a range of age groups and abilities, often supporting small-group interventions and pupils with additional needs under teacher direction. The position helps create a positive learning environment and supports pupils’ social and educational development.
Typical hours
Often term-time hours; full or part-time roles are common. Hours may include cover for break supervision or occasional events.
Contract types
Permanent, fixed-term (maternity/temporary), or supply/short-term contracts depending on school needs.
Line manager
Usually reports to the class teacher and ultimately to a senior leader such as the SENDCo or senior teacher.
Key relationships
Works closely with teachers, teaching assistants, SEN staff, pupils and parents/carers.
Typical Classroom 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
Support the classroom teacher to prepare and deliver learning activities and resources.
Work with small groups or individual pupils
Work with small groups or individual pupils to reinforce learning, including reading and basic numeracy tasks.
Supervise pupils during classroom activities
Supervise pupils during classroom activities, breaktimes or on educational visits as required.
Support pupils with special educational
Support pupils with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities according to individual plans and teacher guidance.
Help maintain classroom order
Help maintain classroom order and positive behaviour using the school’s policies and routines.
Assist with basic administrative tasks
Assist with basic administrative tasks such as photocopying, display preparation and record-keeping.
Monitor
Monitor and report pupil progress, concerns or safeguarding issues to the teacher or designated safeguarding lead.
Contribute
Contribute to a safe, inclusive and welcoming classroom environment.
Classroom 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
- Enhanced DBS clearance (or willingness to obtain before starting) and satisfactory safeguarding checks.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Good verbal communication skills and basic literacy and numeracy.
- Experience working with children, in a school or childcare setting, or demonstrated transferable experience.
- Ability to follow lesson plans and instructions from teachers and to take direction.
- Practical patience, reliability and the ability to manage behaviour calmly and consistently.
Useful where relevant
- Level 2 or Level 3 supporting teaching and learning qualification or equivalent (e.g. CACHE, NVQ).
- Paediatric first aid qualification.
- Experience supporting pupils with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).
- Training in behaviour management or positive handling.
- Experience working with a particular Key Stage or age range specified by the school.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Classroom Assistant job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Specify age range and key stage
State whether the role is for Early Years, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, secondary or a mixed class to attract candidates with relevant experience.
Be clear about hours and contract
List weekly hours, term-time pattern and whether the role is permanent, fixed-term or supply so candidates can assess suitability quickly.
Highlight safeguarding requirements
Mention the need for an Enhanced DBS and any mandatory safeguarding or pre-employment checks to set expectations.
Outline training and progression
Note if you offer CPD, support for qualifications (e.g. Level 3) or routes to HLTA to make the role more attractive.
Describe any specific pupil needs
If the role involves SEN support, speech and language interventions or behaviour management, give a brief, non-sensitive description so candidates can self-assess fit.
Classroom Assistant salary considerations
Pay for classroom assistants varies and is determined by factors such as the employing school or trust’s support staff pay scale, local cost of living, the role’s responsibilities, required qualifications and whether the position is permanent, fixed-term or supply. Employers should refer to their own pay scales and local benchmarking when setting a salary or hourly rate.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Classroom Assistant candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What are the exact hours and working pattern?
Candidates will want clarity on term-time only arrangements, start/end times, and whether occasional cover outside normal hours is expected.
Are safeguarding checks and an Enhanced DBS required before starting?
Most schools require an Enhanced DBS and safeguarding checks; tell candidates whether you will process this or expect them to bring current clearance.
What age group or Key Stage will I be working with?
State the class age range and any expectations around flexibility to support other year groups.
Will I be supporting pupils with SEND?
Flag whether the role includes specific SEN support and any specialist training or experience expected.
What training and professional development do you offer?
Candidates often look for support to gain qualifications, CPD opportunities and induction into the school’s approaches.
Who will I report to and how is performance reviewed?
Explain the line manager (class teacher/SENDCo) and whether there are formal reviews or mentoring.
Where to post a Classroom Assistant job
Classroom Assistant vacancies suit a mix of broad and specialist channels. Use national and local job boards and the school’s or trust’s website to reach the widest pool, and advertise on education-specific sites, local community groups and college noticeboards for those seeking term-time roles. For temporary or supply positions, also engage reputable supply agencies and teacher-assistant networks; for SEN-focused posts, share with specialist SEN forums and local SEND charities.
Related education job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Classroom Assistant job description FAQs
Do classroom assistants need an Enhanced DBS?
Yes. Working with children in school is regulated activity and an Enhanced DBS check and suitable safeguarding checks are standard requirements before starting.
Are specific qualifications mandatory?
Not always. Many schools appoint candidates with relevant experience and basic skills, though Level 2/3 supporting teaching qualifications or NVQs are often desirable and may affect pay.
Can the role be term-time only?
Yes. Many classroom assistant posts are contracted for term-time only, with salary or hours pro-rated accordingly. Be clear about the working pattern when advertising.
How should we set pay for this role?
Base pay on your governing body or trust’s support staff pay scale, considering location, required experience and responsibilities. Use local benchmarking and consider whether the role is permanent, fixed-term or supply.
Should we advertise to supply agencies?
Supply agencies are a good channel for short-term cover or urgent vacancies. For permanent roles, combine agency listings with direct advertising to attract stable candidates.
Ready to hire a Classroom Assistant?
Use this template to create a clear advert that sets expectations on hours, safeguarding and the pupil group; tailor the essential and desirable sections to the specific class and offer details of training and progression to attract strong applicants.
