CLASSROOM CAREERS 1: CLASSROOM ASSISTANT

Teaching assistants are in high demand! Right now, there are nearly 100 vacancies across the region, with schools looking for passionate, emotionally intelligent, and committed individuals to support pupils in the classroom. 

If you’re entering the world of work for the first time or if you want a career change to something more rewarding, then a role as a teaching assistant could be the perfect fit. Some teaching assistants progress to train as fully-qualified teachers. 

What does a teaching assistant do?

Teaching assistants play an important role in helping young people succeed, working closely alongside teachers to support pupil learning, development and wellbeing. They help create an effective learning environment, making sure all children are able to make academic and social progress. Teaching assistants are responsible for a range of tasks, which can differ from school to school. On a daily basis, this might include things like

• supporting pupils in the classroom, either one-to-one or in small groups, helping them to focus on tasks like reading and solving maths problems, and build confidence.
• helping teachers prepare for lessons, contributing to planning and setting up activities such as art and music, organising classroom resources and supplies, and helping with the overall running of the classroom.
• Supporting children with additional needs who may need extra help during lessons to ensure learning is accessible.
• Managing behaviour, helping to resolve minor issues, encourage positive behaviour, and keep a pleasant classroom environment.

No two days are exactly the same, but teaching assistants are a vital part of the school team, helping pupils feel supported and helping teachers to deliver effective lessons.

Skills and passion

You don’t have to have worked in a school before to become a teaching assistant. There’s no “right” background for people wanting to do this job. In fact, many people become teaching assistants after spending a long time in another roles. 

Transferable skills can be a valuable asset when starting out as a classroom assistant, gained from careers in retail, childcare, healthcare, hospitality, or office-based work. Some good skills to have including communications, patience, teamwork, organisation, and staying clam under pressure.

What matters most is your passion for the role. Teaching assistants can be fundamental in shaping a child’s experience of school, particularly for pupils who need extra support to thrive in a learning environment. They make a genuine difference in the lives of many children. 

Training routes

There are different ways to train to become a teaching assistant:

College courses

These provide some of the key skills and knowledge required by teaching assistants. You could do a Level 2 Supporting Children in Schools course, or a T Level in Education and Early Years.

Programmes like these are offered at local colleges including The City of Liverpool College, Knowsley Community College, Hugh Baird College, St Helens College and Southport College, making it an accessible option across the region. 

Apprenticeships

The Level 3 teaching assistant apprenticeship is a popular option if you’re keen to start working and earning alongside your learning. It takes up to 2 years to complete and is a mix of workplace skills practice and classroom sessions, usually online. You can search for local apprenticeship vacancies using the BeMore search tool.

Volunteering

Volunteering is an excellent way to get experience of working with children and young people, and being able to demonstrate this on applications can be a great advantage when applying for jobs. If you’re thinking about making a career change, or entering the education workforce for the first time, volunteering can be a great way to decide whether this is the right environment for you.

Applying directly to the role

This option is more suited to those who already have previous experience working with children, and meet the minimum requirements for the role (usually GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths). You can search for vacancies in your local area using the teaching vacancies service or Find A Job

If a career in the classroom sounds like the right next step for you, now is a great time to get started. Take some time to explore training options at local colleges or apprenticeship vacancies, and consider gaining experience through volunteering. Look out for our second Classroom Careers feature coming soon, all about how to become a teacher.