It would not be wrong to say that TAs are the unsung heroes and backbone of our education setting. In the bustling realm of education, where teachers stand as guiding stars for students, this group of dedicated professionals who work in the shadows –teaching assistants – provide invaluable support to the field that often goes unnoticed. They seamlessly create a bridge between students and education by maintaining the smooth functioning of classrooms, preparing materials, planning learning activities, lending emphatic ears to students in need and much more.
The real question that shrouds the TA experience in uncertainty is whether TAs are getting paid enough after spending countless hours shaping the minds of tomorrow during their well-deserved breaks. Explaining the answer to this question is quite complex as it depends on several factors, and the purpose of this blog is to provide clarity on the said matter.
Teaching Assistant: A Rewarding Career Path
Helping young minds thrive personally and academically is certainly a rewarding experience. However, other than helping children in fulfilling their dreams, being a teaching assistant opens doors to a lot of opportunities such as working with children with certain disabilities or training towards becoming a higher-level teaching assistant or a qualified teacher. On top of that, the consistent monthly income makes TA a highly rewarding career.
Understanding Teaching Assistant Pay Structure
TAs work with the whole class or an individual student but they are mostly found working with smaller groups.
As well as their salaries are concerned, the average salary for supporting staff according to the local government is around £17,000 per annum. However, the actual salary is set and decided by the local authorities based on the following types of contracts:
There are various types of contracts utilized for Teaching Assistants.
- Permanent all year
- Temporary all year
- Permanent term time
- Temporary term time
- Casual
Most teaching assistants are hired on term-time contracts which are not entitled to school holidays; if you are on a term-time contract, you will be paid 38-39 working hours yearly in addition to five weeks of paid holidays. As a result, they are only paid when the school is in session.
On the contrary, teaching assistants hired on a permanent full-time contract are paid during the holidays. If you are on a permanent all-year contract, your salary will be evenly distributed over 12 months, receiving a consistent income throughout, whether you are at work or not.
Average Salaries and National Pay Scale for TAs
As mentioned before, there is no standard pay scale set for teaching assistants, rather it depends on the TA’s level of experience, qualifications, local authority, and the school’s pay scale.
On the other hand, as long as the average salary of a TA is concerned, a permanent full-time TA can expect the following salaries:
- Level 1 TA: around £17,364,
- Level 2 TA: £18,000-£20,000
- Level 3 TA: around £25,000 (if you have SEN responsibilities)
Interested in Increasing Your Salary? Progress towards HLTA Qualification
By completing a Level 4 higher level teaching assistant course, you will be more experienced and take on more responsibilities in the classroom. Higher-level teaching assistants are those who successfully advanced towards level 2 or level 3.
If you are an experienced Teaching Assistant, your salary would be around £17,000-£20,000; however, it can be increased up to £24,000 per annum and as you get more experienced you can earn up to £29,000 per annum.
Be it a Higher Level Teaching Assistant or any other Teaching Assistant course, you can enrol with us at Britannia School of Academics and embark on a rewarding career in education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether teaching assistants receive payment during holidays is contingent on different factors, including their contract type and the policies of the educational institution. In the UK, only teaching assistants with permanent term-time contracts receive paid holidays. Teaching assistants on term contracts do not receive paid holidays.
