To become a teaching assistant in England, you can take a college course in supporting teaching and learning, apply for a Teaching Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, or volunteer in a school and apply for jobs directly. You don't need a degree, but you'll need to show you can work well with children, teachers and parents.
There's no single required qualification, which makes it one of the most open routes into a school. The thing to understand before you apply is how teaching assistant pay is advertised.
This guide uses the National Careers Service job profile for teaching assistants in England, read on 26 October 2026.
Teaching assistant pay and hours at a glance
| Measure | National Careers Service figure |
|---|---|
| Average starter salary | £19,000 a year |
| Average experienced salary | £26,000 a year |
| Typical hours | 16 to 37 a week, term time |
| When you could work | Evenings occasionally |
Those salary figures are as of October 2026, from the National Careers Service profile.
The detail most people miss: FTE pay
Teaching assistants are employed term time only, and a working week can be anything from a few hours to full time. The National Careers Service says advertised pay is often listed as full-time equivalent (FTE), and your actual pay depends on the hours you work.
So when you see a salary on a job advert, check two things: whether it's an FTE figure, and how many hours a week and weeks a year the role covers. That's what decides what lands in your bank account.
The ways in compared
| Route | What it involves | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|
| College course | A course such as supporting teaching and learning in schools | Set by the college |
| Apprenticeship | Teaching Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, up to 2 years, on the job plus a training provider | Usually 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English and maths |
| Volunteering | Helping in a local school or community organisation to build experience | None formal |
| Direct application | Applying for jobs with relevant experience | Experience with children; schools set their own requirements |
The route in, step by step
- Get experience with children and young people. Volunteering in a local school or community organisation is the National Careers Service's top suggestion.
- Consider a qualification. A college course or a Level 3 apprenticeship builds skills, and a qualification in nursery work, childcare, playwork or youth work can give you an advantage.
- Search for jobs, including on the Teaching Vacancies service.
- Pass enhanced background checks, as you'll work with children.
- Once in post, develop your skills through the opportunities your school offers.
What teaching assistants do
Teaching assistants support teachers in the classroom and help children with reading, writing and learning activities. Some specialise in the extra support they give, and schools offer chances to develop skills such as:
- Managing behaviour.
- Mentoring.
- Understanding special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
- Giving extra support in particular subjects.
The skills schools look for
- Sensitivity and understanding, to build good relationships with children.
- Excellent verbal communication, to motivate children to learn.
- Active listening, to understand children's needs.
- Patience and the ability to stay calm in stressful situations.
Your application should show each of these with a real example, ideally from volunteering or work with children. A short, specific story about helping one child make progress usually says more than a list of qualities, so pick your best one and practise telling it before an interview.
Where it can lead
With experience, you could take a course to become a higher level teaching assistant (HLTA). Some teaching assistants go on to train as teachers, and starting as a volunteer and then a teaching assistant is a recognised step towards teacher training.
If you're looking at school roles more widely, our round-up of apps for teachers shows the classroom tools you'll meet, and this guide to choosing the right tutor for your child covers another way to support learning.
How to make your application stand out
Because there's no single required qualification, schools compare candidates on experience and attitude. A few things help:
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- Regular volunteering in one school, so staff know you and can vouch for you.
- A qualification in nursery work, childcare, playwork or youth work, which the National Careers Service says may give you an advantage.
- Examples of supporting a child's reading or writing, since that's at the heart of the job.
- Interest in a specialism, such as SEND support or a particular subject, which schools often need.
If you have GCSEs in English and maths at grades 9 to 4, say so clearly, because they open the apprenticeship route too. And if you've worked in a busy customer-facing job, don't leave it off: patience, calm under pressure and clear communication are exactly what schools are looking for, wherever you learned them.
My verdict
Teaching assistant is one of the most accessible ways into a school: no degree, several routes in, and volunteering counts for a lot. Pay averages £19,000 to £26,000, as of October 2026, but check whether a role's salary is quoted as FTE, because term-time and part-time hours change what you take home. Start by volunteering in a local school, add a Level 3 qualification if you can, and use the role as a stepping stone to HLTA or teaching if that's where you want to go.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need qualifications to be a teaching assistant?
Not always. You can take a college course or a Level 3 apprenticeship, or apply with experience. The apprenticeship usually asks for 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 including English and maths.
How long does a teaching assistant apprenticeship take?
The Teaching Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship takes up to 2 years to complete.
How much do teaching assistants earn?
The National Careers Service gives an average of £19,000 for starters and £26,000 for experienced teaching assistants, as of October 2026.
Do teaching assistants work full time?
Not always. They're employed term time only, and a working week can vary from a few hours up to full time.
What does FTE mean on a teaching assistant job advert?
Full-time equivalent. Advertised pay is often listed as FTE, and your actual pay depends on the hours you work.
Can a teaching assistant become a teacher?
Yes. Some teaching assistants go on to train as teachers, and with experience you could also become a higher level teaching assistant.
