Now that you know how to become a teaching assistant, you might be asking yourself why become a teaching assistant? Why should I choose this as my career path? What benefits does being a teaching assistant have? And most importantly, what type of job progression is there once I’ve become a qualified teaching assistant. A teaching assistant is the glue that holds a class together. They provide valuable support to the teacher and offer encouragement and help for children experiencing learning difficulties.

Have you ever been lost for words when thinking of questions to ask at the end of an interview**? Being invited to ask questions after the interview can be your last chance to really sell yourself to the employer. Don’t underestimate how important this stage of the interview is; it can make or break your chances of landing a teaching assistant job. By being well prepared and formulating 4 or 5 well-thought-out queries, you can avoid an awkward silence and finish the interview on a positive note.

When attending an interview for a teaching assistant position, you are likely to be asked the question “What are your strengths as a teaching assistant?”. The answer to this question needs to be carefully thought out and should always direct the interviewer’s attention not only to your actual strengths, but also and more importantly, to how your strongest assets match the school’s mission, vision, and values. Generally speaking, when employers ask “What are your strengths as a teaching assistant?

Success in any job interview relies on careful preparation and a teaching assistant interview is no exception. Trying to predict teaching assistant interview questions can be difficult but some simple research can go a long way. Prior to the interview, it is important to find out as much as possible about the school, its pupils and staff. Looking at the school’s website and recent Ofsted report can help you to understand the aims of the school and give information about the kind of activities its pupils are involved in.

As a rough guide, a teaching assistant salary can vary from £13,000 up to £17,500 based on a full-time permanent position. Higher level teaching assistants can earn between £17,000 to £24,000 to take into account their extra qualifications and responsibilities. Higher level teaching assistants may be asked to teach a whole class unaided at times. An enhanced teaching assistant salary is usually paid to assistants working in special schools where pupils will have a variety of special education needs.

For experienced teaching assistants who wish to take on greater responsibility and further their career, there is the opportunity to become a higher level teaching assistant. To do this the assistant must first gain the support of the headteacher at the school where they are employed. The headteacher will need to ensure that the assistant is a suitable candidate and that there is a role for a higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) in the school.