Teaching assistants support teachers and help children with their educational and social development, both in and out of the classroom. The job will depend on the school and the age of the children.

This role can include:

• getting the classroom ready for lessons

• listening to children read, reading to them or telling them stories

• helping children who need extra support to complete tasks

• helping teachers to plan learning activities and complete records

• supporting teachers in managing class behaviour

• supervising group activities

• looking after children who are upset or have had accidents

• clearing away materials and equipment after lessons

• helping with outings and sports events

• taking part in training

• carrying out administrative tasks

You'll also support children with particular needs, working with them individually or in small groups.

In some schools you could have a specialism, such as literacy, numeracy or special educational needs (SEN). If you are bilingual, you might do more work with children whose first language is not English.

At secondary level, you're likely to concentrate on working with individuals and small groups and, depending on the subject, you may help with 'practicals', for example in science.

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) have more responsibility. This can include:

• working alongside teachers to support learning activities

• helping to plan lessons and prepare teaching materials

• acting as a specialist assistant for particular subjects

• leading classes under the direction of the teacher

• supervising other support staff

This role may also involve assessing, recording and reporting on children's progress.

Individual schools set their own entry requirements and decide which qualifications and experience they want. You can get an idea of what you're likely to need by looking at jobs advertised locally or by checking your LEA's vacancies online.

Previous qualifications in nursery work, childcare, play work or youth work can be useful for finding work. If you have enough experience of working with children or can show employers that you have the right personality and potential, they may take you on and train you on the job. Volunteering to help in a local school for a few hours a week is a good way to start.

The following qualifications are also available for those not yet employed in the role, and for those just new to the job, whether paid or volunteering:

• Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools

• Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools

Most paid jobs will require you to have qualifications in literacy and numeracy at GCSE or equivalent.

Before you can begin working with the children, the school will carry out enhanced background checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

You may be able to become a teaching assistant through an apprenticeship scheme. The range of apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers.

eaching assistants are employed in:

• nurseries

• primary schools

• secondary schools

• special schools

• colleges and sixth forms

• independent schools

• academies.

Vacancies are usually advertised by the educational provider, local authorities and educational recruitment agencies. It's best to check specific school, council or recruitment websites for opportunities.

You can also look for vacancies at:

• daynurseries.co.uk

• EduStaff

• Eteach

• Times Educational Supplement (TES) jobs

Career prospects

There are four grades of teaching assistant, ranging from entry level to HLTA, and you'll progress through the grades by gaining experience and taking appropriate qualifications and training.

As you progress, you'll take on more responsibility and at HLTA level you may get involved in planning lessons, developing support materials and delivering lessons unsupervised. You may also be responsible for supporting other TAs.

There is also scope to coordinate activities in specialist areas of support or curriculum learning, such as SEN, literacy or IT.

Working as a TA can also act as an excellent stepping stone towards becoming a teacher. The role will provide you with a realistic and practical insight into the role of a teacher, without the responsibility of being one. Some schools actively support this transition. See primary school teacher and secondary school teacher for the range of training options.Credit: https://www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses/find-career-ideas/explore-jobs/job-profile/teaching-assistanthttps://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/teaching-assistant

The role of the teaching assistant

• Why do you want to be a teaching assistant?

• Why do you think you would be a good TA?

• What do you think the role of a TA is?

• Why do you think the role is important?

• Do you think you would find a TA role fulfilling? Why?

• What do you think would be the challenges you would face in this role?

The school

• Why do you want to work at this school?

• Are you familiar with this school? What do you think makes it special?

• Would you be proud to be part of this school? Why?

Your experience, skills and personality

• What’s your experience of working with children?

• Why do you enjoy working with children?

• Can you tell us about a time you successfully worked with a group of children?

• What experience could you bring from previous posts to your work at this school?

• Do you find it easy to communicate with children?

• Can you tell us about a time when you effectively worked as part of a team?

• Are you good at organising yourself and other people?

Communication and managing difficult situations

• Do you think you would be able to effectively communicate with parents?

• How would you manage conflict with colleagues or parents?

• What would you do if a pupil was disruptive in class?

• Tell us about a time when you were with a group of children and something went wrong: how did you remedy the situation?

• What would you do if a child complained that they were bored?

• Some pupils are angry and upset following a playground dispute. It’s affecting the lesson: what would you do?

• Tell us about a time you had to use your initiative to rescue a difficult situation.

Teaching and supporting teaching

• How could you support pupils’ reading?

• How can you tell whether children have learnt something during the task they’ve just completed?

• Does learning have to be fun?

• How can we try to engage a demotivated pupil?

• What ideas can we try to help a pupil who is struggling compared with their peers?

• Do you have specific knowledge in any area, for example, a second language or a love of maths? If so, how could you use it in the classroom?

• How can we assess what pupils have learnt?

• Is it important to assess learning? Why?

• What makes a good lesson?

• How can we stretch our most gifted and talented learners?

• How can you encourage reluctant readers?

• Do you have any creative ideas for helping pupils who are struggling with numeracy?

• How would you support a pupil who was struggling with a specific task?

Child protection and safeguarding

• Have you ever felt uncomfortable about a colleague’s behaviour towards children in a previous job?

• What were your concerns, what did you do and how was the issue resolved?

• Safeguarding children is an important part of our work. Can you give me same examples of how you would contribute to making the organisation a safer environment for children?

• Tell me about a time when a child or young person behaved in a way that caused you concern. How did you deal with that? Who else did you involve?

Credit: https://www.tes.com/jobs/careers-advice/teaching-assistant/teaching-assistant-interview-potential-questions

Useful Links- interview help

https://schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/staff/recruitment-and-induction/interviews-support/interview-questions-teaching-assistant-individual-pupils-with-sen/

https://www.tes.com/jobs/careers-advice/teaching-assistant/how-nail-teaching-assistant-job-interview

https://www.randstad.co.uk/career-advice/interview-guidance/sen-teaching-interview-questions/

https://www.stonebridge.uk.com/blog/interview-advice/teaching-assistant-interview-questions-and-answers