Teaching assistants work with fully qualified teachers, assisting them in the classroom by working with students on an individual or group basis. They can work with special needs students in a one-to-one setting or other pupils that may need further assistance to understand the class material. A higher-level teaching assistant can also conduct classes and supervise children when covering staff absences.
Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.
When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Teaching Assistant
Should you wish to work as a Teaching Assistant you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.
Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.
Teaching assistants are responsible for developing lesson plans, supervising students, and maintaining the safety and tidiness of the classroom. They work with the teacher to conduct lessons and assist students with special educational needs or anyone needing further support to understand the lesson material. To succeed as a teaching assistant, you will need excellent verbal and written communication and enjoy working with children.
Our advice on how to get a Teaching Assistant job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.
This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Teaching Assistant application. If you have not held a Teaching Assistant position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Teaching Assistant role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.
Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.
You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Teaching Assistant CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Teaching Assistant application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.
This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Teaching Assistant in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.
As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Teaching Assistant and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses.
The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Teaching Assistant experience.
What does it take to be a Teaching Assistant? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Teaching Assistant jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Teaching Assistant through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.
If you are wondering how to get into Teaching Assistant part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Teaching Assistant or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day.
If you have impressive Teaching Assistant qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.
How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.