Teaching Assistants
As valued members of staff in schools they support and assist teachers and pupils both inside and outside the classroom.
You do not need a degree to become a teaching assistant – there are no statutory qualifications needed to obtain such a position, however schools will assess what skills, experience and qualifications are necessary when recruiting for particular posts. As a minimum they should have a level 2 literacy and numeracy qualification.
Some teaching assistants may choose to train as a teacher. This may be through part time study towards a Foundation degree whilst still working as a teaching assistant, which is then topped up to gain Qualified Teacher Status through the Registered Teacher Programme or by undertaking a full or part time Undergraduate degree course with QTS.
Registered Teacher Programme
Undergraduate degree course
High Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
One of a number of new teaching assistant roles, the HLTA role along with a professional standards framework and training, has been developed by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). This is linked to the Qualified Teacher Professional Standard. The standards of prior experience, experience on the job and training should bring the High level Teaching Assistant to roughly the equivalent of NVQ level 4.
It will provide a sound basis from which some High Level Teaching Assistants could progress, in time, to become qualified teachers if they so desire.
Pay and conditions of service for non-teaching staff are determined at local level and Northamptonshire County Council are currently reviewing their pay and conditions for support staff in schools.
For more information contact Children & Young People’s Service, Britannia House
Tel: 01604 655075
E-mail: remodelling@northamptonshire.gov.uk