Teaching Assistant Jobs With No Experience
Teaching assistant jobs are in high demand across the UK and the good news is that there are still plenty of job vacancies. If you’re looking for teaching assistant jobs with no experience, we’ve got all the information you need to get started.
Working as a teaching assistant is the perfect job for people with existing commitments. For parents who are looking for a job, it fits around school hours and terms. It’s also a great starting point for anyone wishing to gain experience in education.
As a career changer, you will have picked up a wealth of transferable skills during your working life. These will work in your favour even if you have no previous teaching assistant qualifications.
Qualifications
It’s not necessary to have a degree to become a teaching assistant. However, having one will work to your advantage in the selection process. Below we look at some other ways to improve your chances of landing teaching assistant jobs with no experience.
Teaching Assistant Qualifications
The following qualifications are not essential but will provide you with relevant experience to make you a better candidate when applying for teaching assistant jobs:
- Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools
- Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools
- Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.
You can also train to be a teaching assistant by taking an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship (Levels 2 and 3). You’ll get on-the-job experience and training in a school and will also receive a salary.
Experience Working with Children
Another way to improve your chances of landing a teaching assistant job is by having relevant experience working with children and young people. Of course, this doesn’t have to be in a school setting. It could involve coaching a sports team, childminding, or volunteering for youth groups in your community. This experience will help you develop important soft skills for the classroom.
Teaching Assistant Job Opportunities With No Experience
Whether you have experience or not, you can begin looking for jobs as a teaching assistant with no experience in the following areas:
- academies
- colleges and sixth forms
- independent schools
- nurseries
- primary schools
- secondary schools
- SEN schools
Job vacancies are usually advertised by the specific educational provider, local authorities, and by educational recruitment agencies. Checking with each institution directly is a great way to make contact and show your interest.
Refreshing a Career’s live jobs board will also regularly post listings for teaching assistant jobs.
Professional Development
Once you’re employed as a teaching assistant, ongoing training and development will be provided. Areas covered include:
- working with pupils who have specific learning difficulties or disabilities
- supporting English as an additional language (EAL) pupils
- promoting inclusivity and an accepting learning environment for all pupils
- supporting students who are gifted and talented
If you haven’t already acquired your Level 2 and 3 qualifications, you’ll be encouraged and supported to complete these. After these and with further experience, you can then go for the Level 4 Certificate for the Advanced Practitioner in Schools and Colleges. This has a greater emphasis on leadership, mentoring and coaching.
With further experience and the right skills, you can apply for higher-level teaching assistant (HTLA) status. This will prove that you meet the national standards. At this level, you will be involved in planning lessons, developing support materials, and delivering lessons unsupervised. It’s also common to be responsible for the other teaching assistants in your school.
Once you have HTLA status, it’s possible to become a teacher. By then, you’ll have gained insight and experience in the teaching assistant role, and will know whether it’s a transition you’re interested in making.
Finding Teaching Assistant Jobs For Career Changers
As we’ve seen, finding teaching assistant job opportunities with no experience can be quite straightforward. If you’re thinking about making a career change, or simply finding a job that gives you a better work/life balance, then a job as a teaching assistant might be just what you’re looking for.
Of course, it may be necessary to refresh your skills and do some retraining. Nevertheless, it is possible to start without any experience and take part in on-the-job training and development.
Check out Refreshing a Career’s live jobs board to keep up to date with the most recent teaching assistant job postings in your area. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions and sign up for our newsletter below so you don’t miss a thing.
