Education
Teaching Assistant CV Template UK
Teaching assistants in the UK support pupils across primary, secondary, and specialist educational settings, working under the direction of qualified teachers to promote learning, manage behaviour, and provide targeted support for individual pupils or groups. Employers look for evidence of genuine commitment to pupil development, the ability to adapt to different learning needs, and a sound understanding of safeguarding responsibilities. Schools hiring Level 2 and Level 3 TAs want to see specific classroom experience and any SEN, SEND, or subject-based specialisms clearly stated. A strong CV demonstrates practical impact on pupil learning and behaviour rather than just listing duties carried out.
UK Teaching Assistant hiring is dominated by primary schools, MATs (multi-academy trusts), and SEND-specialist settings, with strong year-round demand for SEN-experienced TAs (autism, EHCP support, behaviour support) at Level 3 and HLTA. Pay is locally banded — Teaching Assistants employed directly by schools or LAs sit on local government pay scales rather than national agreements. The single biggest CV gap UK schools mention is candidates with no named intervention experience (Read Write Inc., Numicon, Lego Therapy, Zones of Regulation) — even one named intervention reliably moves applications above generic-TA ones.
Teaching Assistant salary bands in the UK (2026)
Indicative UK ranges based on current market data. London and specialist sector roles typically sit at the upper end of each band.
TA Level 1 (entry / unqualified)
£18,500–£22,500 FTE (term-time pro-rata)
Often a route into the profession; Level 2 expected within 12 months.
TA Level 2
£20,500–£24,500 FTE
Most common school-employed TA band; Level 2 qualification typically required.
TA Level 3 / Senior TA
£23,000–£28,000 FTE
SEN specialist or subject-specific support. EHCP 1:1 roles often this band.
HLTA (Higher Level TA)
£26,000–£32,000 FTE
Class-cover responsibilities. HLTA assessment required.
Teaching Assistant CV bullet examples — weak vs. strong
Real examples specific to this role. Use them as templates for rewriting your own bullets.
Weak
Supported pupils with special educational needs in the classroom and worked closely with the teacher.
Strong
1:1 support for Year 4 pupil with EHCP (ASC + ADHD); implemented Zones of Regulation and a visual timetable across the school day, contributing to a 70% reduction in classroom exits over two terms (tracked via class teacher's behaviour log).
Why it works: Names year group, EHCP status, specific diagnoses, the named intervention, AND the behavioural outcome with how it was measured. SEN-specialist schools screen explicitly for named interventions and measurable behaviour outcomes.
Weak
Helped with reading and numeracy interventions in small groups.
Strong
Delivered Read Write Inc. phonics intervention to 6 Year 2 pupils (3 sessions/week, 12 weeks); 5 of 6 moved up at least one reading band, with two reaching age-related expectations from "working below".
Why it works: Names the intervention, group size, year group, cadence, duration, AND the specific reading-band outcome. Primary schools screen on intervention experience and quantified pupil progress more than generic classroom support.
Common mistake
Describing TA work as "general classroom support" or "helped the teacher" without naming year groups, specific interventions, or SEN diagnoses worked with. Schools and MATs filter heavily on intervention names and SEN keywords — generic CVs lose to TAs who can name three interventions and two diagnoses.
Pro tip
Add an "Interventions delivered" and "SEN experience" pair of header lines near the top of the CV: "Interventions: Read Write Inc., Numicon, Zones of Regulation, Lego Therapy. SEN experience: ASC, ADHD, EHCP 1:1, SEMH." This is what every SENCO and headteacher scans for in the first 10 seconds.
Next Step
Check your CV for this role before you apply
Use the ATS checker to compare your CV against a real teaching assistant job description, then rewrite weak sections in the AI CV builder.
What recruiters look for in a Teaching Assistant CV
- Direct classroom experience: key stage, subject areas supported, and the nature of the support provided day to day
- SEN and SEND specialism — any experience with autism, ADHD, speech and language needs, physical disabilities, or EHCP support
- Safeguarding and child protection training: current DSL awareness, First Aid, or any formal safeguarding qualifications held
- Behaviour support strategies — de-escalation techniques, positive behaviour frameworks, or restorative approaches used in practice
- Communication with teachers, parents, and external professionals such as SENCOs, CAMHS, or speech therapists
- Qualifications and training: Level 2 or Level 3 TA qualification, CACHE, or any relevant CPD that strengthens subject or SEND skills
Seniority levels this page covers
Tailor your summary, recent experience, and keyword coverage to the level you are applying for. Senior roles usually need stronger ownership, scope, and commercial impact language.
How to make this page useful before you apply
Mirror the right language
Do not rewrite everything at once. Start by checking whether your current CV already uses the same skill and keyword language as the role, especially around Classroom support, Safeguarding, Behaviour support.
Prove the right kind of impact
The strongest teaching assistant CVs do not rely on broad claims. They show concrete evidence of direct classroom experience: key stage, subject areas supported, and the nature of the support provided day to day and sen and send specialism — any experience with autism, adhd, speech and language needs, physical disabilities, or ehcp support.
Match your level
This page covers ta through senior teaching assistant applications. As the level rises, your wording should show more scope, ownership, and decision quality.
Key skills to include
ATS keywords recruiters expect
ATS score tips for this role
State your TA qualification level near the top — Level 2, Level 3, or HLTA status — as schools use these as primary ATS filters when shortlisting applications.
Include "safeguarding" and current training year explicitly — "Safeguarding training completed 2024, Level 2" — as every school ATS searches for safeguarding compliance.
Use SEN or SEND terminology that matches the school's context — "ASC", "ADHD", "EHCP", "1:1 support", "small group intervention" — rather than generic "learning support" language.
Name the key stage or year groups you have worked with: "Year 1 to Year 6", "KS3 and KS4 maths support" — this helps ATS systems match you to the school's current vacancy.
Include any intervention programmes you have delivered: "Reading Recovery", "IDL literacy", "Numicon" — named interventions signal practical training that generic TAs may lack.
Common questions about teaching assistant CVs
How should I tailor a teaching assistant CV for UK employers?
Start by matching the job description language where it reflects your real experience. For teaching assistant roles, employers usually look for evidence around direct classroom experience: key stage, subject areas supported, and the nature of the support provided day to day and sen and send specialism — any experience with autism, adhd, speech and language needs, physical disabilities, or ehcp support.
Which keywords matter most for a teaching assistant CV?
The strongest starting point is usually the job description itself, but recurring keywords for this role include teaching assistant, classroom support, safeguarding. Use them where they accurately describe your work instead of forcing them into a generic summary.
What changes between ta and senior teaching assistant applications?
TA applications usually need clearer evidence of core execution and role fit. Senior Teaching Assistant applications normally need stronger ownership language, broader scope, and more visible commercial or organisational impact.
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