Learning Choices

Job Profile

Classroom Assistant - Primary or Nursery School

Classroom assistants working in primary or nursery schools, help the teacher in the classroom. They may work in only one class, or spend some time in different classrooms.

The Work
Conditions
Getting In
What Does It Take?
Training
Getting On
Pay
More Information

The Work

You could be:

helping pupils, individually or in groups, with reading, writing, counting, computing, science and craft work
helping pupils with creative activities such as drawing, painting, music, singing and dancing
reading stories to children and encouraging them to be interested in books
helping the teacher supervise physical education (PE)
helping the teacher prepare for lessons, collecting the materials needed and helping keep records
helping escort pupils on school trips, and perhaps supervising the playground at the interval and the dinner hall at lunchtime
helping keep the classroom tidy
photocopying materials for lessons.

Conditions

You would work in a primary or nursery school with children aged 3 to 12.
Your working hours would usually be 9.00am to about 3.00pm.
Most jobs are term time only, so you will not be paid during school holidays.
A lot of work is part time.
You will be mainly in a classroom but sometimes outdoors in the playground.
You will be on your feet a lot and might have to set up equipment.

Getting In

You usually require at least 3 subjects at Standard grade (1-3) or National 5.
Many entrants now have a qualification such as the Professional Development Award (PDA) in Education Support Assistance or Early Education and Child Care. Some courses can be taken over 1 year full time. Entry requirements range from no formal requirements up to 4 subjects at Standard grade or National 4 or 5, including English and Maths.
You may be able to train through a Modern Apprenticeship.
A Certificate in First Aid is always useful.
You usually need experience with children, whether paid work, voluntary activities, or bringing up your own children. Some classroom assistants start by becoming volunteer helpers in the classroom.
You would require a satisfactory PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) check to show you are suitable for this type of work. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details.
There can be a lot of competition for jobs.

What Does It Take?

You need to be able to:

get on well with children and build good relationships with them
build good working relationships with teachers and parents
work as part of a team.

You need to have:

good communication skills, both spoken and written
patience with children of all abilities
confidence and accuracy in spelling, punctuation and basic number work
a flexible and adaptable nature
a sympathetic attitude
a firm approach when necessary
an interest in child development
lots of energy and creativity.

Training

If you do not have a relevant qualification you can study part time, while working, for one of the following:

PDA in Education Support Assistance
the Open University Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools.

Getting On

You might take further qualifications and then apply to train as a teacher.
In England you can train to become a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, but this job is not available in Scotland.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide as actual pay rates vary, depending on which local council you work for. Local councils generally pay on full time scales ranging from around £12,000 to about £16,000 a year, but based on the actual hours worked.