Teacher Assistant CV Example
Updated 30 July 2026
A strong teacher assistant CV names the intervention programmes you deliver (Read Write Inc, Numicon, ELSA), the behaviour frameworks you work within (Team Teach, positive behaviour for learning), and the pupil outcomes you've achieved. UK schools screen CVs for named schemes and concrete progress data, so specificity beats generic duty lists every time.
Teacher Assistant CV examples
Entry-Level Teaching Assistant
JuniorEnthusiastic teaching assistant with Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning qualification in progress and two years of classroom volunteering experience. Paediatric first-aid certified with strong safeguarding awareness. Confident supporting early phonics, classroom routines and small-group activities in a primary setting.
Why it works: Reframes volunteering and childcare experience as classroom-relevant, leads with safeguarding awareness, and names the Level 2 qualification in progress.
Level 3 Teaching Assistant
Mid-levelExperienced Level 3 teaching assistant with five years in mainstream primary, specialising in phonics and numeracy interventions. Trained ELSA practitioner with a strong track record delivering Read Write Inc and Numicon to small groups and 1:1 EHCP pupils. Currently working toward HLTA status to extend whole-class cover and planning responsibilities.
Why it works: Names specific intervention programmes (Read Write Inc, Numicon, ELSA), quantifies pupil progress, and shows the Level 2 to Level 3 progression with HLTA in sight.
HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant)
SeniorHLTA-status teaching assistant with nine years in primary education, specialising in whole-class cover, intervention design, and SEN support. Assessed against the 33 HLTA Professional Standards and experienced delivering planned lessons across Key Stages 1 and 2. Proven track record leading Read Write Inc, Precision Teaching, and EHCP provision, with strong contributions to planning, assessment, and pupil-progress tracking.
Why it works: Leads with HLTA status and whole-class teaching autonomy, quantifies cover lessons delivered, and demonstrates planning and assessment contributions alongside intervention delivery.
How to write a teacher assistant CV
Format and length
A UK teaching assistant CV should run to two pages maximum. Open with your name and TA qualification level (Level 2, Level 3, or HLTA status) immediately below it, then a three-sentence personal statement. Follow with: Work Experience (reverse-chronological, most recent first), Education and Qualifications, Key Skills, and a short Additional Information section covering DBS status, safeguarding training, and any relevant interests.
What to include in each section
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Personal statement | Your TA level, years of experience, phase and setting (primary/secondary/special/PRU), and one standout skill or programme you deliver. |
| Work experience | Job title, school name, dates, and 3-4 achievement bullets per role. Name the key stage, intervention programmes, group sizes, and pupil outcomes. |
| Skills | Named intervention programmes (Read Write Inc, Numicon, ELSA, Precision Teaching), behaviour frameworks (Team Teach, de-escalation), SEN experience (autism, ADHD, SEMH, dyslexia), and any exam access-arrangement or invigilation experience. |
| Education | TA qualifications first (Level 2, Level 3, HLTA), then GCSEs or A-Levels. Include grades for English and Maths GCSEs. |
| Additional information | Enhanced DBS status (state if on Update Service), Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) training year, Prevent training, paediatric first aid, and any HLTA-in-progress status. |
Setting and phase
State the school phase and setting up front in your personal statement or first role: mainstream primary, secondary, special school, or PRU (Pupil Referral Unit). A special-school TA CV emphasises personal care, complex-needs support, and sensory regulation; a mainstream primary CV leads with phonics and small-group interventions. Make it obvious which world you work in.
DBS and safeguarding
List your enhanced DBS status in Additional Information. If your DBS is on the Update Service, say so, it signals you can be onboarded without a weeks-long wait for a fresh check. Include the year of your most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and Prevent Duty training. These are hireability signals, not afterthoughts.
Personal statement examples
Experienced Level 3 teaching assistant with five years in mainstream primary, specialising in phonics and numeracy interventions. Trained ELSA practitioner with a strong track record delivering Read Write Inc and Numicon to small groups and 1:1 EHCP pupils. Currently working toward HLTA status to extend whole-class cover and planning responsibilities.
Hard-working and reliable teaching assistant looking for a role in a school where I can use my skills to support children. A good team player who is passionate about education and helping pupils achieve their potential.
Writing your experience
Show outcomes, not duties
Schools want to see what you delivered and what changed for pupils, not a list of tasks. The pattern is: what you did, for whom (group size and key stage), and the measurable result.
| Weak (duty) | Strong (outcome) |
|---|---|
| Supported pupils with literacy and numeracy. | Delivered daily Read Write Inc phonics to a group of 6 Year 2 pupils, raising 5 pupils by two book bands over one academic year. |
| Helped with behaviour management. | Implemented a personalised behaviour plan and sensory regulation strategies for a Year 5 pupil with ADHD, reducing classroom incidents by 60 per cent. |
| Assisted the teacher in the classroom. | Ran twice-weekly Numicon maths intervention for 4 Year 1 pupils, increasing number fluency scores by an average of 18 per cent in termly assessments. |
Name the programmes and frameworks
Generic claims like "supported literacy" tell a school nothing. Name the intervention: Read Write Inc, Numicon, Precision Teaching, ELSA, Fresh Start. For behaviour, name the framework: Team Teach, positive behaviour for learning, de-escalation, sensory regulation. Schools search CVs for these exact terms.
Distinguish 1:1 from small-group work
1:1 support usually means a named pupil with an EHCP, you're a key worker, managing personal care, a behaviour plan, and curriculum access. Small-group intervention means pulling 3-6 children out for a targeted phonics or numeracy block. State which you've done, the key stage, and the group size. They're different jobs.
Quantify pupil progress the way schools measure it
Use the metrics schools track: book bands moved, reading-age months gained, percentage-point improvements in phonics screening, or termly assessment score increases. "Ran a daily Read Write Inc phonics group of 5 Year 1 pupils; 4 moved up a book band within a term" is worth ten generic bullets.
Action verbs for TA roles
Delivered, ran, supported, implemented, coordinated, supervised, adapted, tracked, monitored, contributed, planned, assessed, invigilated, acted as (reader/scribe/prompter).
Key skills & ATS keywords
Hard skills
Soft skills
ATS keywords
Education & certifications
TA qualifications: the progression path
UK teaching assistant roles screen on qualification level first. The standard path is:
- Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools: entry-level TA work, usually supporting the teacher in class and working with small groups under supervision.
- Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools: allows you to plan and deliver interventions independently, work with EHCP pupils, and take on more responsibility.
- HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant): assessed against 33 HLTA Professional Standards via a school-visit assessment. HLTA status lets you teach whole classes unsupervised, contribute to planning and assessment, and cover PPA time or short-term absence.
If you're working toward HLTA, state "HLTA assessment in progress" with an expected completion date. It signals ambition and tells the school they can grow you into cover capacity.
Certifications that matter
List these in an Achievements or Certifications section:
- ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant): a sought-after qualification for supporting pupils with SEMH needs.
- Team Teach: positive handling and de-escalation training, essential for behaviour-support roles.
- Paediatric First Aid (Level 3 Award): required for many TA roles, especially in early years and special schools.
- Read Write Inc Lead Practitioner or Numicon training: if you've completed official training, name it.
- Safeguarding and KCSIE training: include the year. Prevent Duty awareness is also expected.
GCSEs and A-Levels
Include your English and Maths GCSE grades (schools often require Grade 4/C or above). If you have A-Levels or a degree, list them, but TA qualifications come first on the CV.
Common mistakes to avoid
Writing "supported the teacher" with no detail on what you actually delivered.
Name the intervention, the group size, the key stage, and the outcome: "Delivered daily Read Write Inc phonics to a group of 6 Year 2 pupils, raising 5 pupils by two book bands over one academic year."
Omitting the school phase and setting (primary, secondary, special, PRU).
State the setting in your personal statement or first role: "Five years in mainstream primary" or "Three years in a special school supporting pupils with complex needs."
Leaving off DBS status and safeguarding training.
Add an Additional Information section: "Enhanced DBS check (on Update Service as of January 2026). Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 training completed. Prevent Duty awareness training (September 2025)."
Listing "managed challenging behaviour" without naming the framework or strategies.
Be specific: "Implemented Team Teach de-escalation strategies and sensory regulation techniques for a Year 5 pupil with ADHD, reducing classroom incidents by 60 per cent."
Failing to distinguish 1:1 EHCP support from small-group intervention work.
State which you've done and for whom: "Provided 1:1 EHCP support for a Year 3 pupil with autism" or "Ran twice-weekly Numicon intervention for 4 Year 1 pupils."
Claiming "I taught classes" without HLTA status or clarifying it was cover supervision.
Be precise: "Provided cover supervision for whole-class lessons twice weekly" (if you supervised pre-set work) or "Delivered planned whole-class lessons as HLTA" (if you hold HLTA status and taught).
Junior vs senior: what changes
| Aspect | Junior | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Personal statement | Leads with Level 2 qualification (or in progress), volunteering or childcare experience, and safeguarding awareness. | Leads with HLTA status, years of experience, whole-class teaching autonomy, and intervention leadership. |
| Intervention delivery | Assisted with small-group phonics or numeracy under teacher supervision. May list programmes observed or supported. | Independently designed and delivered named interventions (Read Write Inc, Precision Teaching, ELSA) with measurable pupil-progress outcomes. |
| EHCP and SEN support | Supported SEN pupils in class, helped with differentiated resources, and followed teacher-led behaviour plans. | Provided 1:1 EHCP support as key worker, implemented personalised behaviour plans, and tracked progress against EHCP outcomes. Named specific needs (autism, ADHD, SEMH, dyslexia) and adjustments made. |
| Whole-class responsibility | Supervised morning routines, playground, or lunchtime duties. No whole-class teaching. | Delivered planned whole-class lessons as HLTA (or provided cover supervision as Level 3 TA), typically 3-5 times per week, covering PPA or short-term absence. |
| Planning and assessment | Prepared resources under teacher direction. No input into planning or assessment. | Contributed to termly pupil-progress meetings, analysed intervention-impact data, and recommended adjustments to provision. HLTA may co-plan lessons with teachers. |
| Qualifications and training | Level 2 TA qualification (or in progress), paediatric first aid, and safeguarding induction. | Level 3 Diploma, HLTA status, and specialist certifications (ELSA, Team Teach, Read Write Inc Lead Practitioner). May be DSL-trained. |