To think most people have no idea how little HLTAs/Teaching Assistants earn?

[LorlieS]

Anybody want to hazard a guess at the average monthly income of a ft HLTA/TA?

It really is quite shocking!

The labour party appear to have committed to increase the presence of counselling in primary and secondary schools which I would imagine will increase the number of jobs available.

The talk I have seen is of ‘mental health experts’ in schools rather than counsellors. I’m pretty sure this will be the EMHP role which is being rolled out at quite a rate nationally. We can access them free whereas we would never have the money to provide counsellors.

I am on the FB group for the training which is really interesting-it seems to be about 90% teachers who want to leave! The pay isn’t a patch on teaching, unfortunately but people are still choosing to retrain as one, just to get them out of teaching.

Yeah it's really interesting - "mental health counsellors" is the term that I've seen used, and it did give me pause for thought, because if the suggestion was "counsellors" then I don't see why the "mental health" modifier is necessary! Your explanation makes more sense to me, thank you. ( Most recent article I could find, for reference about the terminology being used)
If this is the case, it is a bit annoying that the language the labour party are using is potentially going to confound the problem that counsellor isn't a protected title, despite the fact that most practitioners would like it to be, for the interests of both practitioners and the public.
Becoming an EMHP was something I considered moving away from my TA job for, and I would have applied had I not found a different role sooner. It might be something that the OP @LorlieS might be interested in. Or others trapped in TA roles with skills, experience and ambition!

for those saying the salary is around 22k i think what you aren't realising is that many of these posts are pro rata so that would be what they would earn full time, not term time only. The actual pay is usually around 39 weeks paid across 12 months

I posted that it was 22k a year as that is what I earn as a ta3 and yes that is pro rata. The FTE is £28

He sounds like a proper bell end

£15k?

Completely agree!
This is me right now. Truthfully, I enjoy working with children so the job has many perks, not to mention the school hours work well with my DD and her schedule.
Sadly, I do have other jobs… ‘side hustles’ if you will, such as cleaning and a craft business just to make the money up!
Its a taxing job and certainly not my dream vocation BUT for the sake of the hours working conveniently, that’s a huge perk.

Move to the EU!
I’m a part time TA (under 20 hours per week) and get £22,000 after tax.

Teachers do realise this. You do get ‘holiday pay’ as a TA BUT as with teachers it is the statuary 5.6 weeks (or whatever the actual amount) and it’s included on your hourly rate/salary. Just the same as teachers are paid a salary equally split over 12 months for the 1265 days they work and not paid for the holidays. What happens with TA adverts/pay is that the actual salary is never advertised. Teachers actual salaries are. TAs are usually advertised at an hourly rate for 39 weeks plus 5 days and then the FTE salary is given which is never what is actually received. They really need to change how the advertise for TAs by quoting the actual salary. It’s still split over 12 months too.

I’ve had quite a few friends who have taken a TA role thinking it’s great with the holidays off like their kids so they don’t need childcare. Then after a couple of months in the job they realise they can’t afford to earn that little. Some I know actually do work extra hours elsewhere (on the bank staff a children’s homes etc).

I don’t think TAs are paid enough. As a teacher I know that my classrooms would not work without TAs (mainly because I work in sen and all my kids are 1:1) but I’ve taught in mainstream with and without a TA assigned to my class or a pupil in my class and know how hard they work. HLTAs aw often given the role of supply cover when the teacher is off. They get a slightly increased hourly rate for those sessions if the school agrees or they’re paid that slightly higher rate permanently but it’s not alot. I’ve been offered HLTA roles on supply and turn up and they expect me to teach for half the daily supply rate which is again often half a contracted teachers daily rate.

I guess with other minimum wage jobs you can often pick up overtime. TAs can’t really. Some will take on lunch duty and the lower rate of lunch time supervisors so they can earn more and some will work at the wrap around if the school offers it but work no directly with kids from 7:30am- 5:30pm is not necessarily what they signed up to.

I take home £1200. I'm a "1-1" but actually 1-8. I check over sen support targets and ensure they're met. Often differentiate work so my little lovelies can access it. Including their spellings and maths fluency that they take home) All have very different needs. I'm also first aider for the whole year group and take them out for every break/lunch break. I do all their interventions and liase with their families and the local authority for their ehcps and plans. I fight their corner. I wipe tears and ensure their mental health is paramount. It's very stressful but the most rewarding job in the world. My pay certainly doesn't reflect it.

It sounds very big headed but the class cannot and doesn't function without me. But I can cover the whole class and it's run smoothly. We are certainly not paid anywhere near enough.

Current ad for Teaching Assistant and Classroom Assistant

@celticprincess I know it must seem like 1265 days! 🤣 Are those a teacher's contracted hours for the year?

That's probably the full time pro rata rate!

@Owl55 another advert that doesn't make sense! Either the FTE is wrong or the pro-rata salary is wrong. Or the school is open 52 weeks a year?

I earn £15k. Just under £1200pm take home. I’m paid every month of the year including school holidays. I work 9:00-3:15 and get an hour lunch. I don’t really work that much when I think about it so the pay makes sense but it works for me as I’m studying to be a teacher.

I have 25 years experience and am highly qualified and frankly excellent at my job. I love it. But I can no longer afford to do the job. It breaks my heart.

I hope your colleagues aren't having to pick up your slack!

Its not a full time job though. I imagine it appeals to people looking for the flexibility and the shorter hours and long school holidays. Teachers obviously work outside school hours but I don't think TAs do.

@Willow39 wow I'm jealous! I earn the same but work 8.30-3.30 with half hour lunch.

Jobs are advertised at that rate, which would equate to working all year round, rather than just being paid for term time. Real salary is a joke. I work as a supply TA, thru choice, and a lot of school staff presume I am on a higher hourly rate. Psshh. No disrespect to cleaners, but my hourly rate is less than them.

I'm a HLTA and pay is shocking compared to what I earned as a teacher. I became a HLTA due to having children and needing work/life balance. The hours mean I don't need to pay for any wraparound childcare or childcare during the holidays so it's worth it money wise atm. As soon as my youngest is old enough to no longer need childcare, I will look for another job. I love what I do and I'm good at it but the money is appalling.

It’s shocking. I work in a school and see what these wonderful individuals do daily. They often do the lions share of the work, under appreciated and dumped on by teaching staff. They are always made a scapegoat when things go wrong. They deserve so much more. I work in the school office and see it every day. Soul destroying work at the best of times.

Isn't £14k below minimum wage? I earn 3x that driving trucks!

It's the hourly rate that counts