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!

TA pay is atrocious for the level of responsibility and the complexity of the needs of the children they work with. The knowledge, skill and experience needed to make a difference to pupils with Autism, anxiety or any other SEND is vastly undervalued. I worked as an enhanced TA for 3 years and took home £1300 p/m net on a 37.5 hour week. The jobs are advertised fte but nearly always term time only which significantly reduces the salary - its not enough to live on as a single income household.

I worked as a TA in a Reception class, 32 hours a week and took home around £1300 per month.

I suspect its a touch over minimum wage. Unfortunately a lot of quite skilled jobs are pitched at this level. One reason is that they are seen as a good option for women with children.

TA here, term time only at secondary school, 25hrs a week is all my school offer. Take home £800 a month. It’s piss poor. I’m level 3 but get paid level 1, I love my job but. I’m going to have to find another one.

Yes that's about right.

It's only 6.5 hours a day and only 40 weeks of the year. Very part time.

@NotForMeCheers Well that's great, we also cut out cloth accordingly, as of course you have to on less than 3k p/m with no other support. I'm sorry you are in a similar financial position.

What hours is this all done in?

But you’ve chosen to be a TA even though you have the qualifications and experience to be a teacher? Isn’t that choosing to be in a low paid job?

FWIW I do think both TAs and teachers should be paid more. But you have to own the fact that you’ve made certain choices which have resulted in you earning less. Nothing wrong with that as I’ve done the same.

Sorry if I have missed this OP.

What hours do you do?

What is your annual salary? Not FTE.

What level TA are you?

Yes, the role became widespread at a time when school jobs really were like hen's teeth. Parents, usually women, who wanted or needed the holidays off were much more of a captive audience than they are now. The crap salary bought a much more skilled class of employee than it otherwise would've, because of the hours. But now there are more flexible jobs available.

And also with every year that passes, a smaller percentage of the workforce are old enough to be insulated from the deranged housing market now. I have an aunt who did it for 30 years and retired a couple of years back, only ever earned peanuts. Stayed after her kids grew up because it suited her. She's in SH so it was never a problem. Someone privately renting in the same area now wouldn't be able to do the same. People who have to pay much more for their housing don't have the same options to choose to earn less.

And also with every year that passes, a smaller percentage of the workforce are old enough to be insulated from the deranged housing market now.

Ansolutely. The majority of our TAs have been there since their own children were there and they started as reading helpers. None have degrees, a handful have A levels and GCSEs-most have a few O levels. All are married and have paid their mortgages off ages ago and do the job because they still like it.

@starsinthenightskies The sad reality is I'm leaving the role in summer and going back to uni to take on an MSc in Counselling Children and Young People. I will be needing to look for a 2 day p/w teaching job for those two years of uni as needs must.
Following that I will qualify as a Counsellor which will finally allow me to leave the world of education behind (at long last - it's only going to get worse!)
But I recognise not everyone has these choices and the pay is just appalling for what is expected of TAs/HLTAs. It's simply not enough.

Of course some TA's on UC with children over 3 will find that their work coach will now want them to increase their hours to at 30 p/w as the government have introduced this to support them make their lives even harder

@Newtoniannechanics I earn around £1,200 p/m, hubby earns £1,700 (social care). Hence the just under £3k p/m combined take home wages. No UC or anything like that.

Full time it's about 21-23k but many of them work only part time hours and take home sometimes only half of that. Disgraceful in any case

I imagine the 13 weeks paid holiday per year, every Bank Holiday off, every weekend off and a 3.20pm finish every day takes the edge off somewhat.

Have you not read the thread? They're not paid for 13 weeks 🙄

I agree. It is a struggle. How many hours do you work? Are you full time?

@Newtoniannechanics Yes, ft as in the hours offered by any school (my working hours are 8.30 - 3.30, half hour lunch). I have a 3 yo so try to get home for her ASAP.

The ones in my school are on about 15/16k a year. 22k advertisements will be the full time equivalent, not the pro-rated rate. 10-12k was standard a few years ago which is shocking!

That isn't good. My oh gets 1800 as a HLTA. I got £1500 as a TA seven years ago.

This is the North East. There does seem to be regional variations.

@LondonQueen That must be London schools?

This is untrue. They do get paid holiday, it's illegal not to.

Newtoniannechanics

That would be 9.00-3.30 before the planning meeting. Our days are as full on with 30 mins for lunch and a 15 min tea break. Every second is taken up.

This is rubbish too. It's usually around the £20-22k mark pro rata.

@indianwoman What's rubbish? The £12k pay? Most definitely!