Teaching Assistants salary/ pay conditions

[Youcanringmybell]

I have just got a new job as a Teaching Assistant. I forgot to ask what the salary was. It is only a level 1 position as that is the only job I could find, although I am qualified for level 3.

Can I be nosey and ask if you are a teaching assistant what level you are working at and what you salary or hourly rate works out at?

I feel a bit cheesed off as I have to be in school from 9am-3.00 BUT I only get paid for 5 hours work and not for lunch hour

Feeling like I may earn next to nothing once it has been averaged out over the year.

It depends from LEA. You'd be best calling HR and asking.

If its a state school, the salary will probably be on the local Council's pay scale - a call to your schools office will get you the scale and then you can google. But remember the salary given will be for 52 weeks and its likely you will have to work out the 38 or 39 week pro-rata rate and then divide by the number of hours you are working (if you can, try and get a amount per hour figure from your school, its much easier to work it out that way!!)

Basically, the pay in the South East (where I am) is about £8-9 per hour, its never going to be the best paid job, most of us accept it because we have school age children and it fits in with family life

I don't know anyone who gets paid for lunch hour. I work in a company and a 7.5 hr day would be 9-5:50 with an hour for lunch. I don't think you're being hard done by on that score. (Naturally most of us actually work through our lunch hour, but there you go!)

sorry - 5:30, not 50

Ok thanks everyone
Will get on it. I have always been paid for my lunch hours before...
I am still pleased as it is what I want to do. Am waiting about 2 years before PGCE so this fits in perfectly. Perhaps I was being a bit naive about the salary.

I'm currently applying for TA positions. Have gone for level 2's even though I'm newly level 3 qualified.

In the NW a level 2 is £16800.00 (rounded down) pro rata per annum to £18500.00.

That's according to our LA pay scale.

Don't know if that will help.

Thanks you.

I am confused because the advert said Full Time TA - 25 hours per week.
Yet all the websites are saying 32 hours per week is full time.

Anyone tell me what hours they work?

Level 1 around 10k a year.

25 hrs is not regarded as full time.

All the adverts I have seen are advertising anything up to 33 hours as part time.

I'm sure 25 hours is full time in a school - our council website does the same because the pay scales relate to all council jobs, most of which are traditional working hours.

ihearsounds - Is that based on a 40 hr week or 32hrs please?

I know I am a pain. Just wondering and won't contact anyone until I go in for a few days before summer holidays. I will be accepting regardless but not sure of pay.

My hours are 31.. Get 45 minute lunch break, 30 minutes are unpaid.

Oh ok Icanhear

What time do you start and finish?

I think (I may be wrong) that in our area the TAs are paid for hours they work, ie it's not evenned out over the year, they just don't get paid for the weeks they don't work (like casual workers).

Certainly was the case at one point, I don't know if they've changed it.

Full-time in school means both mornings and afternoons. It is nowhere near 35 hours a week so you get a reduced pension but realistically unable to get another job to make the hours up. You only ever do this job for love! No sick pay for three days, London Weighting taken away, expected to work outside of 9 - 3 for nothing, no chance ever of an increase once you hit the top of your pay band and never in a million years can the pay be described as a living wage! Hope I haven't put you off
Also you calculate 43 weeks out of 52 as we get 4 weeks paid holiday.

That's based on 25 hours in my borough. The pay for midday meals and level 1 is very similar.

Ah I see - this pro rata thing is exhausting

Believe me I am happy to be paid at all. I have been volunteering for months and love it.

Thank you Ihearsounds - that is helpful
Are you in KS1 or 2?

My hours are 9-3:30 and one day a week an extra hour for staff meeting.
When I go up a level, the hours will increase to 35, so wil be 9-4:30. I am currently level 2.

Thank you - sounds good

I am Ks 3 - 5. Special needs from 11 - 19

Brilliant -I will be keeping my eyes open for KS3+ next year. Really want to 'play the field' until I decide what I want to do for my PGCE That won't happen for a couple of years yet though.

You will get some holiday pay (it's the law!). So you'll work 39 weeks (38 weeks of term plus 5 training/flexi days) and then get 4-5 weeks' holiday pay on top. In our LEA you would get 44 weeks' pay spread over 52.

But a level 1 would only be just over minimum wage. The paygrades will be on the LEA website.

I have found the pay grades. Thank you for all your help

Have you worked out roughly what your take home pay will be, OP? I'd be interested in knowing if you wouldn't mind sharing as my friend is very keen to become a teaching assistant.