Is this illegal?

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I've been offered a TA job however they said that I'd be covering the class as the teacher is head of school so I would be doing cover at the last min or sometimes planned cover. However I have no level 2,3,4 qualifications or paid experience in a school. Is this legal? I read somewhere that you need to be a min level 3 to do short term cover and not regular. Is that true?

If the head decides you are "suitably qualified", yes.

I mean yes it's legal.

Welcome to the world of being a TA!

Even though on the union page it says you have to hold a level 3 qual and have suitable experience? I have zero experience other than listening to children read

Yes. Welcome to education in 2023.
It's shit but it's where we are.

Unions often make recommendations but it's not the law.

Anyone can be a teacher nowadays, don't know why I bothered training for 4 years.

it is becoming more common in schools like you don’t need QTS to be a cover supervisor which is essentially what it looks like they’ll be using you for.

It's very much a legal grey area. Is it an LA school, an academy or a free school? The latter two can pretty much employ who they like and what they like.

Union best practice also isn't the law.

If you're not comfortable with the job, I'd suggest you turn it down. If you are, make sure you're being paid a fair wage for the amount of cover you have to do.