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Original poster

Teaching assistants: how do you survive?

111 replies

Runaround50 · 26/08/2022 11:14

Calling all teaching assistants up and down the country.
How do you manage financially? Do you claim UC to make ends meet? Rely on partner/ husband to pay mortgage/ rent/ bills?

I've been a TA for 3 years and just cannot survive on the money.

Needless to say, I'm looking for a higher paid role in earnest.

OP posts:
Violashift · 10/12/2022 20:37

@Twiglets1 of course I am quite sure ffs or I would not have said it!

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 20:40

Violashift · 10/12/2022 20:37

@Twiglets1 of course I am quite sure ffs or I would not have said it!

Term time only but up to 26k - just never heard of TAs being paid that much but ok

Fizbosshoes · 10/12/2022 20:41

I think TAs are underpaid, my mum used to say how underpaid and undervalued she was as a TA in the 1990s, and I'm pretty sure things haven't improved.
but surely a lot of jobs would be unsustainable as a main income if they were slightly less than FT and 38 weeks a year...? (Runs for cover)

Falalalalaaah · 10/12/2022 20:43

I think some of the daily rates for TAs doing supply are really high, so could be something like that. I get £11k p/a but I do finish work at lunchtime. I'd like to teach some day, so this is just a stop gap and a bit of experience while DCs are small

Violashift · 10/12/2022 20:45

For the hard of thinking. As I am clearly making it up. Also it's not pro rata.

Teaching assistants: how do you survive?
Falalalalaaah · 10/12/2022 20:46

Fizbosshoes · 10/12/2022 20:41

I think TAs are underpaid, my mum used to say how underpaid and undervalued she was as a TA in the 1990s, and I'm pretty sure things haven't improved.
but surely a lot of jobs would be unsustainable as a main income if they were slightly less than FT and 38 weeks a year...? (Runs for cover)

No need to run for cover at all. You're completely correct! My hourly rate is quite good tbh, but working very part time as I do will never pay brilliantly.

Teachers have the same hours in the classroom but then they have a lot of extra work to do over holidays and into the evenings which is why they get paid better.

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 20:49

Violashift · 10/12/2022 20:45

For the hard of thinking. As I am clearly making it up. Also it's not pro rata.

I’m not hard of thinking I’ve just never heard of a TA earning that much. Not in the South where I live or in a mainstream school. I’m not saying you’re not right I just asked if you were sure it wasn’t pro rata.
You seem to have a bit of a short fuse to be so quick to being out the insults.

Violashift · 10/12/2022 20:51

My husband is literally a TA. I think it was the are you 'quite sure ' that did it and the inference I was making it up as you had never heard of the situation.

For interest what is the TA salary down South?

DarkKarmaIlama · 10/12/2022 20:53

Sounds more like HLTA pay.

BeanieTeen · 10/12/2022 20:54

@Twiglets1 of course I am quite sure ffs or I would not have said it!

Oh dear - do you talk to the kids this way too when they innocently ask for clarification 😂 @Violashift

DisneyChops · 10/12/2022 20:54

All the TAs I know have husbands with good jobs and fairly good salaries. It's a supplementary income which also works well around school hours for their own children.

Violashift · 10/12/2022 20:55

BeanieTeen · 10/12/2022 20:54

@Twiglets1 of course I am quite sure ffs or I would not have said it!

Oh dear - do you talk to the kids this way too when they innocently ask for clarification 😂 @Violashift

No they aren't as patronising.

mynameischloe · 10/12/2022 20:57

I also am very surprised on that salary, is that HLTA? Private school?

BeanieTeen · 10/12/2022 20:58

Oh I misread @Violashift your DH is a TA. Presumably he has more patience. But it’s definitely unusual to be on that kind of pay, as a PP said it sounds like possibly he’s an HLTA? (Puts hard hat on…)

Violashift · 10/12/2022 20:59

mynameischloe · 10/12/2022 20:57

I also am very surprised on that salary, is that HLTA? Private school?

He is a HLTA yes but I was on 23k as 'just' a TA in 2018.

That advert is a local school also not for a HLTA but think must have SEN allowance as more than my husband is on.

Interested what other TA salaries are.

mynameischloe · 10/12/2022 21:00

I've got my hard hat on too Grin

mynameischloe · 10/12/2022 21:00

May we have a link to the job advert please?

DinkyDaisy · 10/12/2022 21:00

I am the second salary. My role is stressful however and tiring of what expected to do. The role in our school has become tougher and the pay is crap.
I never get a full half-hour break and it is unpaid. Most of us are in early and leave late. Feel like an idiot writing this...

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 21:01

Violashift · 10/12/2022 20:55

No they aren't as patronising.

Show quote history

Is it really patronising just to ask someone if they’re sure about something? It was an simple question not an insinuation you were lying.

mynameischloe · 10/12/2022 21:01

My salary is £19-23k L2 and pro rata down so it's about £11k a year actual salary.

Violashift · 10/12/2022 21:02

mynameischloe · 10/12/2022 21:01

My salary is £19-23k L2 and pro rata down so it's about £11k a year actual salary.

How many hours do you work?

Violashift · 10/12/2022 21:03

mynameischloe · 10/12/2022 21:00

May we have a link to the job advert please?

I would have to name change then.

Shinyandnew1 · 10/12/2022 21:03

I’m surprised by some of the TA salaries stated on this post. Our TAs get paid no more than minimum wage-it’s dreadful. All of ours are women in their 50s, started as paint pot washers/reading volunteers when their own kids were at the school and stayed. Their husbands are mainly retired or on good salaries and they work because they love it and they get on really well with colleagues so it’s quite a social thing as well, but the money is dire. We will be stuffed when they retire trying to find replacements.

mynameischloe · 10/12/2022 21:04

Why, just out of interest? Why is it outing? I'm not being snarky.

DinkyDaisy · 10/12/2022 21:07

Most TAs at our school work one to one with children with complex needs. Paint pot washers a thing of the past.
I do wonder if the grass greener in other schools and am looking outwards.
I am well qualified in my way and need to move on if want more money.

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