Teaching Assistant CV template (UK, 2026)
A strong UK Teaching Assistant CV proves you can be trusted with a classroom of children before a school ever meets you, so it leads with safeguarding and an enhanced DBS, then shows the day-to-day: phonics groups, 1:1 SEN support, and behaviour management under a class teacher's direction. Recruiters skim for evidence you have actually worked in a school, not just childcare, and for named age phases (EYFS, KS1, KS2).
Teaching Assistants: pay and who’s hiring
Teaching Assistants in the UK typically earn between £19,000–£25,000 depending on experience, location, and shift patterns. Employers actively recruiting for this role include Local Authority schools, Academies Enterprise Trust, Harris Federation, Oasis Community Learning. Tailoring your CV to each of these employers’ job descriptions — mirroring their exact wording — is what gets you past the ATS and in front of a hiring manager.
Keywords this template targets
- safeguarding
- SEN support
- phonics
- behaviour management
- EYFS
- 1:1 support
- differentiation
- lesson planning support
Certifications to highlight
- Enhanced DBS
- Level 2/3 Supporting Teaching & Learning
- Safeguarding Children Level 1
- First Aid at Work
Personal statement example
Enhanced DBS-checked Teaching Assistant with two years' experience supporting KS1 phonics groups and 1:1 SEN provision in a mainstream primary. Skilled in behaviour management, differentiation, and small-group interventions, with Level 3 Supporting Teaching & Learning and Safeguarding Children Level 1 training. Committed to inclusive, child-centred learning.
Example experience bullet points
Adapt these to your own roles — keep the verb-first structure and swap in your real figures.
- Delivered daily phonics interventions to groups of up to 8 KS1 pupils, tracking progress against school assessment data
- Provided 1:1 support for a pupil with an EHCP, adapting resources and liaising with the SENCO on IEP targets
- Supported the class teacher in managing behaviour for a class of 30, using consistent whole-school strategies
- Prepared differentiated learning materials for mixed-ability groups across literacy and numeracy
- Maintained accurate safeguarding and incident records in line with the school's KCSIE policy
Section-by-section structure
- Personal summary — three sentences, lead with role + years + a measurable result.
- Key skills — 8–10 bullets, mixing the keywords above with one transferable soft skill.
- Certifications — bullet each credential with the awarding body and year.
- Experience — reverse chronological. Each role gets 3–5 bullets, each bullet starts with a verb and ends with a number where possible.
- Education — institution, qualification, year. Skip A-Level / GCSE detail if you have 5+ years of experience.
Common teaching assistant CV mistakes
- Leaving out the enhanced DBS status and safeguarding training entirely, which is often the first thing a school checks
- Describing experience only as 'childcare' without naming the school phase (EYFS/KS1/KS2) or subjects supported
- Failing to mention specific interventions (phonics, SEN, 1:1 support) that show classroom-ready experience rather than generic supervision
Frequently asked
Do I need a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification to apply for Teaching Assistant jobs in the UK?
Many schools accept Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning as an entry point, but Level 3 is increasingly preferred, especially for roles involving SEN or HLTA-track responsibilities. If you don't have a formal qualification yet, relevant classroom experience and a willingness to train can still get you shortlisted.
Should I mention my DBS certificate number on my CV?
No, never put the DBS certificate number itself on your CV. State that you hold an enhanced DBS (with barred list check if applicable) and that it's current or renewable, and bring the physical certificate to interview if asked.
What ATS keywords matter most for a teaching assistant CV?
The strongest signals are: safeguarding, SEN support, phonics, behaviour management, EYFS, 1:1 support, differentiation, lesson planning support. Include them in your skills section AND in the body of role descriptions — ATS systems weight contextual mentions higher than skill-list entries.
Should I add Enhanced DBS to my CV even if it's just in progress?
Yes — list it clearly with "(in progress, expected [date])". Employers screen-out CVs missing the credential entirely; partial credit is normal when the path is visible.
How long should a teaching assistant CV be in the UK?
Two pages, ideally. For roles with under five years of experience, a single tight page outperforms a padded two-pager. Recruiters spend 6–8 seconds on the first scan.
See live teaching assistant jobs by city
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