Key facts
£25,614 to £28,153
Full-time equivalent NJC pay at SCP 3 to SCP 9, 2026/27
Source: West Sussex County Council, NJC pay rates from 1 April 2026
£13.28 to £14.59
NJC hourly rates at SCP 3 to SCP 9 from 1 April 2026
Source: West Sussex County Council, NJC pay rates from 1 April 2026
£29,542 (£15.31 an hour)
NJC pay at SCP 12, a common HLTA entry point, 2026/27
Source: West Sussex County Council, NJC pay rates from 1 April 2026
Figures checked on against the official sources linked.
Most teaching assistants in England are paid on National Joint Council (NJC) points 3 to 9, worth £25,614 to £28,153 full-time equivalent under the 2026/27 award (3.3% uplift, backdated to 1 April 2026). Most TA roles are term-time only, so actual annual pay is usually 80 to 85 percent of that full-time equivalent figure. Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) start on point 12, worth £29,542 full-time equivalent.
Teaching assistant pay in England is set by the National Joint Council (NJC) pay spine, the same framework used for most local government and school support staff roles. Unlike NHS Agenda for Change, individual schools and academy trusts have some flexibility in exactly which spinal column points they use for a given role, so figures vary slightly between employers, but the underlying national pay points are consistent.
This guide sets out the typical pay scale for both standard teaching assistants and Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs), explains why term-time-only working significantly affects annual take-home pay, and covers London weighting and SEN premiums.
Move up the pay scale: our Level 3 Teaching Assistant course is the qualification schools look for.
For the current NJC pay scale for 2026/27 including hourly rates and role bands, see our companion table: Teaching Assistant Pay Scales 2026/27: The NJC Rates Table. The award was agreed on 24 August 2026 and backdated to 1 April 2026.
Not sure what the levels mean? See our guide to teaching assistant levels 1-4 explained - responsibilities and pay rise with each level.
NJC pay scale points for teaching assistants, 2026/27
Most schools grade teaching assistant roles using spinal column points (SCPs) from the National Joint Council pay agreement, updated each year following negotiation between unions including UNISON and the local government employers.
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| NJC point | Typical role level | Full-time equivalent salary |
|---|---|---|
| SCP 3 to 4 | Level 1/2 TA, entry level, general classroom support | £25,614 to £26,016 |
| SCP 5 to 7 | Level 2 TA with more experience, small group support | £26,427 to £27,274 |
| SCP 8 to 9 | Experienced Level 2/3 TA, often includes SEN support | £27,709 to £28,153 |
| SCP 10 to 11 | Senior Level 3 TA, specialist responsibilities | £28,608 to £29,071 |
If you are not yet working as a TA, the Level 3 Teaching Assistant course at Lift College is the standard route in: you study online with a named UK tutor while you work or volunteer in a school, where the practice units are observed.
HLTA pay scale
Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) sit higher on the same NJC pay spine, reflecting their expanded responsibilities, which can include leading whole-class cover, planning input and mentoring other TAs.
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| NJC point | Typical role level | Full-time equivalent salary |
|---|---|---|
| SCP 12 to 14 | Newly qualified HLTA | £29,542 to £30,515 |
| SCP 15 to 17 | Experienced HLTA | £31,015 to £32,046 |
| SCP 18 to 19 | Senior HLTA, specialist or coordinator responsibilities | £32,578 to £33,119 |
Many schools ask for HLTA status or a Level 4 HLTA qualification for the HLTA band. See the HLTA course online (7-day free trial).
For a full breakdown of what the HLTA qualification involves, see our guide on HLTA interview questions and answers.
Term-time-only pay: why full-time equivalent is not what you take home
Most teaching assistant jobs are term-time only, paid for 38 to 39 working weeks plus pro-rata holiday rather than the 52.14 weeks behind a full-time equivalent salary. The result is that a TA on NJC point 3 (£25,614 FTE) takes home roughly £20,500 to £21,800 a year, and a TA on point 9 (£28,153 FTE) roughly £22,500 to £23,900, before tax. Always ask whether a job advert quotes the FTE or the actual pro-rata figure.
The vast majority of teaching assistant and HLTA roles are term-time only, typically 38 to 39 weeks a year rather than the standard 52.14 weeks used to calculate full-time equivalent (FTE) salary.
For example, a TA on an FTE salary of £27,709 (SCP 8 in 2026/27) working a standard 38-week term-time contract would receive roughly £20,000 to £21,000 a year in practice, not the full £27,709. Always check whether an advertised TA salary is quoted as FTE or as the actual term-time amount.
Do teaching assistants get London weighting or an SEN allowance?
Yes in many areas, but neither is national. London councils usually set their own pay scales or London weighting, so London TA pay is higher than the national NJC figures, but there is no single national London rate. SEN allowances are set locally by each school or trust, usually as one to three extra scale points or a £500 to £1,500 supplement. Our SEN teaching assistant salary guide sets out the 2026/27 scale points and allowances in full.
Teaching assistants working in and around London and those taking on Special Educational Needs (SEN) responsibilities can receive additional payments on top of the base NJC pay point.
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| Area | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Inner London (varies by borough, often paid via separate London-specific scales) | Typically £3,000 to £5,000+ depending on the local authority or academy trust scale |
| Outer London | Set locally; outer London authorities usually use their own pay scales rather than a national allowance |
| Fringe area (parts of the Home Counties) | £1,045 (Inner Fringe) or £729 (Outer Fringe), NJC local government rates from April 2025 |
SEN allowance for teaching assistants
SEN pay for teaching assistants is usually set locally. Many schools appoint SEN and 1:1 TAs one to three SCP points higher (typically SCP 7 to 9, £27,274 to £28,153 FTE in 2026/27) or pay a fixed supplement of around £500 to £1,500 a year. Check the job advert grade.
- Many academy trusts set their own London and SEN allowance rates rather than following the NJC figures exactly, so always check the specific job advert
Comparing TA, HLTA and other school support roles
Teaching assistant pay sits within a wider school support staff structure, and understanding where it fits helps with career planning.
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| Role | Typical NJC points | Full-time equivalent salary |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1/2 Teaching Assistant | SCP 3 to 7 | £25,614 to £27,274 |
| Level 3 Teaching Assistant / SEN specialist | SCP 8 to 11 | £27,709 to £29,071 |
| Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) | SCP 12 to 19 | £29,542 to £33,119 |
| Learning mentor / pastoral support | SCP 8 to 15 | £27,709 to £31,015 |
| Cover supervisor | SCP 10 to 17 | £28,608 to £32,046 |
How to become a teaching assistant or progress to HLTA
Most schools ask for a Level 3 qualification in supporting teaching and learning and some entry level roles accept Level 2, while progression to HLTA status typically requires a Level 4 HLTA qualification and a period of relevant classroom experience.
Explore the Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning (RQF) and the Level 4 HLTA course at Lift College.
If you need GCSE-equivalent English and Maths for a TA or HLTA application, see is Functional Skills Level 2 equivalent to GCSE? or how to retake GCSE Maths and English.