£25,614
Lowest full-time pay, SCP 3
SEN Teaching Assistant Salary 2026/27: NJC Pay + Allowance
A SEN teaching assistant in England is paid on the NJC support staff scale, usually SCP 3 to 13, which is £25,614 to £30,023 full-time equivalent for 2026/27, or £13.28 to £15.56 an hour. Many schools add an SEN allowance of roughly £1,300 to £2,600 a year. Term-time-only contracts pay around 80 to 85 per cent of the full-time figure.
Career guide
£30,023
Top of the usual SEN range, SCP 13
£13.28 to £15.56
Hourly rate, 2026/27
£1,300 to £2,600
Typical SEN allowance a year
What is the SEN teaching assistant pay scale in 2026/27?
SEN teaching assistants and learning support assistants (LSAs) do not have a separate national pay scale. Maintained schools in England pay them on the National Joint Council (NJC) Green Book scale, the same spine used for every teaching assistant. Each school or local authority grades the role to a band of spinal column points (SCPs); higher-needs and one-to-one roles are usually graded one band above a general TA.
The NJC agreed a 3.3 per cent increase on every SCP for 2026/27, backdated to 1 April 2026. SCP 2 was deleted, so the lowest point is now SCP 3. Hourly rates below use the standard NJC divisor of 37 hours and 52.14 weeks.
| SCP | 2026/27 FTE | Hourly | Typical SEN role |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCP 3 | £25,614 | £13.28 | Entry SEN support, Level 2 |
| SCP 4 | £26,016 | £13.48 | Entry SEN support, Level 2 |
| SCP 5 | £26,427 | £13.70 | Level 2 SEN TA |
| SCP 6 | £26,847 | £13.92 | Level 2 SEN TA |
| SCP 7 | £27,274 | £14.14 | Level 3 SEN TA / LSA |
| SCP 8 | £27,709 | £14.36 | Level 3 SEN TA / LSA |
| SCP 9 | £28,153 | £14.59 | Level 3 SEN TA / LSA |
| SCP 10 | £28,608 | £14.83 | Level 3 SEN TA, one-to-one |
| SCP 11 | £29,071 | £15.07 | Senior SEN TA |
| SCP 12 | £29,542 | £15.31 | Senior SEN TA / HLTA entry |
| SCP 13 | £30,023 | £15.56 | Senior SEN TA / HLTA |
Source: NJC pay award 2026/27 (National Employers for Local Government Services); gov.uk National Minimum Wage rates. Academy trusts set their own pay policies but most mirror the NJC spine.
Figures circulating online of £18,000 to £21,000 for a starting SEN TA are out of date: since 1 April 2026 no NJC point sits below £25,614 full-time equivalent, because the bottom point has to clear the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour.
How much is the SEN allowance for teaching assistants?
The SEN allowance is a school-level or local-authority-level supplement for support staff working in designated SEN roles or special schools. There is no national rate for support staff (the statutory SEN allowance ranges in the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document apply to teachers only). In practice schools attach roughly £1,300 to £2,600 a year to the role, either as a fixed allowance or by grading the post one band higher. Check the job advert: the figure is normally stated as "plus SEN allowance" with an amount, or built into a higher SCP range.
What does a learning support assistant earn compared with a SEN TA?
The job titles overlap. "Learning support assistant" is used more in secondary schools and colleges; "SEN teaching assistant" is used more in primary and special schools. Both are graded on the same NJC bands, so pay is the same for the same level of responsibility.
| Role title | Usual band | 2026/27 FTE range | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning support assistant (general) | SCP 3 to 6 | £25,614 to £26,847 | £13.28 to £13.92 |
| SEN teaching assistant, Level 2 | SCP 5 to 6 | £26,427 to £26,847 | £13.70 to £13.92 |
| SEN TA / LSA, Level 3 | SCP 7 to 10 | £27,274 to £28,608 | £14.14 to £14.83 |
| Senior SEN TA, one-to-one lead | SCP 11 to 13 | £29,071 to £30,023 | £15.07 to £15.56 |
| HLTA with SEN responsibility | SCP 12 upwards | £29,542 upwards | £15.31 upwards |
The difference between the two titles is explained in our guide to learning support assistant vs teaching assistant.
What is the term-time-only take-home for a SEN TA?
Most SEN TA contracts are term-time only, typically 39 weeks plus paid holiday entitlement, so the salary actually paid is pro rata. As a rule of thumb the annual figure is 80 to 85 per cent of the FTE amount on full weekly hours, paid in twelve equal monthly instalments. Shorter weekly hours reduce it further: on SCP 7, a 32.5-hour, 39-week contract pays about £20,810 a year (£27,274 × 32.5 ÷ 37 × 45.29 ÷ 52.14). The full method and a worked example are in our teaching assistant pay scales 2026/27 tables.
Does London weighting apply to SEN teaching assistants?
Yes. NJC pay in London uses separate Inner and Outer London spines, which sit above the national figures. The uplift is typically a few thousand pounds on FTE. Fringe-area schools pay a smaller supplement. Our guide to how much a teaching assistant earns in the UK covers the regional picture.
Which qualification moves a SEN TA up the scale?
Schools grade SEN posts by qualification and responsibility. The pattern that recurs in adverts is:
- Entry band, SCP 3 to 6: Level 2 or working towards Level 3.
- Level 3 band, SCP 7 to 11: a Level 3 qualification such as the Ofqual-regulated TQUK Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma (QAN 601/4423/3).
- Senior and HLTA band, SCP 12 upwards: the HLTA Level 4 (QAN 603/1432/1) plus HLTA status.
How to get into the role in the first place, including the experience schools look for, is covered in how to become a SEN teaching assistant.
Move up to the Level 3 band
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a SEN teaching assistant earn per hour in 2026/27?
Between £13.28 and £15.56 an hour on NJC points 3 to 13, using the standard 37-hour divisor. An SEN allowance adds roughly 67p to £1.35 an hour on top.
Is a SEN TA paid more than a normal teaching assistant?
Usually slightly. The role is often graded one band higher or carries an SEN allowance of around £1,300 to £2,600 a year, but the underlying NJC scale is the same.
What is the starting salary for a learning support assistant?
For 2026/27 the lowest NJC point is SCP 3 at £25,614 full-time equivalent, or £13.28 an hour. Term-time-only contracts pay around 80 to 85 per cent of that.
Do SEN teaching assistants get paid in the school holidays?
Term-time-only pay is spread across twelve months, so you receive a monthly salary all year, but the annual total is pro rata to the weeks worked.
Do you need a Level 3 to be a SEN teaching assistant?
Not always for entry roles, but most Level 3 band SEN posts ask for a Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning qualification, completed or in progress.
Sources checked
- National Employers for Local Government Services, NJC pay award 2026/27 (3.3 per cent on all SCPs, SCP 2 deleted)
- gov.uk, National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates from April 2026
- Department for Education, School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 2026 (SEN allowances for teachers, for contrast)
- National Careers Service, Special educational needs (SEN) teaching assistant job profile
- Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications, TQUK 601/4423/3 and 603/1432/1