Do Teaching Assistants Get Paid for Holidays?

A common question is: “Do teaching assistants get paid for holidays?” Yes, most teaching assistants get paid during holidays, but it depends on the contract. Your pay is spread over 12 months, even though you don’t work during the holidays. Helping children grow and succeed each day feels fulfilling. But many TAs worry about income during school holidays. Understanding this clearly can help TAs plan better throughout the year. Let’s break it down.

Do Teaching Assistants Get Paid for Holidays?

The contract decides if teaching assistants get paid during holidays. Schools spread your pay over 12 months, even when you don’t work in the holidays.

This system helps teachers and TAs manage money better and gives everyone a steady, fair income all year round. There are two common types of contracts for TAs:

Term-Time Contracts

Most Teaching Assistants are hired on term-time contracts. This means they are paid for around 38–39 working weeks, plus about five weeks of paid leave. These jobs don’t pay for school holidays, but schools spread salaries over 12 months to give steady income. Instead of holiday pay, they average your wages across the year.

Full-Year Contracts

On the other hand, some TAs are hired on permanent, full-year contracts. In this case, if you are a  permanent TA, your salary includes school holidays. Getting a consistent salary throughout, whether you are at work or not.

What do Teaching Assistants do?

Teaching assistants (TAs) help both teachers and students in schools. They prepare classroom materials, support children with their work, and give one-to-one or small group help to pupils who need extra support. TAs also help manage the classroom, put up displays, and look after pupils during activities or school trips. They may observe how children are doing, talk with parents, and sometimes lead lessons under a teacher’s guidance.

Supporting Students

• Individual Support: TAs provide extra help to pupils who struggle with reading, writing, or certain subjects. They provide one-to-one or small group support, ensuring that every child has the chance to succeed.
• Emotional and Behaviour Support: They encourage children, help manage behaviour, and support pupils who may be upset, anxious, or unwell.
• Special Educational Needs (SEN): Many TAs work closely with children who have SEN, helping them follow instructions, complete tasks, and build confidence.
• Encouraging Participation: TAs motivate pupils to participate in class discussions and activities, helping them develop independence and self-belief.

Supporting the Teacher and Classroom

• Lesson Prep: They prepare resources, set up classrooms, and create displays to celebrate students’ work.
• Classroom Management: TAs help maintain a positive learning environment, support behaviour management, and deal with minor conflicts.
• Admin Support: They may keep records, track progress, or help with marking.
• Supervision: TAs watch pupils during lessons, group work, playtime, and school trips to ensure their safety.

Teamwork and Development

• Working with Families: They often share updates with parents and carers to support children’s progress at home and school.
• Collaboration: TAs work alongside teachers and school staff, giving feedback and contributing to lesson planning.
• Professional Growth: They attend training and meetings to build their skills and keep up with new teaching practices.

How Much Do Teaching Assistants Earn?

In 2025, teaching assistants in the UK will usually earn between £21,000 and £26,000 a year. Beginners start closer to the lower end, while experienced TAs or HLTAs can earn around £29,000 FTE depending on responsibilities. Pay also depends on your experience, qualifications (like Level 3 or SEN), the school you work in, and where you live, with London often offering higher salaries. However, actual pay can vary. Local authorities set the salary based on the type of contract a TA holds.

Below is a guide to what TAs can earn at different stages:

Level 1 Teaching Assistant:

• Starting pay is around £24,413–£24,796
• At this level, you support teachers with general classroom tasks.

Level 2 Teaching Assistant:

• Salary is usually between £25,185–£25,989 per year.
• You take on more responsibilities and use your experience to support learning.

Level 3 Teaching Assistant (with SEN focus):

• Can earn up to £25,583–£26,403 per year.
• These TAs often work with children who have special educational needs.

Remember: Salaries also depend on whether you work term-time only or all year round, and the number of hours in your contract. That’s your answer to “do teaching assistants get paid for holidays?”

Pay Rise for Teaching Assistants 2025

In July 2025, teaching assistants got a 3.2% pay rise. Unions backdated the rise to 1 April 2025, so your next payslip shows the extra money for April and May. If you’re on a term-time only contract, your employer raises your hourly rate and spreads your pay evenly across the year. Most academies and trusts follow the same deal, but some may be different. Last year (2024), staff got a £1,290 pay increase, and now starting TA pay has gone up from about £23,656 in 2024 to around £24,413 in 2025.

What qualifications do I need to be a teaching assistant?

To become a teaching assistant, you usually need:

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths at grade 4 or above.
• A Level 2 or Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification.
• A DBS check (a background check to confirm you are safe to work with children).
• Some experience with children, through volunteering, training, or work.

Some beginner jobs don’t need all the qualifications. However, having them makes it easier to get hired. Extra training in Special Educational Needs (SEN) or behaviour management can also improve your chances.

Key Skills Needed:

• Good English and Maths skills – to help children with reading, writing, and numbers.
• Clear communication – to work well with pupils, teachers, and parents.
• Patience and kindness – to support children with different needs.
• Teamwork – to cooperate with teachers and staff.

Interested in Increasing Your Salary? Progress towards HLTA Qualification

You can enroll in a Teaching Assistant Course if you want to boost your teaching knowledge. This will give you practical knowledge and help you become a more experienced and responsible teacher. Once you develop as a skilled teaching assistant, you will open up more career growth opportunities, such as joining as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant. 

How do you train to become a teaching assistant?

Becoming a Teaching Assistant (TA) is a great way to start a rewarding career in education. Whether you’re new to the field or looking to improve your skills, training is the first step. The good news? You don’t need a teaching degree—just the right course and the passion to support children in school.

Train with Us — Join Our TA Course

We offer a flexible, fully online Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges. This course prepares you for real classroom work, whether you support the whole class, work one-to-one, or help children with SEN.

Benefits Beyond Salary

Being a teaching assistant isn’t just about the monthly pay. Most TAs also receive extra benefits that make the role more secure and rewarding. These include:

• Pensions
• Sick Pay
• Leave Entitlement

Specialisms and Niche Roles

Today, many schools are looking for teaching assistants (TAs) with special skills. These roles help support students with specific needs or in certain subjects. If you have extra training or experience in one of these areas, it can help you find more job opportunities and earn a higher salary.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

This is one of the most common and important special areas for TAs. SEN TAs work with children who have different learning or behaviour needs. These might include:

• Autism (ASD)
• ADHD
• Dyslexia
• Physical or learning difficulties

SEN TAs often give one-to-one support, help follow Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and may work with specialist staff like speech and language therapists. There is a high demand for TAs in this area.

Literacy and Numeracy Support:

Some TAs focus on reading, writing, and math. They work with students who need extra help understanding these subjects. These TAs often run small group sessions or give one-on-one support in class.

English as an Additional Language (EAL):

If you speak more than one language, you can help children whose first language is not English. These students often need extra help to understand lessons, learn new words, and build confidence. EAL TAs often work closely with these students on a daily basis.

Other Special Roles:

There are also other areas where TAs can focus, such as:

• Behaviour support – helping children with behaviour challenges
• Pastoral care – offering emotional support and building trust with students
• Gifted and talented pupils – helping advanced students reach their full potential

If you take extra training in any of these areas, it can open new doors and help you grow in your career.

Conclusion

Your contract and school policies mainly decide if teaching assistants get paid during the holidays. In the UK, TAs on term-time only contracts have their pay spread across the year, which gives them income during the holidays. Temporary or supply teaching assistants usually only get paid for the hours they work.

Check out Wise Campus’s Teaching and Training courses to choose a full-fledged teaching career.