Do Teaching Assistants Get Paid for Lunch Breaks?

Ah, the sacred lunch break. A time to escape the noise, sip lukewarm tea and pretend marking doesn’t exist. But the real question? Do teaching assistants get paid for lunch breaks?

Spoiler alert: For most, that sandwich is on your time, not the school’s dime.

The Dream vs. the Daily Grind

Imagine it. You finally sit down. Kids are off somewhere else. You unwrap your sandwich. The world pauses. Then reality kicks in. A student needs help. A teacher needs you. The copier jams. Again.

This isn’t just a break. It’s a juggling act with cold tea and no pay. People think support staff get long holidays and cushy hours. They don’t see the laminators, the extra duties, or the non-stop emotional labour.

And yes, we’re still talking about that unpaid sandwich time.

The Unpaid Truth (Sorry, Folks)

Here it is, plain and simple: most UK teaching assistants do not get paid for lunch breaks.

Legally, if you work over six hours, you get a 20-minute break. But guess what? The law doesn’t say that break has to be paid. How thoughtful, right? Whether you get paid depends on your contract. If your contract says lunch is unpaid, then that’s that. If it says nothing, assume it is unpaid. Harsh but real.

The Contract Says…

Now, some contracts do pay you for lunch. Maybe your school is one of the rare gems. If so, grab your sandwich, smile, and thank your lucky stars. More often, though, you only get paid during lunch if you’re doing something school-related. Like lunch duty. Supervising the playground. Sitting with a student. Basically, working.

Apparently, lunch only counts as work when you’re not actually on a break. Go figure. Oh, and don’t forget term-time only contracts. That’s another twist. So you’re unpaid in the summer and during lunch. Cheers to that.

The Real TA Lunch Break: A Mythical Concept

Here’s the truth most people won’t say out loud: Teaching assistants often don’t actually take a real break. Some use it to prep displays. Others comfort upset pupils. Some just try to breathe before the afternoon rush. And while doing all that? They aren’t getting paid.

Then there’s the classic line: “Oh, I just helped out voluntarily.”

Voluntarily? Come on. You saw that chaos and couldn’t walk away. You’re built for care. But let’s call it what it is: unpaid work. And if no one tells you to stop, the expectation grows. Suddenly, skipping lunch becomes part of the job.

Do Teaching Assistants Get Paid for Lunch Breaks? (Yes, We’re Asking Again)

Let’s be crystal clear. Unless your contract says otherwise, teaching assistants don’t get paid for lunch breaks.

But the real issue? The culture around it.

You’re told you’re “valued.” But then your most human need — a chance to rest and eat — gets ignored. A proper break isn’t just about pay. It’s about respect. It’s about seeing TAs as full professionals with limits, needs, and boundaries.

Enter the Union Soapbox

This is where the unions come in. UNISON, NEU, GMB — they’re not just moaning. They’re making noise for real reasons. They want fair breaks. Paid where possible. Protected always.

Because a worn-out TA can’t support children the way they want to, and frankly, they shouldn’t have to try. These groups also fight for bigger things: better teaching assistant salary offers, safer workloads, and proper recognition.

In 2025, they’re pushing hard. They want real change. More pay. Better terms. Maybe even a paid sandwich.

What Can You Actually Do?

So you now know the answer. But what should you do about it?

Start with your contract. Yes, the boring pages you probably skimmed. Read them. Look for lunch details. See if you’re one of the lucky ones. Then, know your rights. That 20-minute break? It’s yours. Take it. Even if unpaid.

Join a union even if you hate meetings. Alone, your voice can shake. Together, you roar. Talk to leadership. Ask for time. Ask for pay. Ask what support staff are really worth in your school’s eyes.

A Note on Teaching Assistant Roles (Because You Deserve the Spotlight)

You’re not just a helper. Or a spare pair of hands. Your role matters.

Teaching assistant roles include behaviour support, one-to-one care, lesson prep, lunch duty, emotional support, admin, and more. Sometimes, all on the same day.

Still, the system often forgets you when it counts. That’s why pay talks matter, why the sandwich chat matters, and why your lunch break isn’t a silly side-topic but a sign of deeper value. If schools want skilled, calm, kind adults in classrooms, they have to treat them with kindness, too.

Teaching Assistant Salary: A Brief (and Slightly Sad) Tour

Let’s talk money.

On average, a TA earns about £21,000 to £25,000 full-time. But many are part-time. Or term-time only. So, real pay? Often far lower. Some Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) might earn £27,000 to £33,000. London weightings help. But it’s still tight.

When pay is this low, even 30 unpaid minutes a day adds up. That’s hours of work for free. Every single month. It makes you wonder. Why are schools allowed to rely on goodwill instead of fair pay?

How to Be a Good Teaching Assistant (Without Burning Out)

Want to know how to be a good teaching assistant? Here’s a start: protect your energy.

Take that break. Eat that sandwich. Don’t always say yes.

Being “good” doesn’t mean being endlessly available. It means being kind, patient, sharp, and ready. And you can’t do that on an empty stomach. Rest is not a weakness. Refusing unpaid extra work doesn’t make you selfish.

You matter. The kids need you well, not worn out.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about a lunch break. It’s about worth it. If you wouldn’t expect a teacher to work unpaid, why expect it of a TA? If schools value care, support, and consistency, they must pay for it. Not just with words but with contracts. No one works better when tired, hungry, or taken for granted. The education system leans on TAs. It should also stand up for them.

One Final Bite

Do teaching assistants get paid for lunch breaks? Usually not. Should they? Absolutely.

To all the TAs out there: you keep the school running. You calm the chaos. You lift others.

So here’s to you. To the sandwich, you barely finish. To the tea, you always forget to the kids who smile because you’re there. And maybe, just maybe, to a future where that half hour counts. On the clock. On the payslip. And in every staff meeting. You’ve earned it.

Wondering about TA lunch break pay? Our blog has the answers! Check out our teaching assistant online course at Wise Campus.

What’s your lunch break reality? Are you paid, unpaid, or just plain tired? Let’s talk about it on our socials – check us out on our LinkedIn or Facebook.

And maybe eat something too.