Do Teaching Assistants Get Paid in the Holidays? UK guide (2025)

Do teaching assistants get paid in the holidays? The short answer depends on your contract. If you’re on a full-year contract, your employer pays you annual leave as usual. If you’re on a term-time only (TTO) contract, things work differently. You earn your pay (including holiday entitlement) during the weeks you’re in school, and then payroll spreads that amount evenly across twelve months. That’s why your payslip still arrives in August, even though you’re not in the classroom.

This guide breaks it all down. We’ll cover full-year vs term-time contracts, how annualised pay works, what “weeks paid” means, why August pay isn’t a bonus, and how to check your payslip. You’ll also find worked examples, a DIY holiday pay calculator, and a simple HR email template if something looks off.

Key takeaways you need to know

• Your contract type decides how holiday pay works.
• Full-year contracts: paid leave works like in any other job.
• Term-time only contracts: your holiday pay is built into an annualised salary.
• August pay isn’t a gift — it’s money you already earned.
• Weeks paid are usually higher than weeks worked. That gap matters.
• Even small changes (extra hours, SEN allowance, grade) can affect your pay.
• You can check the numbers yourself with a simple calculation.

Quick answer: Do teaching assistants get paid in the holidays?

If you’re on a full-year contract, yes — you work all year and take your leave during the year, with pay included.

If you’re on a term-time only contract, it’s not quite the same. You don’t get “extra” holiday pay when school breaks up. Instead, you earn holiday entitlement alongside your term-time work, and your employer rolls it all together into one annual salary. Payroll splits your salary across twelve months, so you still receive money during the school holidays even when you’re not at work.

How teaching assistant pay works in the UK

The starting point is always your contract. Schools in the UK usually use one of three setups:

1. Full-year contracts
2. Term-time only contracts
3. Casual or agency contracts

Each one treats holidays differently.

Full-year contracts: the straightforward route

This one’s simple. You’re employed for the whole year, just like many other jobs. You work your hours across 52 weeks, and you take holidays at agreed times. Your paid leave entitlement comes on top of your contracted working weeks, so when you book time off, you still receive pay.

Think of it like an office job: you get your set salary, you book leave, and you carry on being paid while you’re away.

Term-time only contracts: the common TA setup

This is where most teaching assistants land. Term-time only contracts usually cover 38 or 39 working weeks, plus inset days. On top of those weeks, you also build up paid holiday — typically at least 5.6 weeks, though the exact number depends on your local authority and your length of service.

Your contract doesn’t give you a separate lump sum for holidays. Instead, payroll adds your worked weeks and holiday entitlement together to calculate your annual pay. Payroll then annualises that figure by spreading it evenly across 12 months.

That’s why your payslip still shows income in August, even though you haven’t set foot in the classroom since July.

Casual or agency contracts: the rolling approach

If you work through an agency, things look different again. Agency staff don’t usually have annualised pay. Employers pay staff for each day or week worked and roll holiday entitlement into that pay.

That means you’ll often see a line on your payslip showing a holiday element (sometimes expressed as a percentage, often 12.07%). You can still take leave, but employers usually pay the money alongside your wages rather than separately during school holidays.

Weeks worked vs weeks paid: why it matters.

This is where many people get confused. On a TTO contract, you’ll see two figures:

• Weeks worked — the weeks you’re in school (around 38–39)
• Weeks paid — weeks worked plus holiday entitlement (often 43–46 depending on service)

Your pay is based on weeks paid, not just weeks worked. That’s the number payroll uses to calculate your annual salary before dividing it into twelve monthly payments.

It’s easy to miss this detail, but it explains why your pay doesn’t simply “stop” in the holidays.

Annualised pay in plain English

Here’s the chain of logic:

1. Take your hourly rate.
2. Multiply it by your weekly hours.
3. Multiply that by the number of weeks worked.
4. Add the value of your holiday entitlement.
5. The total is your annual pay.
6. Payroll divides it by 12 months.

That’s why you see the same figure on your payslip each month, no matter what the school calendar looks like.

Formula:

Annual pay = hourly rate × weekly hours × (weeks worked + holiday weeks)

Monthly pay = annual pay ÷ 12

DIY holiday pay calculator

Here’s a simple way to check your own pay. Grab your contract and jot down:

• Hourly rate
• Weekly hours
• Weeks worked
• Paid holiday weeks

Then:

1. Multiply your hourly rate × weekly hours × weeks worked.
2. Multiply your hourly rate × weekly hours × holiday weeks.
3. Add both figures together = annual pay.
4. Divide by 12 = monthly pay.
5. Compare to your payslip.

If it doesn’t match, email HR and ask them to confirm the calculation.

Worked examples you can copy

Example A: Standard term-time contract

• Hours: 30 per week
• Weeks worked: 39
• Hourly rate: £12.50
• Holiday weeks: 6
• Work value: £14,625
• Holiday value: £2,250
• Annual pay: £16,875
• Monthly pay: £1,406.25

Key point: That August pay packet isn’t extra — it’s money you already earned across the year.

Example B: Part-time role

• Hours: 22.5 (three days)
• Weeks worked: 39
• Hourly rate: £13
• Holiday weeks: 5.6
• Work value: £11,407.50
• Holiday value: £1,638
• Annual pay: £13,045.50
• Monthly pay: £1,087.13

Notice how the number of holiday weeks boosts the annual figure — that’s why “weeks paid” matters so much.

Example C: HLTA with SEN allowance

• Hours: 32.5
• Weeks worked: 39
• Base rate: HLTA scale
• Allowance: SEN payment
• Method: Add the allowance to the base before annualising
• Check your payslip: The allowance should appear on a separate line.

Example D: Agency worker

• Irregular days worked
• Agency adds holiday element (e.g., 12.07%) on each payslip
• Pay reflects both work and rolled-up leave entitlement
• You still need to book time off with the agency.

Do TAs get paid in August?

This question comes up more than any other. Yes, most term-time teaching assistants still receive pay in August. But it isn’t a bonus — payroll simply spreads annualised pay evenly across the year.

That system is there to keep your income steady, so you’re not left short during the summer. If you leave mid-year, or start mid-year, your August pay may look odd — because payroll has to adjust the numbers to match your actual service dates.

Bank holidays and school closures

Employers usually build bank holidays into your paid weeks. Full-year staff take them as normal paid leave. Payroll adds them for TTO staff on a pro-rata basis and annualises the total with the rest of your pay.

Schools sometimes count inset days as part of weeks worked, but each school or local authority sets its own. Always check your contract wording and compare it with your payslip.

How to check your contract and payslip

Follow these steps:

1. Confirm your contract type: TTO or full-year.
2. Note your weekly hours, grade, and spine point (SCP).
3. Check how many weeks worked and weeks paid in your contract lists.
4. Read your local authority or trust’s pay policy — look for “annualised” or “equated” pay.
5. Compare the policy against your payslip. Check hourly rate, hours, grade, and any allowances.
6. If something doesn’t add up, email HR for clarification.

If your pay looks wrong: what to do

Start by gathering:

• Your contract
• The pay policy
• Recent payslips

Run the DIY calculator with your own numbers. If the result doesn’t match your payslip, email HR. Keep your request polite and clear.

If HR doesn’t resolve it, contact your union and follow the formal process. Pay errors can go both ways — underpayments and overpayments — so the sooner you catch them, the better.

Special cases and edge rules

• New starters and leavers: Payroll may pro-rate your first or last month.
• Extra weeks worked: Sometimes paid at an hourly rate, sometimes added to “weeks paid.”
• Academy schools vs local authority schools: Many academies mirror LA pay policies, but some set their own rules.
• Scotland and Northern Ireland: Systems differ, but the principle of holiday entitlement still applies.
• HLTA and SEN: Higher grades and allowances boost your pay, but don’t change the method.
• Clubs and extra duties: Breakfast or after-school club hours may be added separately or rolled into your contract.
• Maternity and sick pay: Local policies control the details, so always get the figures in writing.

Benefits of being a teaching assistant

Pay and contracts matter, but money isn’t the only reason people choose to become teaching assistants. For many, it’s one of the most rewarding jobs you can do. Here’s why:

You see the impact of your work every day

As a TA, you’re right there in the classroom when a child finally “gets it” — whether that’s sounding out a tricky word or solving a maths problem. Few jobs let you see such immediate results from your effort.

Your work-life balance is hard to beat

Most TA roles follow the school timetable. That means your evenings and weekends are free, and you have school holidays off too. For parents, this alignment with their own children’s schedule can be priceless.

It’s a launchpad for your career

Plenty of teaching assistants go on to become Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs), specialise in SEN support, or even move into teacher training. The role gives you inside knowledge of how schools work — and the confidence to take the next step.

You can specialise and grow

Not every TA role is the same. Some focus on early years, others on literacy, numeracy, or behaviour support. Many TAs find their niche in special educational needs, where patience and creativity make a huge difference.

You’re part of something bigger

Working as a TA means being part of a school community. You’ll build close relationships with teachers, pupils, and families. You’ll share in the ups and downs of school life — and that sense of belonging is powerful.

It helps you grow personally and professionally

Every day brings new challenges. You’ll learn how to think on your feet, communicate clearly, and support children with very different needs. Many TAs say the job builds not just skills but resilience, empathy, and confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does a teaching assistant get paid in the summer holidays in the UK?

• Yes. Payroll builds holiday pay into term-time salaries and spreads it across 12 months, so wages continue through the summer.

Do teaching assistants get paid in the holidays?

• Yes, but not extra. Full-year TAs get paid leave. Term-time TAs have holiday pay rolled into monthly salary.

Are teaching assistants paid all year round?

• Not exactly. Most work term-time only, but annualised pay divides their earnings into 12 monthly payments.

How much does a TA get paid per hour?

• Usually £11–£15 per hour, depending on level, location, and allowances like SEN or London weighting.

How many weeks do TAs get paid for?

• TTO TAs work 38–39 weeks, and employers pay them for about 43–46 weeks including holiday entitlement. Full-year contracts cover all 52 weeks.

Do teaching assistants get a pay rise in April 2025?

• Yes. They follow the NJC national pay award each April. The 2025 rise depends on grade and authority.

How much sick pay do teaching assistants get?

• It varies by service. Under NJC rules, new staff get about one month full pay and two months half pay.

Are teaching assistants being phased out?

• No. Schools still rely heavily on TAs, especially in early years and SEN support.

What pay grade is a teaching assistant?

• Most sit between Grade 2 and Grade 5 on NJC scales, with higher grades for Level 3, HLTA, and SEN roles.

Glossary

• TTO (Term-time only): You work school weeks but earn holiday pay, which is annualised.
• Annualised pay: Your total salary is divided into twelve equal monthly payments.
• FTE (Full-time equivalent): The salary for a full-time role, used for comparison.
• SCP (Spine point): A numbered point on the local government pay scale.
• Allowance: Extra payments, such as SEN or London weighting.

Ready to take the next step?

So, do teaching assistants get paid in the holidays? Now you know the answer: teaching assistants do get paid during the holidays — but only because of how payroll spreads earnings. Full-year contracts include leave in the standard way. Term-time only contracts roll holiday into annualised pay.

The key is knowing how to read your contract and payslip, so you can make sure you’re being paid correctly.

If you’d like to move forward in your career, develop new skills, and boost your earning potential, why not take the next step?

Enrol in our online Teaching Assistant Course at Wise Campus and start building your future today.