What Is Teaching Assistant Responsibilities? A Clear Guide

A teaching assistant helps the teacher and supports pupils. They make a big difference in schools every day. To understand schools in 2025, you must understand what is teaching assistant responsibilities. These roles keep lessons running and help every child feel supported. TAs are in nearly every classroom across the UK. Their job has grown over time. Now, they do more than ever before.

The Core Purpose of a Teaching Assistant

Teaching assistants help both pupils and teachers. They make lessons smoother. They support learning in many ways.

Main goals:

• Help pupils learn and feel confident
• Support the teacher with tasks and planning
• Keep the classroom calm and focused
• Give extra help to pupils who need it

Top Responsibilities of a Teaching Assistant

When you ask what do teaching assistants do, the answer often depends on the school. But most TAs share these key tasks:

• Support pupils one-on-one: Work with children who need extra help.
• Support small groups: Lead reading, maths or writing activities with 3–6 pupils.
• Help with behaviour: Calm pupils down. Redirect bad behaviour quickly.
• Help with learning materials: Set up books, tech, or group tasks.
• Create displays: Show off pupil work on walls or boards.
• Support pupils with SEN: Help pupils with learning difficulties, ADHD, autism and more.
• Give personal care: In some schools, help with eating, dressing or toileting.
• Supervise break times: Watch children on the playground or at lunch.
• Support trips and events: Help with travel, safety and first aid.
• Keep records: Note progress or behaviour. Share updates with the teacher.
• Provide emotional support: Offer kind words. Help pupils feel safe and calm.

These teaching assistant roles can shift each day. Some TAs support one pupil all day. Others help across many classrooms.

Responsibilities by Key Stage

What is the role of a teaching assistant? It depends on the age group. Here’s how it works in each setting:

EYFS (Early Years)

• Help with play-based learning
• Support children during snack, rest and toilet time
• Encourage speech and movement
• Help with routines and basic care

Primary

• Work in class with groups or individuals
• Support pupils who need help with reading or writing
• Help keep the class settled during lessons
• Run small group sessions for phonics or number work

Secondary

• Support pupils with special needs in class
• Help with behaviour and focus
• Sometimes act as a cover supervisor for short periods
• Assist with practical subjects like science, PE, or art

SEN-focused roles

• Work with pupils who have extra learning or care needs
• Use visual aids, prompts, or simple language
• Help with care tasks if needed (toileting, feeding, medication)
• Build strong one-on-one bonds with pupils

Each phase asks for different skills. But the goal stays the same: support learning in every way.

What Is Teaching Assistant Responsibilities (And What It’s Not)

Some people mix up TA roles with teacher duties. It helps to know what TAs do—and don’t do.

TAs do:

• Support lessons led by the teacher
• Help children understand tasks
• Keep the classroom running smoothly
• Lead short activities or group work

TAs don’t:

• Plan full lessons (unless trained as HLTAs)
• Give formal punishments
• Grade work in most schools
• Lead a class for a full day (unless covering)

Clear roles help both teachers and TAs work better together.

Extra Duties: What Happens in Real Life

Schools run on teamwork. When things get busy, TAs often do more than their contract says.

Common “extra” tasks:

• Helping with first aid or sick pupils
• Taking notes during meetings
• Comforting pupils after an incident
• Supervising after-school clubs
• Assisting teachers with calls or forms

There’s also a lot of emotional work. TAs notice when pupils are upset. They help calm nerves before tests. They stay kind, even on hard days.

These tasks may not appear in the job ad. But they show how vital TAs really are.

How Responsibilities Change Over Time

TAs don’t stay in the same role forever. Over time, their job can grow.

• With experience:
  • TAs often take the lead on small group work
  • They give more input during planning
  • Teachers rely on them more
• With extra training:
  • TAs can become Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs)
  • They might run lessons if the teacher is away
  • Some TAs train to support children with speech needs
• With special roles:
  • SEN TAs may work closely with therapists
  • Behaviour support TAs may help across the school
  • Some become mentors or wellbeing leads

TAs who train and grow often find more purpose—and better pay.

Final Thoughts: The Hidden Power of a TA’s Role

TAs do more than most people know. Their role shapes how pupils feel and learn.

From helping a shy child speak up to guiding someone through a hard task, their impact runs deep.

So next time you ask what is teaching assistant responsibilities, think beyond the basics. Think about the moments pupils will always remember—the quiet support, the kind words, the steady hand.

If you’re thinking about this path, now’s a great time. You can make a big difference in a child’s life.

Ready to Step In? Want to learn more about how to start? Look into Wise Campus’s Teaching Assistant course online. It can help you gain skills and land your first role.

The classroom needs people like you.