Commenting on new research out from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) today (Thurs 21 Sept), which shows Teaching Assistants (TAs) are having to take second jobs, or leave to work in better paid roles due to the cost-of-living crisis, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Teaching Assistants do an incredible job – they are the unsung heroes of the education system. They're the ones providing the support for vulnerable children that is so vital.

“Without TAs schools are not able to do the things they need to help catch up from Covid, for example, or to support children with SEN – and there’s a knock-on impact for the whole classroom if teachers’ time is taken up with things they usually rely on TAs to do.

“We have heard from our members that TAs are having to take second jobs, or even leave their jobs in schools because they know they can be paid more in the local supermarket. Schools want to be able to pay TAs what they are truly worth, but they just don’t have the funding to do so. It's a real bind and school leaders are very concerned about it.”