Teaching Assistant CV Example & Template
A complete two-page CV for a primary school teaching assistant with SEN experience, followed by what headteachers and SENCOs look for when they shortlist. Copy the layout, then swap in your own year groups, interventions and pupil progress figures, because a school wants proof you have helped children move forward.
Last reviewed October 2026
Example Teaching Assistant CV
Hannah Okafor
Teaching Assistant, KS1 and KS2, SEN support
Leeds, UK
Profile
Teaching assistant with six years in two Leeds primary schools, the last three supporting pupils with SEN in Years 2 to 5. I deliver phonics and maths catch-up groups, work one to one with children who have an EHCP, and keep teachers informed with short, factual notes. I am calm, consistent with behaviour, and looking for a higher level teaching assistant post where I can cover whole classes.
Experience
Teaching Assistant (SEN)
Sep 2021 – Present
Moorside Primary School (420 pupils) · Leeds
- Support six pupils with EHCPs across Years 2 to 5, including two with autism and one with speech and language needs, working to targets set with the SENCO.
- Run a daily 20-minute phonics catch-up group for five Year 2 children; four of the five reached the expected standard in the Year 2 screening check.
- Deliver a maths intervention for Year 4 pupils that moved eight of ten children up at least one band in teacher assessment over two terms.
- Write weekly progress notes for each pupil I support and attend termly review meetings with parents, the class teacher and the SENCO.
- Cover the class for up to half a day when the teacher is out, following their plans, and lead the morning routine for a class of 28.
Teaching Assistant, Year 1 and 2
Sep 2018 – Aug 2021
Kirkstall Lane Primary School · Leeds
- Worked alongside the class teacher in a Year 1 class of 30, supporting guided reading and writing for the lowest attaining third of the class.
- Heard 12 children read each week and recorded their book bands, helping the group improve their average reading level by two bands in a year.
- Set up and ran a lunchtime games club for 25 children, which cut playground incidents reported to the office by about a third.
- Prepared classroom resources, displays and visual timetables for children who needed extra structure.
Playworker and Lunchtime Supervisor
Jan 2017 – Aug 2018
Headingley After School Club · Leeds
- Supervised up to 35 children aged 4 to 11 after school, planning craft, sport and reading activities each week.
- Dealt with minor injuries and first aid, completed accident forms and passed concerns to the club manager the same day.
- Built relationships with parents at collection time and reported any worries about a child's behaviour or wellbeing.
Education
Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification
2018
Leeds City College
GCSEs, including English and maths at grade 5
2013 – 2015
Roundhay School
Skills
Phonics and early reading · One to one and small group teaching · SEN and EHCP support · Autism-aware classroom practice · Behaviour management · Safeguarding awareness · Pupil progress notes · Visual timetables and resources · Working with parents · Class cover · Paediatric first aid
Checks and training
- Enhanced DBS certificate with children's barred list check, on the update service
- Paediatric first aid certificate, renewed 2024
- Designated safeguarding training, updated every year
Why this Teaching Assistant CV works: what shortlisters check first
Safeguarding and checks first
Every school has to run safer recruitment checks, so headteachers read for a current enhanced DBS certificate, safeguarding training and no unexplained gaps. State that you hold an enhanced DBS with the children's barred list, say whether you are on the update service, and give the date of your last safeguarding training. Missing this wastes the reader's time.
Which pupils and which year groups
A reception class and a Year 6 SATs group need different skills. Name the year groups you have supported, the size of the class and the kinds of need you worked with, such as autism, dyslexia or speech and language. Schools shortlist people whose experience matches the gap they are trying to fill.
Evidence that children made progress
Duties like 'helped pupils with reading' say little. Give the group size, the intervention, the length of time and the result, for example children reaching the expected standard in the phonics check. Where you do not own the data, say that the figure comes from the teacher's assessment, which is honest and still persuasive.
Working with the teacher and SENCO
A teaching assistant is judged on how well they carry out a plan and report back. Show that you follow lesson plans, keep short written notes, attend review meetings and raise concerns promptly. Mention EHCP targets and who set them. It tells the school you know where your role starts and stops.
Calm behaviour and relationships
Behaviour is a daily test of the job. Give a small, concrete example, such as running a lunchtime club that reduced incidents, or using visual timetables to help a child settle. Avoid vague words like 'patient' and show what you did. Parents and staff references will often be asked the same question.
Key skills recruiters look for
How to write each section of a Teaching Assistant CV
Profile
Three or four sentences: years in schools, key stages, the type of need you support and the post you want next. If you hope to become a higher level teaching assistant, say so, as it tells the school you plan to stay and grow.
Experience
Open each role with the school size and the class or year groups. Then give three to five bullets covering interventions, SEN support, behaviour and how you work with the teacher. Put numbers on groups, children and results wherever you can check them.
Education and training
List your teaching assistant qualification, then English and maths GCSEs, because many schools ask for grade 4 or above. Add short courses that matter in class, such as paediatric first aid or autism awareness, with the year you completed them.
Checks and references
Add a short line on your DBS status and safeguarding training. Do not put contact details for referees on the CV. Say that references are available, and keep a current headteacher or class teacher ready to be named when asked.
Supporting statement
Most school applications ask for a letter or statement. Name the school, mention something real from its website or Ofsted report, and give one example of a child you helped. Keep it to a page and write it in your own voice.
More example bullet points
Strong Teaching Assistant CVs lead with measurable impact. Here are examples of the kind of bullets that make recruiters stop scrolling:
Supported reading intervention for 24 students, raising average literacy scores by 18% over one academic year
Assisted in managing a classroom of 30 students, reducing behavioral incidents by 35% through structured routines
Co-facilitated after-school tutoring program serving 60+ students, with 82% improving end-of-term grades
Relevant certifications
Common Teaching Assistant CV mistakes
- Listing 'helped children learn' with no key stage, group size or result.
- Leaving out DBS and safeguarding training, which headteachers look for before anything else.
- Claiming you taught lessons when your role was to support the teacher's plan.
- Naming individual pupils or sharing details that could identify a child.
- Using a dense single block of text, when a governor skim-reading the shortlist needs clear headings and short bullets.
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How to tailor your Teaching Assistant CV for each application
Every Teaching Assistant job posting is different. The skills they prioritize, the seniority they expect, the setting — all of it shapes what your CV should emphasize. A CV that gets an interview at one employer can miss at another, even for the same job title.
The fastest way to tailor your CV is to paste the job description into NextCV. The AI reads the posting, maps it to your experience, and rewrites your bullets to match what the employer is scanning for. 1 free preview, no signup required — you only pay when you want a clean PDF download. Sign up free for 3 more.
Teaching Assistant CV FAQ
What should a teaching assistant CV include?
A short profile, your school experience with key stages and the needs you support, interventions with results, your qualification, English and maths GCSEs, and your DBS and safeguarding training. Keep it to two pages and make safeguarding easy to find.
Do I need a qualification to become a teaching assistant?
Not always. Many schools hire on experience and a good reference, and some will train you. Having English and maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above helps a great deal, and a Level 2 or 3 teaching assistant course makes your application stronger, especially for SEN posts.
How do I get a teaching assistant job with no school experience?
Show transferable work with children, such as a holiday club, scouts, tutoring or volunteering in a school. Offer a day a week as a volunteer to build a reference. Then describe what you did in concrete terms: group sizes, ages and how you handled difficult moments.
Should I mention SEN experience even if it was limited?
Yes. Schools are always short of staff who can support pupils with additional needs. Describe the type of need, what you did day to day and who you worked with, such as the SENCO or a speech therapist. Be honest about the level, and say you want to learn more.
How long should a teaching assistant CV be?
Two pages is enough. Headteachers and office staff read many applications at once, so put your checks and strongest school experience on the first page, and keep older or unrelated jobs to a line or two.