CV for Teaching Assistant in the UK 2026 — Guide

The right CV format for UK schools

Keep it simple. A UK CV for a school job should be two pages at most, in a clean, readable font, with clear headings. Use reverse-chronological order: your most recent role first.

• No photo, date of birth, marital status or nationality. These are not expected on a UK CV.
• Put your name, phone number, email and town or city at the top. A full street address is not needed.
• Write in British English: organisation, programme, behaviour, practise (verb).
• Save as a PDF unless the school asks for Word.
• Say 'References available on request', or give two referees if the advert asks for them.

Sections to include, in order

1. Personal statement (3–4 lines): who you are, the age range you work with, your strongest skills.
2. Key skills: a short list that matches the job advert.
3. Work experience: school roles first, then relevant voluntary, childcare or youth work.
4. Education and qualifications: include any teaching assistant, childcare or support-work qualifications, plus English and maths.
5. Training: safeguarding, first aid, behaviour support, SEN-related courses.
6. References: on request, or two named referees.

If you have no paid school experience, volunteering in a classroom, running a youth club, coaching a sports team or working in a nursery all count. Put them under a heading such as 'Relevant experience'.

What schools look for in a Teaching Assistant

Read the person specification in the advert and mirror its language honestly. Schools usually want evidence of:

• Supporting pupils one to one, in small groups or across a whole class.
• Helping children with reading, writing and maths, in line with the teacher's lesson plan.
• Supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Positive behaviour management that follows the school's policy.
• Safeguarding awareness and knowing when to report a concern.
• Preparing resources, tidying the classroom and supporting displays.
• Working as part of a team with teachers, other TAs and parents or carers.
• Good English and maths skills.

Name the key stage or age group you have worked with (for example, Early Years, Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2). Say which kinds of need you have supported if you have experience, such as speech and language difficulties or autism. Do not exaggerate. Interviewers often ask for a real example.

Vocabulary and checks to mention

Use the words schools use every day. Only include what is true for you:

• Safeguarding and child protection training, with the year you completed it.
• Paediatric first aid, if you hold a valid certificate.
• Phonics, guided reading, numeracy support, intervention groups.
• SEND, one-to-one support, differentiated tasks.
• Behaviour management, positive reinforcement, school policy.
• Enhanced DBS check: schools carry out this check on the people they hire. Do not claim a DBS certificate you do not hold. You can write 'Happy to undergo all pre-employment checks'.

Bullet point example: before and after

Weak bullets describe a duty. Strong bullets show what you did and what changed for the pupils.

• Before: Helped children with reading in class.
• After: Ran daily small-group reading sessions for Year 2 pupils who needed extra support, following the teacher's plan and reporting progress back each week.

Common mistakes on Teaching Assistant CVs

• Writing only 'I love working with children'. Show what you did, not just how you feel.
• A CV longer than two pages. Cut old, unrelated jobs to one line each.
• Listing duties without outcomes. Say what improved for the pupils or the class.
• Missing the age group. A Reception TA and a secondary TA do different work.
• Spelling and grammar errors. In a school, they count against you. Read it aloud and ask someone to check it.
• A photo or personal details that are not needed.
• Gaps left unexplained. A short line such as 'Career break: family caring responsibilities' is enough.

A personal statement you can adapt

Keep it factual and specific. Example structure: 'Patient and organised Teaching Assistant with experience supporting pupils in Key Stage 1, including children with additional needs. Skilled at delivering reading and maths interventions, following behaviour policies and working closely with class teachers. Looking for a Teaching Assistant role in a supportive primary school.' Change the key stage, the skills and the type of school to match each advert.

Before you send it, check each line against the advert. Move the best match to the top of your skills list and your first bullet. A clear, honest CV tailored to the school will do more than a long one, and a tool like MeuCV can help you get the layout right if you want a head start.