Three quarters of headteachers are finding it difficult to recruit teaching assistants. Most secondary and special school leaders are anticipating the need for more as they cope with a rise in demand for SEND.
A government-commissioned report has also found that low pay was “key reason why some TAs considered leaving the role,” while a lack of opportunity for progression had also been a concern for half. The Department for Education commissioned the report from CFE Research, including surveys of school leaders and Tas by pollster YouGov in May and June 2023.
75% of school leaders surveyed said that they found it either fairly or extremely difficult to recruit teaching assistants with 82% of secondary school leaders saying the same. Retention was “less of a concern, but still difficult for under a third (29%) of leaders and the challenges were again greater for secondary leaders (47%) compared to those leading primary schools (25%).” The vast majority (89%) of leaders said that they found it difficult to recruit teaching assistants with the desired level of skills.
Low pay, the survey found, was a “key reason why some TAs considered leaving the role.”
“Those TAs interviewed emphasise that they remain in the job despite their pay and cite the satisfaction they achieve through making direct impacts on pupils’ lives. However, several leaders stated that they lose TAs to a range of other less challenging roles that offer higher salaries. Aside from the principle of fairness, not paying TAs much more for their wider responsibilities could also affect retention.”
But leaders also “note that they would struggle to find budget to pay TAs more based on their current budgets.” Only half of teaching assistants surveyed said they were satisfied with the opportunity for progression. For secondary schools, it was lower with 40% saying that they were satisfied.
“Financial pressures” have led a third of primary school heads to slash the number of teaching assistants last year while secondary school leaders say they need more to cope with a rise in SEND demand.
