A teaching assistant CV has to show three things quickly: that you work well with children of the right age, that you can support learning in a planned way, and that you take safeguarding seriously. This example does that for a primary SEND role. Parent volunteering, youth groups and coaching all count as experience with children if you are new to schools.
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Example teaching assistant CV
A fictional person, employers and figures, to show the format. Replace every detail with your own.
Teaching assistant with two years' experience in a primary school, supporting KS1 pupils with SEND and running daily phonics catch-up groups. Holds a Level 3 qualification in supporting teaching and learning and paediatric first aid. Calm, patient and consistent with behaviour. Looking for a SEND teaching assistant role in a primary school.
Paediatric First Aid (12 hours), St John Ambulance, 2025
Read Write Inc. Phonics training, Brookfield Primary School, 2024
Skills
Supporting pupils with SEND, Phonics and reading, Small-group interventions, Behaviour support, Safeguarding awareness, Working with teachers, Communication with parents
Interests
Leader at a local Rainbows unit, baking
A teaching assistant personal statement to adapt
Teaching assistant with two years' experience in a primary school, supporting KS1 pupils with SEND and running daily phonics catch-up groups. Holds a Level 3 qualification in supporting teaching and learning and paediatric first aid. Calm, patient and consistent with behaviour. Looking for a SEND teaching assistant role in a primary school.
Key skills for a teaching assistant CV
Supporting pupils with SEND - Work with pupils who have an EHCP, autism, ADHD or speech and language needs, following their plans.
Phonics and reading - Running small-group or one-to-one sessions, and the progress pupils made.
Small-group interventions - Maths and reading interventions planned with the teacher, with a result.
Behaviour support - Calm, consistent use of the school's behaviour policy and routines.
Safeguarding awareness - Knowing how and when to report a concern to the designated safeguarding lead.
Working with teachers - Following plans, giving useful feedback and stepping in during short-term cover.
Communication with parents - Clear, friendly and confidential, through the right channels.
What a UK teaching assistant CV needs
The age range you have worked with - A Reception role and a secondary SEND role want different evidence, so say which year groups you know.
Qualifications - A Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in supporting teaching and learning helps, and many adverts ask for GCSE English and maths (grade 4 or C) or equivalent.
Safeguarding and first aid - Safeguarding training with dates, and paediatric first aid for primary and early years roles.
DBS - Schools carry out an enhanced DBS check. You can say you are on the DBS Update Service if you are.
Experience with children, paid or unpaid - Parent volunteering, Scouts or Guides, sports coaching and childminding all belong in an "Experience with children" section.
Achievement bullets to adapt
The figures are invented to show the format. Use your own.
Ran daily phonics catch-up sessions for six Year 1 pupils; five passed the phonics screening check.
Delivered a one-to-one reading intervention three times a week for eight Year 4 pupils, raising their average reading age by nine months in a term.
Supported a Year 2 pupil with an EHCP for 25 hours a week, helping them reach the expected standard in reading.
Led planned whole-class activities during short-term cover, keeping routines in place.
Volunteered as a parent reader two mornings a week for a year, recording progress in reading records.
Teaching Assistant CV questions
Can I get a teaching assistant job with no experience?
Yes. Show time spent with children, such as parent volunteering, youth groups or coaching, and any training you have done. A Level 2 qualification in supporting teaching and learning and safeguarding training both strengthen an application.
Do I need a qualification to be a teaching assistant?
Not always. Requirements vary by school. Many adverts ask for GCSE English and maths, and a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in supporting teaching and learning is often desirable or essential.
How long should a teaching assistant CV be?
Two pages at most, and one is often enough if you are new to schools. Keep detail for your experience with children and shorten unrelated jobs to a line or two.
Do schools accept CVs for teaching assistant jobs?
Some do, but many state schools use their own application form. Write the CV anyway: it gives you the dates, examples and wording to fill in the form well.