Teaching assistants and education support staff

The contributions of teaching assistants and education support staff extend past classroom assistance; they consistently ensure that learning environments are inclusive, engage with children and students, provide individualised support to those who need it and work behind the scenes to keep our schools, colleges and universities running.  

At Community, we recognise the importance of teaching assistants and education support staff, and are proud to represent members across a variety of roles, including:  

  • General Primary Teaching Assistants (TA) 
  • Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA) 
  • Learning Support Assistants (LSA) 
  • Special Education Needs Assistants (SEN TA) 
  • Special Education Needs Co-ordinators (SENCO) 
  • Caretakers and premises officers 
  • Lunch Assistants 
  • Daytime and cover supervisors 
  • HR managers, finance officers, admin assistants, and other non-teaching jobs in education settings 

Despite the ever-growing need of skilled and motivated teaching assistants and support staff in schools, colleges and universities, there is a variety of issues faced by the sector, including lack of recognition, low pay, workload, behaviour management and lack of professional development. That is where we come in! Our dedicated education and early years team has the experience and training to help support you through any issues you face at work. 

In 2020, Voice, the union for education professionals joined the Community family, and with it, brought centuries of experience and knowledge. 

We will always be on hand to advocate for better teaching assistant and support staff pay, improved working conditions, access to continued professional development and much more. 

Join the union for teaching assistants and education support staff today

Together with our members across the education and early years sector, we are delivering a more equal world of work for teaching assistants and education support staff, and we want you to join us. Regardless of your income or support needs, our rates will work for you, with Community membership starting from just £7.13 a month. You can find our full list of subscriptions here. 

Find out more about our membership benefits, and how we can help you at work below.

Join us today

Already a member? Log into your Community account to access your member-exclusive benefits.

Bespoke advice and representation for support staff

Bespoke advice and representation for support staff

Advice and representation are at the core of the work we do. Our members working as teaching assistants and education support staff have access to our trained legal officers, and trade union representatives who are always on hand to offer support with issues at work, such as huge workloads, pay, contracts, working conditions, holidays and much more.  

Bespoke advice and representation for support staff

Access member-exclusive benefits

Access member-exclusive benefits

As a Community member, you have access to a vast range of exclusive benefits, designed to help you at work and beyond. Our package includes legal support for non-workplace issues, CPD-accredited learning and training opportunities, discounts on hundreds of high-street brands, financial support and much more. 

Access member-exclusive benefits

CPD-accredited learning and training

CPD-accredited learning and training

From mental health, prevent and safeguarding courses to positive handling, classroom behaviour and higher-level teaching assistant certificates, you can access over 650 CPD-accredited learning course and training programmes as a Community member. Every opportunity is designed to support and help you thrive inside and out of work.

CPD-accredited learning and training

Join the union for education support staff today

Join the union for education support staff today

We are fighting for a better world of work for all teaching assistants and education support staff, and we want you to join us. Become a Community member today and join our fight to secure better pay, recognition and rights for your sector today.

Join the union for education support staff today
       
           

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