RESEARCH

This study provides a detailed picture of how the on-going challenge of teacher shortages in England and Wales is driving the deployment of teaching assistants (TAs) to cover classes in place of teachers.

Analyses of data from a survey of nearly 6,000 TAs in mainstream and special schools (conducted in early 2024) found TAs cover classes for up to four hours a week. One in four TAs reported covering classes because schools do not have enough teachers and/or are unable to get external supply teachers. 

The conditions under which TAs cover classes are challenging and cause stress and anxiety. Unlike teachers, TAs routinely cover classes without a lesson plan or support from another TA. The majority of TAs said that covering classes inevitably involves them having to teach pupils – despite national guidance stipulating that cover by TAs should not involve ‘active teaching’. 

Three in four TAs report that their own role is not covered when they cover for teachers.  Being deployed to cover classes disrupts and diverts TAs from carrying out their regular duties of delivering curriculum interventions and providing classroom

support.

Three-quarters of TAs were not paid an uplift for covering classes, and those that were reported receiving as little as 20 pence extra per hour.

Consequently, TAs feel that undertaking cover negatively impacts the quality of learning and provision for pupils with additional needs, as well as their workload, wellbeing, sense of effectiveness and job satisfaction. TAs feel undervalued and taken for granted.