Classroom assistant

You would encourage children and young people with learning activities in the classroom. You’d work closely with teachers to ensure the pupils learn in a safe and caring environment.

You would help teachers with a range of tasks but you wouldn’t teach classes or lead lessons. You’d support children to become successful learners and confident individuals, both in and out of the classroom.

Depending on the school and the age of the pupils you would:

• Get the classroom ready for lessons

• Listen to children read, read to them or tell them stories

• Help children who need extra support to complete tasks

• Help to prepare learning resources or activities

• Support teachers in managing class behaviour

• Supervise group activities

• Look after children who are upset or have had accidents

• Clear away materials and equipment after lessons

• Help with outings and sports events

• Complete records

• Do administrative tasks

You might also support children with particular needs, working with them individually or in small groups.

In some schools you could have a specialism, such as literacy, numeracy or additional support needs. If you are bilingual, you might do more work with children whose first language is not English.

At secondary level, you might concentrate on working with individuals and small groups. Depending on the subject, you might assist with practical work, for example in science.

Sometimes you might have to cope with challenging behaviour. Experience of working with children and knowledge of child development would be very useful. You’d need to be able to develop good relationships with the children and parents.

• Disclosure Scotland – more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme

• Education Scotland: Curriculum information, and advice and resources for educators in Scotland