Be sure you use the proper cover letter format to make your cover letter readable and professional.
Teaching Assistant Cover Letter Template (Text Format)
(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Today’s Date)
(Contact Person’s Name)
(School Name)
Dear (Mr/Ms/Mx) (Contact Person’s Name),
I’m writing to express my interest in the Teaching Assistant position at (School Name), as advertised on (Website). With (Number of Years) of experience in supporting students across (Key Stage(s)), along with (Relevant Qualifications/Certificates), I’m confident in my ability to contribute positively to your school community.
In my current role at (Current School/Organisation), I have (Briefly describe your experience, such as working closely with teachers, providing 1:1 support, or managing classroom activities). My experience has helped me develop (specific skills or accomplishments), such as (List one or two key accomplishments or contributions, e.g., improving student engagement, creating differentiated resources, or working with SEN students).
Throughout my career, I’ve been commended for my ability to (Highlight your strengths, such as building relationships with students, staff, and parents, or organising extracurricular activities). I’m particularly drawn to (School Name)’s (Mention something specific about the school’s mission, values, or approach), and I would love to bring my (Skills/Experience/Enthusiasm) to contribute to your school’s success.
I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how my (Skills/Experience) can align with your school’s needs. Please feel free to contact me on (Your Phone Number) or at (Your Email Address) to arrange an interview at your convenience.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of joining your team and contributing to the continued success of your students.
Yours sincerely,
(Your Name)
Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a cover letter in a way that makes you seem like the best candidate for the job.
Teaching Assistant (No Experience) Cover Letter
If you’ve yet to gain any formal work experience as a TA, look at this teaching assistant with no experience cover letter example for inspiration:
Experienced Teaching Assistant Cover Letter
If you’ve worked as a teaching assistant for several years, frame your work experience and skills as this cover letter example does:
How to write a cover letter for a teaching assistant role in 2024
You’re a natural when it comes to working with children of different age groups — and you’ve highlighted your skills on your teaching assistant CV. Now, you need to showcase these qualities in your teaching assistant cover letter.
If you’re looking to present yourself as a winning job candidate, follow our three tips to help you write an effective teaching assistant cover letter and get noticed by UK schools.
1. Begin with an impactful opening paragraph
Schools are more likely to continue reading your application if they see you have previous work experience in an educational setting — or an equivalent amount of training to prove you’re well-equipped to work with children.
So remember to describe your qualifications prominently in your opening paragraph. Because your opening statement is the first thing that employers will see, include your:
- reasons for applying as a teaching assistant
- how you found the job advert
- years of relevant experience
- educational background and previous training (e.g., relevant degree and certificates)
Most employers ask that you have A-Levels as well as a relevant degree and qualifications to show you’re qualified to do the job.
Including your years of work experience, relevant qualifications, and any transferable skills from other TA or childcare roles in your opening paragraph effectively captures an employer’s attention and keeps them interested in reading the rest of your cover letter.
Below is an example of a teaching assistant applicant’s statement in their opening paragraph:
Since the age of 12, I’ve babysat for my younger siblings and neighbours’ children. I’ve always enjoyed caring for students, so I was excited to see the Teaching Assistant role at [School Name] currently being advertised on [Website]. With 4 years’ experience and a CACHE Level 3 Teaching Assistant certificate (RFQ), I’m confident that I’d be a perfect candidate.
2. Mention your relevant teaching assistant skills
Working daily with pupils, other teachers, and school administrative staff requires many essential skills, so make sure to include these key professional skills throughout your teaching assistant cover letter.
First, include your hard skills (also known as technical skills). You’ve likely gained hard skills through previous schooling, practical training, and babysitting experience.
Because you’ll be responsible for a classroom full of pupils, listing your knowledge of appropriate classroom management techniques is essential. Schools also want to know they can rely on you if emergencies arise, so don’t forget to mention your Red Cross training in your teaching assistant cover letter.
These are other hard skills to include when you make a cover letter for a teaching assistant position:
- Administrative skills
- Arts and crafts skills
- Computer skills
- CPR training
- Marking work
- Language skills
- Literacy skills
- Lesson planning
- Numeracy skills
- Public speaking
- Recording data
- Student supervision
- Supply management
- Technology skills
Soft skills are just as important for teaching assistants. Soft skills show you’re adept at relating to children and other teachers in a classroom setting.
Employers seek well-organised, patient teaching assistants who genuinely enjoy working with children, so add your time management skills and interpersonal skills. Pupils will also look to you for guidance throughout the day, so don’t forget to mention your adaptability and problem-solving skills.
Here are other teaching assistant soft skills for your cover letter:
- Communication skills
- Cultural awareness
- Creativity
- Discipline
- Leadership skills
- Organisational skills
- People skills
- Resourcefulness
3. Emphasise your accomplishments with hard numbers
Because schools review several teaching assistant job applications whenever they advertise for one, make your teaching assistant cover letter stand out by including your top accomplishments.
An effective way to highlight your teaching achievements is by adding hard numbers. Hard numbers provide helpful context to employers about your previous responsibilities and show the scope of what you’ve achieved in each role.
So include these hard numbers in your cover letter for a teaching assistant role:
- number of students you taught
- number of classrooms you assisted in each role
- percentages
- time worked
- pupils’ grades achieved
Here’s how our teaching assistant applicant highlights their accomplishments by using a bulleted list and hard numbers:
Check out our library of cover letter samples for even more great teaching CVs and cover letters.
More CV & Cover Letter Examples:
