Teaching Assistant CV example and ATS keywords

Keywords employers screen teaching assistant CVs for

Most employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that look for the words in their job advert. Use the ones that are true for you, in your skills section and in your experience. Always check the advert itself too, because each employer words things slightly differently.

Skills

• Supporting teaching and learning
• SEND
• EHCP
• Small group interventions
• 1:1 support
• Phonics
• Behaviour management
• Classroom preparation
• Reading support
• Progress tracking
• EYFS
• KS1
• KS2

Qualifications and checks

• Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning
• Level 3 Teaching Assistant
• Enhanced DBS
• Safeguarding training
• Paediatric first aid
• GCSE English and maths

Personal qualities

• Patient
• Encouraging
• Adaptable
• Good communicator
• Team player

Example teaching assistant personal statement

Your personal statement (or profile) sits at the top of your CV. Keep it to 3 or 4 sentences: who you are, your experience, your strongest skills and what you're looking for. Make it your own: these examples show the shape, not words to copy.

Example experience bullet points

Start each bullet with an action verb and add a number wherever you can. Recruiters remember results, not duties.

• Delivered daily phonics interventions to groups of 6 Year 1 pupils, with 5 of 6 passing the phonics screening check.
• Provided 1:1 support for a pupil with an EHCP, following strategies from the SENCO and reducing classroom incidents.
• Led small-group reading sessions, moving 8 pupils up at least one reading band in a term.
• Prepared resources and displays for a class of 30 and supervised break and lunch times.
• Recorded pupil progress and shared observations with the class teacher each week.

Mistakes that get teaching assistant CVs rejected

• Not saying which key stages or ages you've worked with.
• Saying "good with children" without examples: give interventions, results and specific needs you've supported.
• Leaving out safeguarding. Schools must check it, so mention your training and DBS.
• A generic CV for every school. Use words from the job advert, such as the phonics scheme or SEND needs they mention.

How to lay out your teaching assistant CV

1. Contact details: name, phone, email, town and (optionally) LinkedIn. No photo or date of birth needed in the UK.
2. Personal statement: 3 or 4 sentences, like the examples above.
3. Key skills: 6 to 10 skills from the keyword lists that are true for you.
4. Experience: most recent job first, with 3 to 5 bullet points each.
5. Education and training: qualifications, certificates and checks.

Use one column, standard headings and no tables, text boxes or graphics, so applicant tracking systems can read every word. Save it as a Word file unless the advert asks for a PDF.