More and more schools are employing teaching assistants and teacher support staff. They work with the teacher to ensure students receive the attention they need. But what's the difference between a teacher support staff and a teaching assistant? And what do you actually earn?

Difference between teacher assistant and teaching assistant

The main difference is that a teacher assistant may perform tasks independently, such as teaching and grading tests. A teaching assistant is not permitted to do this. In both cases, the teacher always retains ultimate responsibility. Below, we summarize the most important tasks and responsibilities.

A teaching assistant

• Supports and guides students and/or (sub)groups of students
• supports the teacher in compiling teaching materials and setting up the learning environment
• contributes to the design and planning of learning activities, work methods and assignments
• monitors, signals and corrects (un)desirable behavior and discusses this with the teacher
• performs administrative, management and, if necessary, care tasks
• helps organize (extracurricular) activities
• contributes to a positive and safe learning environment and guides students in their social-emotional development
• contributes to improvement proposals.

Level: MBO4

A teacher assistant

• provides lessons and supervises (groups of) students in consultation with the teacher
• prepares lessons
• provides support with educational tasks and matters, provides explanations and answers questions about the subject matter
• monitors students' progress and discusses it with the teacher
• checks students' tests and assignments
• conducts teaching-learning conversations and has independent tasks in student guidance
• contributes to a positive and safe learning environment and guides students in their social-emotional development
• contributes to and advises on improvement proposals (for example with regard to teaching materials, replacement of lessons or design of the learning environment).

Level: MBO4+ (post-MBO; between levels 4 and 5)

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Your salary

Each school board has its own job classification system that specifies the conditions under which you are classified. Want to know what you earn? Then do the AOb Salary CheckThis way you can quickly discover what you earn gross and what you have left over net.

How do you become a teaching assistant or teacher assistant?

You can become a teaching assistant with a full-time or part-time position vocational training Teaching AssistantYou can also work as a teaching assistant with other prior education, such as programs in pedagogy or social work. These programs, however, pay less attention to teaching skills, which are precisely what you need in this job. MBO partial training Didactic support primary education is a valuable addition, so that you are didactically well-grounded.

With the post-vocational secondary education Teacher Assistant Develop into a teacher assistant. This program is also ideal for teaching assistants who want to take the next step in their career and deepen and broaden their pedagogical and teaching skills.

Why study at Summa?

Summa has been training vocational education (MBO) professionals for education and childcare for years. Instructors tailor their approach to different learning needs. Your personal development is paramount, and throughout the program, a strong link is established between theory and your practical situation, so you can apply what you've learned in the classroom the very next day.

Want to know more?

For more information, please contact the Education & Upbringing sector Contact Point via education-upbringing@summaenbedrijf.nl.