How To Write a Teaching Assistant Cover Letter (With Examples)

Updated 26 January 2023

If you're applying to be a teaching assistant, your cover letter can show the recruiter why you're a good candidate. It can also outline your relevant skills and motivations for the job. A good cover letter is tailored to the specific role and company in question, and can greatly increase your chances of getting hired. In this article, we will discuss the essential elements of a good teaching assistant cover letter, and give you two examples of good cover letters.

How to write a teaching assistant cover letter

Before you start writing your cover letter, make sure you have carefully read the job description and are familiar with the requirements. Submitting a cover letter is a good idea regardless of whether or not it is a requirement. Read some general guides on how to make your cover letters stand out, and do some research into the educational institution you are applying to. After that, you can follow the steps outlined below to write your cover letter:

1. Address the reader directly

As part of your research into the company and the job opening, find out who is receiving your application. This could be a recruiter or a member of the teaching staff. Depending on who it is, address them by name at the beginning of the cover letter. If you're unable to find their name, address it as "Dear Hiring Manager". Avoid generic greetings like "Dear Sir/Madam" wherever possible. This shows the reader that you are willing to invest time and effort into your application and are therefore serious about the role.

2. Introduce yourself

Once you have addressed the reader, the first thing to do is state why you are writing the letter and who you are. You can also mention how you came across the vacancy, unless another part of the application process has already asked you to provide this information. If someone referred you to the position, mention it here.

3. State your qualifications

Detail for the reader your education and any relevant qualifications and experience. Make sure to align this with the requirements stipulated in the job posting. Once you have shown how you meet their requirements, you can go on to state some of your other skills and qualifications, as long as they have some relevance to the role. This could include any additional academic qualifications, training courses or first aid skills.

4. Explain why you're an ideal candidate

This is where your cover letter differs from your CV, as it is actively persuading the reader that you are the ideal candidate. Talk about the relevance of your qualifications and experience, how your personal attributes are ideal for a teaching assistant and how your own values and work ethic align with theirs. This part of your cover letter is the most specific to the position and institution in question, but make sure that you're honest.

5. Thank the reader and conclude

Towards the end of your cover letter, thank the reader for their time and consideration. You can also take the opportunity to reiterate your enthusiasm for the position. After that, close the letter politely and give your full name, email address and contact number. If your cover letter is submitted as part of an online application process that requests your contact details elsewhere, then just include your full name at the end.

Related: How To End a Letter

6. Re-read your cover letter

Re-read your cover letter before sending it. This allows you to find and fix any spelling or grammatical errors. Make sure that there is adequate spacing and that paragraphs are not too long. Try to assess how persuasive it would be for the recruiter. If possible, re-read it some time after you wrote it. Try to make sure that your cover letter is no longer than one page.

Checklist for teaching assistant cover letters

To help you when it comes to re-reading and fixing your teaching assistant cover letter, we have provided a checklist of three important things that your cover letter must be. Many of the skills that make for a good teaching assistant can be shown in a good cover letter. When reading your cover letter, ensure that it is:

Clear

A good teaching assistant is an excellent communicator. Make your cover letter reflect this by being easy to read and understand. Make sure there is no unnecessary language or rambling, and that your paragraphs are not too long.

Persuasive

The purpose of a cover letter is to persuade the reader that you are the ideal candidate, or at least that you are worth interviewing. Make sure you are not being too subtle or indirect about why you believe you are the best candidate. Make sure you are being honest and clear about your attributes and abilities. Try to adopt the viewpoint of a recruiter to determine how persuasive your cover letter is. You can also ask a friend or relative to give constructive feedback.

Relevant

Clearly write your cover letter for the job you are applying for. Make sure you have specified the role, addressed the reader by name and included insights from your research into the institution. If you feel it looks too generic, then do some more research to help you customise your cover letter to the institution.

Examples of teaching assistant cover letters

In the following section, we have provided you with two examples of good teaching assistant cover letters that are based on the steps and criteria outlined above:

Example 1

Dear Ms Banks,

My name is Kelly Atkinson and I am writing to you concerning the teaching assistant position at ABC Secondary School, which I saw listed on the Indeed UK website.

I have recently completed a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning (STL) in Schools. I also have five GCSEs at grade 9, and two more at grade 4. Among the former are English and maths, as required for the position, and biology, physics and geography. The other two are in chemistry and history. I have also worked for two years at an after-school evening facility for children with learning difficulties. I would often help them with concepts they had trouble understanding at school, guide them through homework and deal with their parent's wishes.

I believe I would be an invaluable addition to your school. Thanks to my experience and personal attributes, I'm a very capable communicator who has no trouble explaining difficult concepts to learners of all abilities. I know how to listen and encourage others to listen, and I am also adept at spotting when a student is struggling. Having attained my STL, I am eager to develop my skills in the classroom and would love the chance to work at your school.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration of my application. I look forward to the opportunity to talk to you about what I can bring to the role.

Sincerely,

Kelly Atkinson

katkinson@email.co.uk
0111 2222 333

Example 2

Dear Hiring Manager,

My name is James O'Neil and I am writing to you to register my interest in applying for the role of teaching assistant at the McKean Grammar School. I was referred to the job posting on the school's social media profile.

As per the job requirements, I have a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning (STL) in Schools, and a Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education. I possess more than the required GCSEs, with grade 9 in maths, English, history and geography. I also have two A-Levels, in geography and maths. Regarding my experience, I have been a teaching assistant for two years at my local primary school. I helped teachers address the needs of specific students, and develop the curricula to meet these needs.

I believe I am an excellent candidate for the role. Over the years, I have constantly honed my communication and teaching skills. I rarely find that students require me to give further clarification, as I am very good at tailoring my approach to individual students. With the role at your school, I hope to bring my skills to the secondary levels of education, as I feel this would be a great challenge for me and help me become a more capable educator.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

James O'Neil

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed. The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.

How To Write a Teaching Assistant Cover Letter (With Examples)