Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the number of teaching assistants who are performing a full teaching role in schools in England.

The Secretary of State for Education has not made an assessment of the number of teaching assistants who are performing a full teaching role in schools in England.

The Education (Specified Work) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the specific circumstances in which someone employed in a maintained school other than a qualified teacher can teach; and where teaching assistants can be used to cover teacher absence. These regulations state that teaching assistants may only carry out specified teaching work where they are assisting or supporting the work of a qualified teacher in the school and are under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher as arranged by the headteacher. This ensures that a teacher continues to provide the leading contribution.