Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that teaching assistants in schools have the correct qualifications.

The Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) Regulations 2003, require teaching assistants to work under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher. This ensures that a teacher continues to provide the leading contribution to the teaching and learning.

The regulations also require headteachers to be satisfied that the teaching assistant has the appropriate skills, expertise and experience.