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About TAs/Paraeducators

Here you will learn about teaching assistants and paraeducators in much of the English-speaking world. Information from Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and the United States includes the number of people hired to provide support for teaching and learning in the schools classrooms.

For a bit of fun, we share some of the terms (and spelling) used in various countries. For example, teaching assistants in the United Kingdom are referred in the United States by various titles such as paraeducators, paraprofessionals, aides, or technical assistants.

Roles and responsibilities assigned to learning support staff provide you with an opportunity to compare these against your assignment. How do they differ? How are they the same?

United States of America

United Kingdom

Australia

Paraeducator

Teaching assistant

Teacher aide

Paraprofessional

LSA (learning support assistant)

School assistant

Teacher aide

NNEB (nursery nurse)

School learning support officer

Technical assistant

 

Education assistant

Aide

 

Integration aide

Instructional assistant

 

Special needs assistant

Title I teacher

 

Library aide

Bilingual teacher

 

Ancillary staff/officer

Instructional assistant

 

Aboriginal community education officer

  

Educational paraprofessional

  

Defense school transition aide/mentor

  

Preschool assistant

  

Autism support assistant

  

Vision support assistant

  

Communication support assistant

  

Bilingual assistant