The latest NFER report shines a spotlight on the support staff workforce across England's schools. What does this mean for HR leaders in education?

The latest NFER report shines a spotlight on the support staff workforce across England’s schools. 

The key takeaways:

• Support staff now make up over half of the school workforce, and numbers continue to grow year‑on‑year. 

• Demand for TAs is increasing, driven heavily (but not exclusively) by rising SEND needs. 

• Recruitment remains challenging - in 2025, three in four school leaders struggled to recruit TAs. 

• Retention risks are rising, with data showing support‑staff exit rates trending upwards. 

• The number one reason staff consider leaving: They don’t feel valued. A powerful reminder that culture and recognition matter. 

• Pay remains low compared to similar roles in other sectors, despite recent real‑terms growth. 

• 15% of support staff want more hours, highlighting underemployment within the workforce. 

• Career progression opportunities are limited, with support staff less likely to believe their employer offers meaningful pathways. 

What this means for HR leaders in education

To build a sustainable support‑staff workforce, we must prioritise:

• Creating or updating a support staff workforce strategy (3-5 years)

• Recognition and valuing staff contributions

• Developing a trust wide support staff career progression framework

• Improving recruitment strategies

• Retention strategies based on insights

• Pay and hours benchmarking

• Strengthening SEND capability and deployment models

Support staff are the backbone of pupil inclusion, wellbeing and learning. Investing in their experience is an essential component of workforce resilience and school performance.

Read the NFER report here.