NJC pay from 1 April 2026
SCP 3 pay 2026/27
SCP 3 is £13.28 an hour (£25,614 a year full time). A term-time TA on 32.5 hours takes home about £1,357 a month.
Hourly rate
£13.28
up from £12.85
Full-time salary
£25,614
37 hours, all year
Typical take-home
£1,357
a month · 32.5 hrs, term time
SCP 3 pay by hours (term time)
Term time only (43.9 paid weeks a year), LGPS pension, tax code 1257L:
| Hours a week | Pay a year | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| 37 hrs | £21,565 | £1,504 |
| 32.5 hrs | £18,942 | £1,357 |
| 30 hrs | £17,485 | £1,278 |
| 27.5 hrs | £16,028 | £1,196 |
| 25 hrs | £14,571 | £1,114 |
| 20 hrs | £11,657 | £918 |
| 15 hrs | £8,742 | £688 |
Full time all year (37 hours, 52 weeks): £1,731 a month take-home.
The 2026 pay rise and back pay
| 2025/26 | 2026/27 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | £12.85 | £13.28 |
| Full-time salary | £24,796 | £25,614 |
The 3.3%rise applies from 1 April 2026 but was only agreed in August, so it's being paid late. On 32.5 hours term time it's worth about £50 a month before tax — roughly £302 back pay for April to September. How back pay shows on your payslip.
Overtime on SCP 3
An extra hour is paid at £13.28 (or £19.91 at time and a half). For a TA on 32.5 hours term time, you keep about £8.94 of each hour after pension, tax and NI.
Do bits of overtime here and there? Track them on your phone.
About SCP 3
This point is often used for teaching assistants starting out, or in their first few years. Your exact grade depends on your council or academy trust.
SCP 3 questions
What is SCP 3 an hour?
From 1 April 2026, SCP 3 is £13.28 an hour — up from £12.85 in 2025/26.
How much is SCP 3 for a term-time TA?
On 32.5 hours a week, term time only, SCP 3 pays about £18,942 a year (£1,579 a month before deductions). After pension, tax and National Insurance that’s about £1,357 a month.
How much back pay will I get on SCP 3?
On 32.5 hours term time, the 3.3% rise is worth about £50 a month before tax. If your school pays it in October, back pay for April to September is roughly £302 before tax and pension.
Is SCP 3 only for teaching assistants?
No — the NJC pay spine is used for most council and school support staff, so SCP 3 pays the same hourly rate whatever the job. How many hours and weeks you’re paid for depends on your contract.