NJC pay from 1 April 2026
SCP 5 pay 2026/27
SCP 5 is £13.70 an hour (£26,427 a year full time). A term-time TA on 32.5 hours takes home about £1,390 a month.
Hourly rate
£13.70
up from £13.26
Full-time salary
£26,427
37 hours, all year
Typical take-home
£1,390
a month · 32.5 hrs, term time
SCP 5 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 | £22,249 | £1,542 |
| 32.5 hrs | £19,543 | £1,390 |
| 30 hrs | £18,040 | £1,310 |
| 27.5 hrs | £16,537 | £1,225 |
| 25 hrs | £15,033 | £1,140 |
| 20 hrs | £12,027 | £947 |
| 15 hrs | £9,020 | £710 |
Full time all year (37 hours, 52 weeks): £1,777 a month take-home.
The 2026 pay rise and back pay
| 2025/26 | 2026/27 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | £13.26 | £13.70 |
| Full-time salary | £25,583 | £26,427 |
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 £52 a month before tax — roughly £312 back pay for April to September. How back pay shows on your payslip.
Overtime on SCP 5
An extra hour is paid at £13.70 (or £20.55 at time and a half). For a TA on 32.5 hours term time, you keep about £9.23 of each hour after pension, tax and NI.
Do bits of overtime here and there? Track them on your phone.
About SCP 5
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 5 questions
What is SCP 5 an hour?
From 1 April 2026, SCP 5 is £13.70 an hour — up from £13.26 in 2025/26.
How much is SCP 5 for a term-time TA?
On 32.5 hours a week, term time only, SCP 5 pays about £19,543 a year (£1,629 a month before deductions). After pension, tax and National Insurance that’s about £1,390 a month.
How much back pay will I get on SCP 5?
On 32.5 hours term time, the 3.3% rise is worth about £52 a month before tax. If your school pays it in October, back pay for April to September is roughly £312 before tax and pension.
Is SCP 5 only for teaching assistants?
No — the NJC pay spine is used for most council and school support staff, so SCP 5 pays the same hourly rate whatever the job. How many hours and weeks you’re paid for depends on your contract.