Costs
The recommended minimum monthly rate for a Modern Language Assistant is based on the minimum monthly pay for unqualified teachers in England and Wales (as published by DfE). This is then reduced to 66.6% of this rate (X 0.66) to reflect their reduced hours, working out at £1,013.15 per month for a 12-hour week. For the academic year 2023 – 24, for 4 hours per week contact time, usually a full day, the whole eight months’ salary for the Language Assistant is currently £2701. This is taken from schools as 1/8th for each month.
Modern Language Assistants are responsible for paying their own visa costs.
Schools are collectively responsible for the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently £624 in total). MLAs will pay for this initially and ask schools to reimburse them for a proportion of this charge.
In addition, DW Primary Languages charges an annual service fee for the administration, training and consultancy services outlined above.
In summary, based on a 3-school cluster, the total annual costs of employing a Modern Language Assistant for 8 months are as follows:
|
4 hours per week |
6 hours per week |
8 hours per week |
MLA’s Salary |
£2701 |
£4052 |
£5403 |
DW Primary Languages’ Service fee for Administration, Training and Consultancy |
£750 |
£1125 |
£1500 |
Reimbursement of Immigration Health Surcharge |
£208 |
£ 312 |
£416 (max) |
Total cost |
£3659 |
£5489 |
£7319 |
The Immigration Health Surcharge will be reduced proportionately for schools in clusters of 4 or where one of the other schools in the cluster has a contract for more than 4 hours. Please note that the ‘nominated school’ will also administer and pay for the enhanced DBS check once every 3 years - £44.
Supported by DW Primary Languages, the ‘nominated school’ will liaise with Trafford HR Shared Services and Payroll and set up the salary payment mechanism on behalf of all schools in their cluster. Trafford HR then arranges the reimbursement of salary costs from the other schools in the cluster.