Doaes anybody know?

[Daffy]

Does anybody know what sort of qualifications are needed for Teaching Assistants or Nursery Nurses? I am looking at my options for going back to work in a year or twos time. Won't be able to do a full time course though, so it would have to be part time or home study. Any advice would be gratefully recieved. Thanks in advance!

[kmg1]

Teaching assistants don't need a qualification, but depends on supply/demand in your area whether you would get a job without a qualification. Most schools (or all?) would expect you to train whilst working if you weren't qualified. The 'training' is 10 hrs a week contact time with children in school, a session in college each week (day or evening), and then essays to write in your free time. Obviously if you can find a school to pay you whilst training it's a lot better than doing 10 hrs voluntary each week.

If you want to consider this route, you might want to contact your local school now, say you are investigating this possibility, and want to do (say) one afternoon in school (voluntary) each week. That way you are more likely to get a job at that school, or a different school, whilst training.

Another good way in, if jobs are hard to come by, is as a dinner lady. You get to supervise the kids at lunchtime/playtime, and the school see your capabilities and may offer you a job.

Also LSA - Learning Support Assistants - one-to-one help for children with special needs. Similar sort of training applies here, though to go this route you may need some experience of special needs children first, or be already working as a Teaching Assistant.

Nursery nurses - similar situation. Nurseries have guidelines as to how many qualified/unqualified staff they are allowed. But most would expect any unqualified staff to be doing some training at the same time.

HTH

[tallulah]

I thought there was a similar thread here recently?

I worked as a LSA in a secondary school for 2 years. I had no training & no experience, except being a mum of 4 (2 with SEN) & a Degree.

The school advertised in the local paper.

[kmg1]

Daffy - check out Education: Classroom Assistants, for more info.

[anais]

I have researhced all this recently as I want to study for a childcare course (from home). The following address...(if I can do the link...) has childcare courses by correspondence...

nec


Also, this government site has quite a lot of info about what qualifications you need for various jobs, and also a list of places who run relevant course.

work train


Finally, there is, of course, learn direct

HTH