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honest opinions please teachers

4 replies

yummyyummyyummy · 09/12/2009 14:03

Last summer i finished a teaching assistant course and have since been looking for a position.There is a huge amount of competition but I have had an interview for nearly every job I have applied for.When I have got there I have felt quite daunted by the competition.Often there will be qualified primary teachers or else someone with decades of experience or most often someone who is already known to the HT either parent helper or running after-school club etc.When I have asked for feedback afterwards they have always said that other candidates had more experience
I have had experience working in a pre-school and I used my DCs school as a placement while I was doing the course .i got on really well with the teacher - often they rang me up to see if I could do extra when TAs were on a course etc.I loved it so much and she has been giving me a glowing reference
This year DD is in the infant's class so I don't feel it is appropriate to be in there.
the only way I feel that I am ever going to get a position is to volunteer in a large school to (A) get some more experience and (B) hope that an opening will come up at that school.
One school I went for is in a rather deprived area and they said no parents helped in the school ,they have a high staff turnover and I actually really liked the place and the children there.
As a teacher would you find having a volunteer possibly 2/3 mornings a week useful or a bit of a pain.

OP posts:
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OooohWhatAFuss · 09/12/2009 14:30

I have always found the best parent volunteers to be the ones without children in the class at the time, so I already like your idea of finding a different placement! If the school has little support in the way of parent helpers and TAs I am sure they would vey much appreciate an experienced and qualified assistant in the classroom, especially as eventually you will be getting paid for the support they will be getting for free! Do try to meet the teacher you will be working with before hand and check you get on, though, as 2/3 mornings is a lot to spend with someone if you don't like their style... Hope you get the experience you need and that it all works out

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JingleAllTheWay · 09/12/2009 14:39

It is excellent to gain experience for sure. An awful lot of TA positions are being taken by qualified teachers who maybe have a young family and want to keep their hand in but not have to do the more formal stuff. Schools I have worked in have only taken students who are already on recognized courses, but my friend says they have vounteers from the local community come in and do stuff.

Maybe approach some schools direct?

Good luck though...

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Hulababy · 09/12/2009 22:44

Before I started applying for primary TA jobs (am a qualified secondary teacher of 10 years) I volunteered in DD's school for 2-3 days a week. I was working PT elsewhere at the same time, not in schools.

I really think that the current and regular experience benefitted me.

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RacingSnake · 09/12/2009 22:52

Yes, please, come and work in my class! A motivated extra pair of hands - they will be bitten off by grateful teachers.

I think you are very wise to keep away from your daughter's school/class, can be difficult for all parties involved.

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