Calling all learning support assistants!

[Amapoleon]

Hi, I have a job interview for an lsa, Senior education needs. [nvq3 or equivalent]

Would just like to have a chat and ask a few questions, if nobody minds.

Thanks

[nekonix]

fire away...
hopefully might be able to help.

[Amapoleon]

Sorry , got hijacked by the kids again!

Does a lsa refer to the class teacher in all cases?

What are normal lsa duties?

What is an average lsa pay?

Are lsas involved in planning?

That's a few to start with

Thanks

[lisad123wantsherquoteinDM]

Does a lsa refer to the class teacher in all cases? sometimes are supporting a small group yourself but normally yes.

What are normal lsa duties?
Taking small groups, listening to readers, class tidy, one to one work with pupils.

What is an average lsa pay?

10k-13k in herts

Are lsas involved in planning?
depends on the school and the teacher. All of ours are

HTH

[Amapoleon]

Thanks, just trying to think of the questions that might come up.

[CybilLiberty]

'Senior Education needs' . What age?

[Amapoleon]

No, I'm a teacher but I have moved out of the UK and my job doesn't exist here.

It is a British school and they want an assistant with EAL experience.

[Amapoleon]

It's year 7, will mainly be one to one with an EAL student. The school goes up to year 7, it's unique because of it's location. The local schools run a middle school system with senior school starting in year 8.

[Hulababy]

I work as a Level 3 Senior Teaching assistant in a Y1 class. I was a secondary school teacher previously and wanted a change. I don't have any LSA qualifications.

Am out at the moment but will answer questions later on tonight.

[Amapoleon]

Thank you Hula. {it's Lucy 5 what was] in case you remember me from many moons ago.

[CybilLiberty]

I started work pupil specific too but soon it became teaching a whole table of low achieving children.

If the pupil you are working with has a statement make sure if you can that he is the priority for you and you don't get used elsewhere.

I suppose to that end a good question would be 'what percentage of my time will be supporting the pupil 1:1 and what % used elsewhere?'

[Amapoleon]

Thanks Civil, that's a good point.

[Amapoleon]

Oops Cybil

[CybilLiberty]

That's ok, I am nothing if not civil . I get called Cyril half the time too

[Hulababy]

Does a lsa refer to the class teacher in all cases?

For my class based work I do every time; the teacher will tell me what she wants me to focus on with specific child/group and I feedback to her afterwards.

For the ICT lesson I take each week - covering teacher's PPA time - I have a termly lesson plan outline showing what topics need covering nd a range of software and ideas available. I then work out the weekly lesson fromt his. Again I feedback afterwards to teacher.

For my one to one work with my IEP pupils I know the IEP targets, but how I work onthem is up to me. I develop my own resources or use those available in school. I record my session comments and again feedback.

What are normal lsa duties?

I do one to one work 3 times a week, roughly. with my 6 or 7 IEP students working on set targets.

I cover PPA time, which for me is a 1 hour ICT lesson each week. I also do other cover if required.

I cover any first day illness of the teacher, and possibly any other teacher who is absent.

In class I work with an ability group during literacy or numeracy as required. This is often, but not always, the lower group.

I sometimes, although not often, do guided reading with a group of pupils and very very occasionally individual reading.

I take children group by group for their short library session.

I do playtime duty twice a week.

What is an average lsa pay?

My L3 pay, plus one responsibility point, works out at just ver £9 an hour IIRR.

Are lsas involved in planning?

I do my own planning for my IEP students based on targets given to me.

The other lesson planning is given to me by the teachers.


I am also employed to develop, plan and deliver a study support session 3 days a week, for 30m in a morning. I have 2 other LSAs who I plan work for and 3 students who deliver it too. I produce literacy based work to aid Y1/Y2 students.

[Amapoleon]

Thanks Hula, that's exactly what i needed to know. I was worried about the IEP one to ones because in reality I am the specialist but I don't want to tread on anyone's toes.

How do you feel about the lessening responsibility? I'm hoping that I don't find it hard to get to grips with.

Is there any animosity because you are a teacher? In my last school some of the staff were quite snotty about teaching assistants.

[Hulababy]

I have enjoyed the reduction in workload. I had been out of secondary teaching for nearly 3 years as I had been in Prison Ed doing some advice and guidance work. I wanted to go back into schools but was keen to work with little ones, and knew that - whilst DD is younger at least - that I didn;t want a teaching workload or the stress.

So now I have the fun without the stress really. My ICT and IEP work, and obviously the study support sessions I run, keep my ahnd in with planning, and I am now getting lots of new experience in primary. Really enjoying it, although I do feel that I end up doing a bit more "left in the room without a teacher/cover" than other TAs and maybe they benefit from my QTS and teacher experience a bot mroe than they should, especially for what I get paid! lol

The staff are great. The teachers generally treat the TA/LSA's really well and I have certainly felt very valued and appreciated from my class teacher, the head, the deputy and others. They know I am a qualified and experienced teacher and they do allow me tp apply that knowledge and experience throughout my work. They do seem t appreciate that they are getting a lot of me for their money IYSWIM.

[Amapoleon]

Thanks. I'm looking forward to it but am a little concerned that I might be used as a teacher on a lsa's wage.

[Lotstodo]

Also, may have been mentioned here before but if the child leaves the school - the job may go too, if it is 'task specific'.

[Amapoleon]

Good point, it says that it is a fixed term contract with possibility to extend but worth checking what happens in that case.