What are the minimum qualifications for a teaching assistant

[Lazydaisy]

Hi, Can anyone tell me if a school (state primary) is allowed to use unqualified assistants to teach children or is there a basic requirement that anyone teaching in a school must have?

Many Thanks

[beamme]

Certificate (Level 2) in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.

[beamme]

But you need to volunteer in the school to achieve it.

[SandStorm]

Depends where you are. I was a TA until last year and have no childcare/TA qualifications at all. The TA who replaced me has none either.

[halloweeneyqueeney]

one local school here does take TAs who don't have any but will work towards them. Its in a deprived area.

[mrz]

We wouldn't consider anyone under level 3 and must have GCSE in maths, English and Science

[juniper904]

Most of our TAs come from an agency. They are normally actors out of work. They have no experience with children, no interest in children and don't even bother to say goodbye when they get acting roles.

So, as far as I know, there is no minimum qualification. If there is, my school is breeching it.

[kid]

Most jobs advertising for a teaching assistant ask for NVQ level 2 in teaching assistant or working with children. They are loads of different versions of courses available, and a lot, if not all of the jobs I've seen require this.

Are you looking to become a teaching assistant or are you asking because of something you have seen happening in a school?

[Lazydaisy]

Thanks all, does anyone know if there is any legal minimum requirement or is it up to the school to decide. I've been told that my children's school is using staff that have absolutely no qualifications which I'm not happy about at all!!

Thanks again

[halloweeneyqueeney]

it cant be a legal requirement if the ones having trouble recruiting (due to area) are advertising saying that qualifications are not essential

most do advertise that qualifications are essential but they are the ones with tonnes of applicants so they can

[halloweeneyqueeney]

I think any school with a choice of applicants would go for qualifications, but if they are begging for staff a bit then its better to have someone than be an adult down and have noone

what's important, IMO, is not whether they START with qualifications, but whether they are working towards them

[JackieLanaTurn]

I had no qualifications and I've been a TA for 3 years now. Am just working on my NVQ Level 3. Am approaching the end of it. Didn't feel like the best qualification in the world to me. Having said that, some of the best TAs in our school are women with no education related qualifications. They are, however, all highly motivated and highly qualified in other areas. The benefit of living in a 'nice' area I suppose.

I'd be more interested in the training and support offered to TAs by the school, because without ongoing investment, a one of qualification doesn't mean much imo.

[JackieLanaTurn]

I say no quals, I mean TA related, of course.

[halloweeneyqueeney]

what Jackie said

I work in health care, there are lots of shite HCAs with NVQs and good ones without them, and I don't see a difference in practice when someone who didn't have an NVQ gets one, it doesn't seem to improve them at all... but what it does show is commitment to the career rather than it just being a temporary job, and it also shows that the setting itself supports them

[JackieLanaTurn]

Hear Hear Halloweeney. The pay is cruddy in both our professions, so I think you have to want to do it and care enough to do it or you're not gonna stay around for long. If you can get people who believe in what they do and believe they can make a difference with their, often part time, always low-paid role, you're onto a winner.

If you want the workforce all highly qualified, you'll have to up the money you pay them and that is not going to happen with this government or any other.

[Lazydaisy]

Thanks for all your input; it's very informative. Is an unqualified assistant allowed lead lessons or should they be there as back up for the teacher? Want to get my facts straight before challenging the school!

[kid]

I started as a TA without any specific qualifications for that role. Well I'd done GNVQ Health and Social care so I guess that would cover some of it but not much.
Whilst doing the job, I have completed NVQ3, HLTA and several over training courses over the years. I agree that the school should allow staff to complete training or to gain qualifications while they work there.

[Flojo1979]

I'm a TA, trained to level 3 but off my own back. School requires no formal qualifications at all. Not even basic gcses.

[mrz]

A TA should not be leading lessons although they are allowed to supervise (with no teaching) in certain circumstances.

[JudeFawley]

My friend is a HLTA and has no qualifications.

[Flojo1979]

TA is allowed to lead. No qualifications required. Most TAs were I work don't have qualifications but they are excellent TAs.

[SandStorm]

A level 3 TA can be left in charge of a class but shouldn't be teaching as such. And it shouldn't be a regular thing.

[kid]

Part of doing the HLTA requires that you have level 2 literacy and numeracy (and science if you are born after a certain year) which is equivalent to A-C GCSE.

[mrz]

"The Education Act 2002 (Section 133) deals with the requirement to be qualified and sets out in regulations that specified work (i.e. teaching) may not be carried out by a person in a school unless s/he is a qualified teacher or satisfies specified
requirements."

"S/he must be subject to the direction and supervision of a 'school teacher'.
('Supervision' does not mean that the teacher must work alongside the teaching
assistant or HLTA etc., but that s/he is able to ensure that the member of
support staff is effectively teaching the class.)
This allows persons without Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to carry out ?specified work?. Specified work includes the delivery of learning to a class whilst the teacher is undertaking PPA time, however, the support staff must meet the above criteria.
Support staff must not be the main 'teacher' for an infant group and where support staff are undertaking the more demanding aspects of "specified work", particularly where they are working with whole classes. It is strongly recommended that the Headteacher has regard to the higher-level teaching assistant (HLTA) standards in determining whether those staff have the necessary level of skills and expertise. If a school was to use support staff instead of teachers to lead its infant groups, either as a permanent arrangement or for the majority of the school week on a regular basis, it would be in default of the statutory limit on infant class size."

[kid]

Who told you they have no qualifications? Not sure that a school would be or should be sharing that information with parents. Of course you have the right to ensure your children are getting a good education, it might be worth speaking the class teacher before taking it further.

[coldcupoftea]

I am a TA and have no TA qualifications (although I do have a degree!). I started in Sept along with 2 other new TAs, none of us have TA qualifications but we all had some experience of working or volunteering with children.

In terms of leading lessons, I take a 20 minute phonics group of 6 kids 3 times a week. I am following a certain phase of phonics but I plan the activities myself. I also take small groups during assembly/PE etc for extra work in handwriting, literacy and maths, and I plan the activities myself, although each child has set targets, such as 'to know number bonds to 10 by the end of term' or 'to use connectives when writing' so again I know what I am aiming for.

During main lessons I work with groups as directed by the teacher.

I have had training within the school (trainers who come in from the LEA) but no formal qualifications as yet.

Does that answer your question?