Former Teaching Assistants - what did you do after TA?

[WhatNowMyLove1]

I'm currently a TA and not loving it. I only started in my current school recently, so I probably won't leave immediately, but I'm half considering a complete change in direction.

Can any former TAs who left education share what they moved on to?

My background is all admin, some HR and logistics and hospitality. I do have a degree but it was quite academic (read, not very useful) humanities subjects and I graduated in 2008 so I'm not a recent graduate.

I also have small DCs which is one of the reasons why TA seemed a good option, but I'm not sure it really is as I'm stressed out and tired.

I went from TA to teacher - so not good on the exhausted and tired!

I understand it works well with small children, so have you considered other school roles where your previous experience and skills can be used? School administration can often be term time only. Private schools in particular often have a few office type roles including possible HR, likewise academies.
Not sure exactly what hospitality experience you have but possibly school kitchens?

Teacher here, but off the top of my head, TAs I have worked with have left schools to work in supermarkets or shops, care homes, admin jobs at local banks, pre schools or kitchens.

I did my degree with the OU whilst I was a TA and then went on to pastoral care then to work for the youth offending service. I suppose it depends on whether you want to focus on the working with people side of being a TA or the admin side as your experience moving forward.

Was a teaching asistant for 20+ years- used to love my job but the laxt few years i hated it and it made me unwell. Very piir pay. Now a support worker fot adults with a learning disability- work 2 24 hour shifts a week. Absolutley love my job and wish that i had made the decision years ago. Good luck.

Thanks both.

Honestly, I dislike admin and TA equally, so probably need a completely new direction. Although my degree isn't anything especially useful, it is a decent degree from a well respected uni, so possibly I need to go back to that and think about what I could do.

X posted with you @cymraesllwyr. That's really interesting as I had considered nursing before but didn't want to have another student loan to worry about. So maybe support work is something I could look into. That's the thing. I used to love my job too, but I hate it now. I did move schools which may be part of it. Pay is so, so low and it isn't worth it. The classic "I'd be better paid working in Tesco" is very true!

I earn about £25,500, my shifts are from 10am until 10am following day. Loads of time off. Freedom to take annual leave whenever i want to, so can go abroad when its much cheaper and bot during the school holidays. Go for it!!

@WhatNowMyLove1 - Have just happened upon this post, and can completely empathise! While most TAs are probably not educated to degree level, there are of course, many like ourselves that are. Having worked in my previous non-education related profession for over 20 years, I started working in schools while my children were young, and went on to study for a PGCE. I've worked as both a TA and a teacher, and one thing that has often been apparent, is the complete lack of recognition of value and respect for the TA/LSA role. It is no wonder that many can feel so demoralised.

@cymraesllwyr - your role sounds amazing! Would love to know a bit more about this kind of role. Full-time school term work is so inflexible, am feeling totally burnt out! A quick job search for adult-learner support roles, throws up a whole plethora of agency jobs for around £10 an hour, so I must be looking in the wrong place 🙂