20 yr old male TA in primary - what would you think?

[newromantics]

Just that, really! DS is thinking of becoming a primary teacher and wants to get some TA experience. He's been invited for interview today at a local school (last day before Christmas break so it'll be manic!) to start next term.

However he was worrying this morning that he's not the usual 'TA type' and I must admit my only experience of TAs is of older women who've perhaps had their own kids already etc. I think he'd be great but obviously I'm biased!

What would you think if your Year 1 child had a TA like my DS?

Dh did a year as a TA now he’s a primary school head. Good luck to your son.

Theres 2 young men work in my sons nursery. I think its great. Many young kids these days lack positive male role models.

However- his sex is important because he also needs to be aware that he’s going to be used as a ‘strong male role model’ for the ‘naughty boys’. He will be likely be put in situations where he is going to have manually handle or be faced with violent children.

he needs to make sure that he has the correct training and behaviour plans to follow to deal with this.

i had a very conscientious male TA,
sensitive guy who had just graduated from
an English degree who really wanted to be a primary teacher - he eventually went off to do his PGCE but I know he was really frustrated with having to pace the halls with classroom refusers who would attack him with chairs. He wanted to be supporting the learning of a class and the teacher but was essentially used as a bouncer.

Its fantastic. What a role model he can be in a mostly female dominated field.

DDs teacher started off as a TA in her Y1 class, then he did his teacher training at the school and now he is her teacher in Y5.

Honestly getting some TA experience is a great way to make sure the job is really for you. Parents were 100% behind him all the way.

I think it's great. If he wants to become a teacher and therefore invest 3 or 4 years in training he really needs to see if he likes it first.
Male role models in primary schools are very important. I worked with some absolutely fantastic male teachers over the years.

I wouldn’t think any thing. All the years my 3 children have been in school (big age gaps so a long time!), I’ve never clapped eyes on any of the TAs, and my kids have meet mentioned them wouldn’t have been able to pick them out of a line up.

Good luck to your ds! I hope he really enjoys it.

*never mentioned them

I work in a school. We have a 24 year old TA. He gets on really well with other members of staff, the children love him and listen to him and he's always willing to support - what else can anyone ask for? Good luck to your DS - they wouldn't have invited him if it wasn't a possibility.

We've had some male TAs in our primary, one of them went on qualify and taught my DS in his NQT year - DS loved him! It's good for the kids to have positive male role models as well as female, I think.

I think it's great! Good luck to him.

My son is a 19yo TA in class 2 - he loves it! Wants to be a primary school teacher. The kids especially the boys like having him in the class! He plays a lot of football!!

He loves the questions he is asked - last weeks was ‘Mr x are you 40?’ he was appalled 😂😂!

Great, we need more men in primary schools, good role models for the boys.

I would think that was fab. There are so few men in primary teaching especially - only one in my dc's school and he's wonderful.

My eldest had a young male nursery worker when she was in nursery. He was maybe early 20s at the time. He was everyone's favourite and just really great at what he did. I don't remember a lot of the short term staff there now, but I think think of him and wonder how he's doing.

The TA would be under the teacher's direction so absolutely nothing to be worried about...unless the teacher is a 21 year old ECT as I assume you think that is too young too 🤣

I think it’s brilliant! Also that he wants to be a primary teacher. They’re crying out for men. My brother is a primary teacher and he went on a special course to get men into primary teaching because numbers are so low. A lot of young boys are lacking male role models.

Also I know loads of people who did TA for a year or two before going to uni so don’t think his age is an issue either.

My sons class TA was a young lad and was brilliant, he had so much energy and knew all the local slang the kids used. Knew the youtubers they all spoke about and was physically fit and strong and the kids knew their was no point bolting as Mr H would catch them. He was training to be a teacher I believe.

My brother was a TA at a school and the children absolutely loved him, he then went on to do his teacher training supported by the school and was offered a teaching job once he qualified. Your DS should absolutely go for it, it's great to have male role models in primary schools.

So many people do TA at age 18 after a levels for a year or two before going to uni to be teachers!! I don’t get why you’d be concerned by age? They need to start somewhere.

so happy to read about all the male TAs.

And as for the PP who was worried about age. Theres a 1-2-1 in our school who is 19 (shes also extremely good). you really have no choice as it is the school who will hire the best person for the job. As it happens a responsible19yo with expeience with autism in younger siblings can be the best person for the role.

My cousin is about 24 and about to take on a TA role in a primary school, this is all so positive. My son reacts so well to male teachers, it's a definite bonus.

😂 absolutely hooting at the PP who said they'd worry about a 20 year old in the job.

They would probably be horrified at the 18/19 year old Police officers out on the streets, my son being one of
them (Police degree apprenticeship but they are working from the start) 🤣

More males in primary has to be a good thing, whether teachers or TAs.

I would definitely see this as a positive.

I have to be honest, I'd wonder 'why' a young man wants to be around children when he could do literally anything (Let's be honest, men DO have more opportunities, no matter how much equality there is).

I will say though that opinion on this is tarred slightly by the very sad fact that one young lad who worked in DC's nursery back in 2016, ended up being arrested for....you know what. Can’t bring myself to type it. So perhaps that has altered my view slightly?