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Original poster

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

243 replies

newromantics · 15/12/2023 09:33

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?

OP posts:
Blueuggboots · 15/12/2023 19:32

My brother is a TA. He's older but there are so few men in primary education - they need more!!

IncompleteSenten · 15/12/2023 19:36

I wish more men were in primary education tbh. Men need to be more involved with child development generally imo.

BCBird · 15/12/2023 19:54

I wiukd think good on him. There needs to be more males in these roles.

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20 years old General education Primary education
madmumofteens · 15/12/2023 19:55

Having been a TA always felt there was an imbalance best of luck 😊

ShipshapeShore · 15/12/2023 20:22

We have a young male TA in my class, he's great with the kids. My DD has a male TA too and she says he's her favourite. I think it's good to have a male presence to mix it up a bit!

Hopingforholidayhelp · 15/12/2023 20:29

Great 👍 but some 20’years old lads can be a bit naive so ensure you clue him up on the basics of how to safeguard himself ….it’s sad I know but , Eg don’t let kids sit on his lap ,
don’t hug them , ect

StripeyDeckchair · 15/12/2023 20:49

Your view of TAs is dated
It's been a long time since they were Mums who wanted a job that was school hours while their kids were at school.

It requires skills (maths & English & many support with speech & language or autism or reading or ... etc) & is often done for a couple of years by people who have completed a degree & want to get some experience in a school prior to becoming a teacher (or social worker)

Hopefully school funding will recognise this at some point & increase to enable schools to pay TAs the salaries they deserve.

Cupcakekiller · 15/12/2023 20:50

@Hopingforholidayhelp don't hug primary age children? Really? A four year old falls and scrapes their knees and they don't get a hug? I wouldn't have wanted that for either my son or daughter.

Topofthemountain · 15/12/2023 20:52

This is what my nephew does. He started with an outside activity group (pe going into schools) and eventually left for a job in one of the schools.

He is 24 now.

Schoolrunmumbun · 15/12/2023 21:06

When my Dd was in the baby room at nursery one of the nursery caters in there was a man and he was fantastic. He moved room so she had him again when she was 3-4 and she loved him.

PackageCount167 · 15/12/2023 21:06

Its so common OP. At the last school I worked out there were more young male TA's than female.

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 15/12/2023 21:07

What is there to think?

Why would this be an issue?

BarelyCoping123 · 15/12/2023 21:08

We have several young male TAs at my school, they are fab. Good luck to your son!

DrCoconut · 15/12/2023 21:15

@Eastie77Returns one of my DS's teachers would pass for a pupil if he put a blazer on! He's popular with the kids though and they seem to respect him. I think men working in education is a positive thing.

napody · 15/12/2023 21:25

I worked in a school that actively encouraged young men to become TAs. Worked really well- would often have bags of energy, many ran or helped out with sports clubs too. Some moved on to teacher training but some continued as TAs.

zazazoop · 15/12/2023 21:41

I would say he'd be a great male role model for the children, some of whom might not have one in their lives. A very positive thing.

Eccle80 · 15/12/2023 21:48

i think it’s really positive to have more male staff in primary, and all the experiences mine have had with male teachers and TAs have been great. One of my sons had a very young male TA in year 6 and really connected with him, I think he was doing it prior to teacher training. Good luck to your son, and hope he is successful.

HelloCiao · 15/12/2023 22:21

Laurasummer · 15/12/2023 12:02

Hiya

I wouldn't mind at all having a TA like your son for my child . However what is concerning is , he's goin for an interview and going to walk into the most vulnerable kids in the school, which are the SEN kids , with very little training it appears .
He may be a whole class TA , but generally the TAs in the class are left helping these kids .

This is concerning . This is what would concern me . How much training has he been given to look after the special educational needs of those children in the class .

If he has little or insufficient training , then this can also put him at risk , and also his job and future jobs if anything was to go wrong .

I'm a teacher and had 3 hours training on SEN during my whole PGCE!

KayDog · 16/12/2023 14:59

We have two young male TAs in class, they're brilliant!

Yolo12345 · 16/12/2023 15:02

Brilliant role model for the kids, is what I would think.

Hopingforholidayhelp · 16/12/2023 18:17

As some one who worked within a school for a decade I followed the policy for the exact reason I mentioned . You can encourage children to support each other when they hurt themselves, a good learning opportunity in itself, with an adult overseeing any first aid ect a child would need.

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 16/12/2023 18:25

My 19 year old DS had a wonderful male TA (who later qualified as a teacher) at primary school. All the DCs adored him. He now wants to become a teacher.
Good luck to your son.

CorneliaAvenue · 16/12/2023 18:54

Literally my only problem with male staff in education is the fawning over them like they’re doing the world a favour.

This thread is a perfect example of that 😂

Poster after poster going into ecstasy at the thought of a male in education - because they're so much fun and the kids love them. Whilst the female teacher is planning the learning and maintaining the discipline.

The kids apparently respect the male TAs - teach your kids to repect women!

Good luck to your DS going into primary teaching, OP. He'll leapfrog over his female colleagues into senor leadership/Head roles by virtue of the fact that's he's male.

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 16/12/2023 19:10

I'd think it's great that a young man wants to become a teacher and is getting some experience - we need good male role models in schools.

Michino · 16/12/2023 19:30

As long as he gets the job because he is the best candidate, not just because he has a penis.