To be worried that someone with no qualifications or experience will be a TA in DD school?

[FusionChefGeoff]

So, was chatting with a mum who I've never met before who is excited she'll be leaving her job of 14 yrs as a receptionist to start as a TA in year 2 in my DDs school in September.

I asked if she's retrained? She says no.

I ask if she's done it before? She says no. But says she's been associated with the school for over 10 years as her kids have been through it so she does know most of the teachers.

I make congratulatory noises for her taking a chance etc etc whilst secretly worrying about how the hell this is a suitable appointment. I stopped asking questions too I'm afraid as I was starting to sound a bit rude and I didn't want to upset her.

And who is going to train her?? Presumably the teacher who by all accounts are drowning already in paperwork etc.

So, is there actually a feasible scenario in which this is acceptable?

Yep you get unqualified teachers in academies who require no qualifications.

As long as she's got a good grasp of literacy and numeracy she'll be fine and cause little damage to the Year 2 children in her care

This is standard for most state schools. Even actual teachers only do 9 months of a PCGE. Hardly any teachers or TAs are well trained in my opinion. This is why a lot of people use private schools or HE. Who wants people who aren't qualified being in charge or their children's education and development.

She hasn't worked in the school for ten years

Today 20:49 rollonthesummer

None of the TAs in my school have any qualifications! Some might have o levels I suppose.

. Eh? O levels are qualifications, and you being sarcastic?

When I was a TA the expectation was that everyone had a Level 2 or Level 3 NVQ in Assisting Teaching and Learning. Competition was fierce (they had 30+ applications for my job) and only qualified applicants went as far as interview.

I got work experience UNPAID by working in a school before I started my course, and did my placements there too. Maybe that's what she means.

If not, I'd be concerned too.

Yep you get unqualified teachers in academies who require no qualifications

You really don't! Whilst most academies can employ people without QTS in reality very very few do.
You get more in independent schools.

youaredeluded - I wouldn't say private school was any better. A student I shared a house with as an undergraduate had a poor degree and walked into a teaching job at a private school after graduation with no teacher training.

Oh that's good I stand corrected and happily so

She is a receptionist in an unrelated field at the moment.

I'm just so surprised as the knowledge and responsibility that TAs have in the classroom seemed quite a high level. So to go in with literally no knowledge of EYFS or education in general struck me as a huge drain on already stretched teachers to train her up.

But as I said, I'm happily corrected and really glad I didn't make a big deal out of it.

This is why a lot of people use private schools or HE. Who wants people who aren't qualified being in charge or their children's education and development.

You are joking? Many independent schools have high levels of non QTS teachers.

To be fair I'd want anyone involved in teaching my child to be trained and qualified (and for actual teachers to have at least a masters and specific pedagogical training) so I see where the op is coming from.

Back when my mum qualified as a teacher you didn't need a degree - you did teacher training.

Things haven't changed as such but they've gone back a bit to realising good teachers will have all sorts of backgrounds and a degree with qts does not make you an amazing teacher.

You hire people who are good at the job and can do the job. I'm sure the school have employed this ta based on that formula.

I know several dinner ladies who made the jump to being a TA. It all really depends on personality and the quality of the other applicants - if there's a teaching graduate or PGCE student who has applied for the role, they usually get the job.

youaredeluded Private schools teachers have the same qualifications as state teachers unless there's a special private qualification I'm unaware of?

Lots of reasons to go private but teachers qualifications aren't one of them IMO.

As for the OP I am surprised. Most of the TAs I have worked with are qualified unless they are level 1 classroom assistants and not directly supporting children.

TAs should have an NVQ 2 or 3 Cache Teaching Assistant qualification at least. I had level 4 HLTA status, as well as a degree, and was qualified to teach 1-to-1, small groups and whole classes. Anyone without some sort of qualification in supporting children is a classroom assistant or learning support assistant at best. They will not be able to do any actual 'teaching' but will only be able to give limited support under the close direction of the class teacher. Quite often, TAs have QTS and have previously been classroom teachers.

Years ago my DM got a job in my childhood primary school with no relevant qualifications. She had a relationship with the school due to sending all four of her children there over a long span of years. She worked there as a valued and valuable TA for over 20 years before retiring.

One of my DSs went to one of the best private schools in the country. The maths department rarely employed teachers with any 'teaching' qualification. Other subjects too. Teachers employed directly from academia (often with Phds but no teaching experience at school level). They learnt on the job and were sometimes awful to begin with.

You are deluded - it's fairly well documented its the other way around. Private schools can employ who they want, no qualifications necessary, state schools have rules.

Most the TAs I know are teachers who have stepped down from teaching. Yes they can train on the job. It's probably most important to have the right sort of person who can pick methods up quickly and use their initiative. However I dislike schools regularly employing parents or locals as the net should be set wider for a richer wealth of experience.

The salary is a pittance - I mean 10 t 12 k FT and its not a FT role - what do you want them to have a phd in early years....

Until TAs make a lot more money than they do it's very unfair to ask for a high level of qualifications.

She's excited and not burnt out (yet)
That's a bonus! these days!
it's a shit job I'm amazed anyone is willing to do it!

Most the TAs I know are teachers who have stepped down from teaching.

absolutely, and there are literally thousands of ex teachers competing for TA jobs, it is incredible competitive, far more so than teaching jobs.

Your friend must have really shone at the interview. The selection panel must have total confidence in her.

I do it because I like working with a fabulous teacher, the short working day and bloody good holidays.

Weren't Private Schools the first to employ teachers with no teaching qualifications long before Academies did?