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?

I work in an academy and we have a number of unqualified - not even trying to qualify - staff who are teaching classes regularly. Have a timetable every year.

One of the 'benefits' of being an academy teaching staff do not need to have a qualification in teaching - some don't even have to have a degree. Makes my blood boil but any objections are ignored as they are cheap.

Private schools defintely do not have to follow the rules of having qualified teachers as staff. Some will ensure they only employ teachers but its not compulsory.

A teacher or TA with a string of academic credentials can be an entirely different animal to someone who can impart some knowledge but more importantly a burning desire to learn and be inspirational into children.

I did a 4 year B Ed then a masters in education special needs and am actually a bloody brilliant teacher, well ofsted and my class say so anyway! Not a stealth boast as nothing stealthy about it!

I'd prefer somebody with experience and a degree in the specific subject to teach my dd, I don't care about teacher training. I have a PgCE it prepares you for diddly squit.
Give me practice over theory anytime.

Have you seen how much they get paid?!

Sorry that followed jennielou and looked like a response, it wasn't.
I bet you are a fantastic teacher

A burning desire isn't enough. Unless a candidate is very literate and numerate( have you seen the new curriculum), has experience in handling very challenging children, can quickly come up with effective teaching stagies and activities to match SEN targets and produce excellent progress,can handle and teach intervention groups.....they shouldn't be doing the job. I really don't think you can do it properly without experience and training. I certainly wouldn't want my children taught by staff without either.

Talk about sexist- 'unqualified nice mums', at my DC's school I know 4 'nice' Dads that occupy the role of TA!

@ Ironingmountain
I was meaning the children/students should be instilled with a burning desire to learn more about the world, and not just what the curriculum says.
To me a good teacher is one who instills confidence and sufficient knowledge into the student, effectively winding them up like clockwork so they will want to learn and do more out of sheer curiosity.

Yes, I agree, my DD has had an NQT for year one this year - she is nice enough but she doesn't seem to have a wider perspective on classroom problems and teaching interventions seem to be her main focus, she is very prescriptive in her approach and niave. I think it's a dangerous approach to teaching as it's formulaic in the extreme and those who don't fit in to that process are being let down by this inability to think intellectually about a problem.

My ds2 is soon to be made redundant from a totally different type of role.
He has decided he would like to work with children in some way but unsure whether TA or childcare.
Worried about getting into debt whilst studying he was surprised at how little was involved for either and how you can sneeze the tick box qualification in a few months.
He has decided to do both and has offers of work experience already, as he'll need a placement.
The level required for both is level 2 GCSE and later if he wants to progress a level 3 which is equiv to A level.
They don't get paid very much, it's pt min wage, which always surprises me when folk on here talk about the role being that of a professional, it isn't.

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.

Everyone who home eds and works in a private school has a degree in child development and education, it's a well known fact.

my son is 16 now but the TA's in his primary were some of the most illiterate people on the planet and mostly other parents, i guess it was acceptable then

Goldenbear - Are you using NQT there to mean non qualified teacher rather than newly qualified teacher?

hardy any teachers are well trained
I have an first class honours degree, an MA, a PGCE and various other quals
What rubbish people talk on here at times

A sorry

Jesus, I wish they would take on some qualified and/or experienced TAs at my ds's school. It is a constant battle.

Schools also tend to use exploitative recruitment agencies which pay general TAs and SEN TAs pittance wages - circa £50/60 per day before tax, depending on the area of the country. As has already been mentioned, the role has changed enormously since the days of washing out paint pots and laminating/photocopying tasks. It's shocking that the children who require the most specialised educational input are supported by staff who are least professionally qualified, cheap to hire/fire and have very little job security, resulting in high staff turn over and instability for the children. Even when the staff do get 'trained up' on the job, they seem to receive no financial recognition, from what I have observed, i.e. a higher salary. Surely if these 'qualifications' were held in high esteem and the job respected and valued, the salary wouldn't be such an insult?

Outabout the children TAs work most closely with need to focus on the English and maths curriculum as they are crucial areas they are often struggling with. Being able to read and write trumps anything else. Money is limited so our hours are precious and the targets we are working towards as regards the children we work with need to come before anything else. I am constantly using my teaching degree and years of teaching experience in my role,a role I take very seriously.

I think many TAs have partners propping up their crap wages. I think many wouldn't be able to do the job without this.

I also think TA pay needs to be seriously looked at. A lot is expected from us at our school on a salary less than I could earn in Lidl. We all do it though because it is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding jobs you can have.

Is she going to be a TA for the whole class, or assigned to one particular child under an EHC Plan?

In the school where I'm a governor, there is a senior member of staff with responsibility for training and supervision of TAs. That person organises group training for them, and also twilight sessions for TAs who need training in particular types of SEN.

Schools also tend to use exploitative recruitment agencies which pay general TAs and SEN TAs pittance wages - circa £50/60 per day before tax

That would be a significant pay rise for the TAs round here, jobs are advertised at around £700 pcm for a 20 hour week.

every single teacher will be qualified

Really?!