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?

Yes, when I was TA-ing (no quals, straight out of a fairly high powered career elsewhere) I got about £700 p/m for 8-3 Monday to Friday. I ran intervention classes , my own enrichment classes and had lunchtime groups.

Well tbh primary TA's honestly don't need any qualifications!!
They aren't doing quantum physics or analysing Shakespeare! The odd help with phonics (which if they have their own children is v simple), listening to reading and preparing resources. It's a lovely, easy job.

I have been both a primary and secondary TA, and a primary teacher and I wouldn't worry about this at all

The odd help with phonics (which if they have their own children is v simple), listening to reading and preparing resources. It's a lovely, easy job

It's a nice job I agree.

I wouldn't describe my duties as being 'the odd help' person. I take separate groups for phonics ; the lower ability children who need extra help being just one example..

I'm assuming from your post that you have a rose tinted idea of what you think TA's do without actually knowing the truth of what some of us do to support pupils in the class

I'm assuming from your post that you have a rose tinted idea of what you think TA's do without actually knowing the truth of what some of us do to support pupils in the class

did you read the post?

I have been both a primary and secondary TA, and a primary teacher

it is an easy job.

Yes I did read your post.

I work in a state school with a lot of challenging children living with difficult circumstances.

Our jobs as TA's to support the Teachers go far beyond preparing resources and listening to readers.

Some of the things that TA's at my ds's school do ( and I, as a 1-1 preschool worker do)

support children with extremely challenging behaviour
do speech work under instruction of SALT
medical support - eg - diabetes support, dealing with seizures, tube feeding etc
PECs
physio routines
OT exercises
dealing with outside professionals
using makaton

The list could go on. Some of those TAs (and I) have had training, and have experience, and NVQ qualifications (and get paid chuff all), but I am often surprised at how ds's school will take on a TA with little experience and no relevant qualifications when the responsibility is quite great.

I've been working in primary school recruitment/HR for 7 years. In my area TA's are required to have a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification. It's a demanding and underpaid role.

Teachers do not have to be qualified.
In fact any academy can employ unqualified teachers.
I'm in London. Most of our LSA and TAs are unqualified and and lots of our teachers are unqualified.

I'm a TA, love my job, but definitely wouldn't describe it as "easy". It's not all photocopying and reading. We have to do admin duties, money, register, first aid, and that's before the lessons. I personally support children who really struggle in my class maths/English. I have an hour of booster lessons everyday, these are making sure the children who didn't quite understand what was required of them the week before, are taught in these lessons. planning these lessons myself, marking and reporting back to teacher how child has got on. That's the morning, afternoons I do my own interventions throughout the school. I cover classes frequently when my teacher, or indeed any teacher (any year group) is not in class. This is delivering a lesson in whatever subject the teacher requires, marking etc. We have to maintain the class, poor behaviour, sen children, lots of different things. when a TA covers they DO NOT have a ta with them. Love the job, but it is hard work for terrible money.

^Teachers do not have to be qualified.
In fact any academy can employ unqualified teachers.
I'm in London. Most of our LSA and TAs are unqualified and and lots of our teachers are unqualified^

What an extremely depressing statement to read on a parenting website. That this country does not think it is important to give our children and young people the very best start in life, is a very sad reflection of where we are in the 21st Century.

BackforGood it is depressing but a few years back when teachers went on strike to stop this happening they got very little support from the public.

All the public focussed on where the facts that teachers wanted to pay less pension but there were a list of 13 things they were striking for one of which was the use of unqualified teachers.

I would probably come across as a nice, unqualified Mum.

I'm about to start my level 2 NQV and start my placement in Sept. I have a post-grad degree, worked in editing and marketing in finance. I became a sahm 11 years ago and now have 4 primary dc, 2 with additional needs including ASD. I feel like I have a lot to give to the role, but I'm sure I'd still come across as nice and unqualified.

support children with extremely challenging behaviour
do speech work under instruction of SALT
medical support - eg - diabetes support, dealing with seizures, tube feeding etc
PECs
physio routines
OT exercises
dealing with outside professionals
using makaton

these are all things you learn on a child by child basis, or year by year basis. No "TA qualifications" would be of any use for any of this.

Its pretty much the same with teaching qualifications to be honest.

It would depend upon the role of the TA. Putting an untrained TA in with my son would be disastrous.

The odd help with phonics (which if they have their own children is v simple), listening to reading and preparing resources. It's a lovely, easy job

Er, are you a TA then? It really isn't an easy job, it is a full on, multi tasking busy busy job. If you cannot use your initiative you will just be an annoyance to the teacher. Yes we get the school holidays, but as PPs have pointed out, many of us have chosen to take a job with very low pay in order to fit in with our family commitments.
Regarding phonics, it is crucial to have at least some basic training, there is a specific way to teach phonics and quite easy to get it wrong if you don't have any training or experience.

My cousin is a TA and has no qualifications in that field. She's been doing very well at it for a few years...

User bar SALT,handling kids who have challenging behaviour,a very small amount of OT and dealing with professionals which my previous teaching experience did prepare me for my job hasn't really involved the rest. It is very much focused on helping children to reach targets in reading,writing and maths alongside teaching intervention groups. I can honestly say my teaching qualifications and experience have helped hugely with this.

Oh and I have analysed Shakespeare alongside taught some pretty hefty maths and SPAG in my role. As I said have you seen the new curriculum?Money is tight you have to be prepared to work throughout the primary age range where there is need. You can't demand and expect to only work in Foundation.

It depends really. My son was supported in Early Years by a fantastic lady with no quals. She was a dinner lady but got drafted in to help children with behaviour issues. Her literacy skills weren't up to much, but her firm and calm approach made a huge difference.

You don't sound nice

TA get trained on the job and are paid fuck all

Very unsupportive attitude OP

My son has asd, his ta is a mum of an older child.
Ds had ' seen' this woman when collected his big sister so she wasn't a stranger, this helped him.

She threw herself completely into the role she has read his reports from ot and gathered advice from everywhere. This year ds has been flying at school he's done so well we are all proud of him.

The child that alot of staff didn't want to work with as he could be violent, and angry is now happy polite and giggles alot.

Give her a chance

stopfucking I'm not sure whether your comment was direct at my post but I'd like to add a couple of other points. It's not about whether somebody sounds nice or not, it's about facing the facts: the job is low-status and low paid, hence the exploitative wages and contracts. For example, TAs don't get paid holidays unlike teachers. Why should people's hard work and effort not be rewarded adequately? Maybe then TA's wouldn't have to top up their measly wages with tax credits or zero hours jobs. For a lot of TAs, this is their only source of income. It's incredibly hard. TAs deserve a decent salary. Unions are at least trying to fight on their behalf and demand a salary that is commensurate with their skills and responsibilities. So, when schools train TAs up, and then do not pay them more, it's an insult. Direct your anger at the government which has allowed this exploitation to continue for decades now.

I've been a TA and we were all required to have at least a level 2 supporting teaching and learning qualifications. We all did loads of CPD courses too so we could deliver small group interventions, administer first aid etc. I'm looking at going back into the job and there is still the same requirements as there were before and in fact most of them have increased to have level 3 as an essential requirement. Most positions coming up now have near on 100 applications for every vacancy so I'm shocked that there's so many places apparently employing unqualified staff.

Mix of TAs at our school both age wise and qualification wise.
Many have had previous careers. Many have degrees and post graduate qualifications. Some are ex teachers. Some have foundation degrees in education/ Eyfs and gaining experience before teacher training. Some have been at school for donkeys years and have very much trained on the job.
ALL work bloody hard for little money.

I'm hoping to become a TA but got shot down when I asked on here because I don't have maths GCSE dispite having further qualifications in a caring job. This thread (some of it) had given me hope.