How do you become a TA?

[sportinguista]

Thinking of this as a possible career change. Am edcucated to degree level but no experience teaching as such except for ESOL. What do I need to do?

Can any TA's on here give me advice on how to go about applying and what extra qualifications may be needed?

To start with you can volunteer in a primary school, see if teaching is your sort of thing and start from there. Many local colleges have Childcare and Education short courses (3 months NVQ), and long courses (CACHE Level 2-one year & CACHE Level 3-two years) I think. Some mums I know started as reading volunteers at my local schools and now are working as TA's. If you are good as a TA, with your qualification the school might put you forward for HLTA training. Also I know of courses for NQT which takes only one year and you learn 'on the job'. Check 'First Teach' website if still running, and get some ideas. Good luck.

I looked on the council website, found a job application and filled it in. That ESOL is really good experience. What age group was it for?

We could juzj up your CV/personal statement for you if you like :)

To be honest, I think you'll need experience as a volunteer. As much as you possibly can. You don't need any qualifications as such, although there are various courses around which should make it easier to at least get to interview.

There's no specific qualification necessary. If you have a relevant degree and some experience you could apply for jobs and see what happens - e.g. a national curriculum subject degree and ESOL experience = TA working with EAL children in a secondary school.

Alternatively, some volunteering and an education/supporting teaching and learning NVQ at college.

I restarted my career as a TA, and gained my first post through volunteer experience at a local primary.
I currently work at an inner city school in a deprived area of the city with an extremely diverse intake. ESOL experience would be highly valued on a TA application here.

All the TA jobs I've known recruited in the last 3 years have started as committed parent volunteers.

To add, most of our newly recruited TAs are educated to degree level, but the problem is they stay for a year's experience then move on just as they begin to grow into the role.
Demonstrating your long term commitment to a position at interview would be helpful as some schools may be wary of graduate candidates moving on very quickly.

Wouldnt you just do a pgce and actually teach if educated to degree level?

Only if you wanted to be a teacher!

Most of the TAs I know have degrees. Some have postgraduate degrees. Some are qualified teachers. It is an interesting job which fits well with looking after children, and so is very popular.

In my area you wouldn't be considered without the relevant qualifications/training I'm afraid.

Most of ours start by volunteering whilst sitting their Level 3 qualifications. They then wait for a Lunchtime supervisor vacancy to arise which is our "entry point" They THEN wait for a teaching assistant vacancy to arise and apply for that!
Patience is required!

Wouldn't you just do a pgce and actually teach if educated to degree level?

Lots of graduates get a year's experience as a TA to improve their chances of getting a place on a PGCE course. It can be highly competitive and experience is valued.

Most schools these days would expect a Teaching Assistant NVQ.

I volunteered at my children's school and did the level 3 ta diploma at the same time. Was offered a part time job at the school part way through my course which has now turned into full time post.

I started as a parent helper; then was a TA for twelve years.

Any special skills, interests, are useful: sport, music, drama, arts & crafts, gardening, languages, computing.

Thanks ladies, lots of useful tips. I am doing some parent helper stuff at my sons school and have volunteered for helping to read etc. My main area of expertise in my degree is art and design specifically graphic design and illustration.

The ESOL was quite a while ago and the age groups were quite diverse ranging from a child of around 10 to teens and adults, some with difficulties such as dyslexia and illiteracy!

I also hold a current first aid certificate as well so that might be useful.

I would be quite keen to do the NVQ and am a quite committed person overall. I have found I love helping out with the children and am keen to know more. I think I might ask what the TA's experience at my sons school was and see if I can get a feel for whether I would be a good fit for the job.

The NVQ would the local colleges do this or do you have to have a post as a TA first since I assume you'd need pratical experience as well?

Classroom experience is very important around here, as competition for TA jobs is high.

A decent level of English and Maths. GCSEs grade C and above are expected.

For actual jobs - round here they are advertised through the LEA website, etc. Online or paper based application form with supporting statement and ideally a school visit. Then there is an interview process. This usually involved practical task in the morning, followed by an interview with HT, a member of SMT and a governor.

Depending on which level job you went for you would also need relevant qualifications.

TAs are level 1, 2 and 3 and then HLTA is level 4.

There are TA related qualifications available, and equivalents in other qualifications.

IME you need to have these to have a chance of a job.

Unlike erin99's experience, at my school all our more recent TAs, ver the past few years, have come from full application and interview processes, none from parent volunteer situations.

I would love to be a TA. I have found I am better with other peoples kids than my own.

I currently listen to the children read a couple of times a week and are on our equivalent of the PTA.

At a different school I was a parent helper in the class but did everything the TA did. Was rather surprised at how much was expected and the responsibility given considering I was just a mum.

My school like Hulababys advertises, short lists and interviews for TA positions. We wouldn't consider anyone without level 3 (min) qualification

At my friends school most of them have education degrees, two are qualified teachers. The others have nvq level three.

i'm interested in this too. I need to think about a career change as when i go back to work (in 2 years time) i'll have 3 lots of childcare to organise out of school time. can I just ask, does it pay enough to count as a reasonable second income? DH doesn't earn a lot either....

TA salaries vary across the country many are very poorly paid.