Teaching Assistant

[BadMudda]

Hi all...

I'm thinking of getting a job working in a school as a TA. I am qualified although have not worked directly with children for a number of years, although have worked on the other side of the fence in a non contact role.

Before I do jump ship, I wonder if this a good idea. I am scared and worried it'll be a wrong move, but my heart is telling me to go for it. I love working with children and all that it brings and believe it is the path for me.

I've not been working for a little while due to my mental health and this also bothers me as I would be so sad for this to be a detriment to any prospective new role. However, I am
receiving treatment for this although it does seem to be an on going thing with
my mental health.

Please can I ask for your thoughts on this..

Thank you x

Go for it. It's a fulfilling job.

@Liquoricecreamrock

Go for it. It's a fulfilling job.

Oh thank you 😊... this is what I needed to hear !

It's a very difficult role to get into and you'll be up against a lot of competition. It's also low paid and harder to find general TA roles, cuts in funding mean many are SEN support.

Go for it! It’s such a great job. And being around children all day is great for mental health IME.

It is a great job. I am now a teacher and started off as a TA. As PP said, there are few generalised TA roles now. But lots of opportunities come up for 1 to 1 support roles which are just as, if not more, fulfilling. Most general TAs I know started off as 1 to 1. If you're good at your job the school will usually try to keep you on when you aren't needed for the 1 to 1 child any more.
Working in a school can be brilliant for your mental health, lots of variation, not stuck in front of a computer, feeling fulfilled etc. Yes, it can be hard too, but I think you should definitely give it a go. If you can, why not volunteer first to see how you get on and also to get some experience for your CV? ( Most schools aren't having volunteers at the moment, but fingers crossed that will end soon. )

I'm going to be devils advocate here, I was a TA for several years and whilst I loved elements of my job, the expectations and responsibilities are most definitely not matched by salary. I did it because it fitted in with my children and I genuinely love working with children, however your feet will not touch the ground from the minute you walk in to the minute you walk out. Lots of schools expect TAs to do lunch cover as well, leaving you with 20 minutes to eat, sit down, have a wee, cup of tea... You will need to be trained in Safeguarding, first aid, health and safety, fire safety, as a basic knowledge...all this for £9 an hour if you're lucky (that's the higher end of the scale)
Plus side is you get the school holidays. If you have a supportive team around you it can be great. Maybe try and volunteer when its allowed (not sure if schools are taking volunteers with Covid) to gain some experience. Good luck!

I think I you'd have to be mad!

The only thing it's got going for it are the school hours and the good feeling it gives you. I think it's an incredibly hard job with huge responsibility for very little money.

Some areas TA jobs have been cut to the bone leaving only EYFS and one to one jobs.

the expectations and responsibilities are most definitely not matched by salary.

I agree. The level of responsibility is increasing year on year, epecially with the rise in SEN / 1-1 supoort TAs. It can be an amazingly rewarding job, but you need to go into it with your eyes open, and even then it can be too much for many people to handle.

Depending on the school/head, it can be a nice job but absolutely terrible pay-not much more than minimum wage and little scope for any sit of progression. What are you ‘jumping ship’ from? If you are on a decent wage and really need the money, I wouldn’t do it.

I was a TA in a private school and it was THE most cush-y job ever! I had lots of spare time to do displays and help with the odd bit of admin, otherwise I was in classes. I adored it!! I had zero work to take home at the end of the day.

I really love my job but I do agree with @mozerella. I work flat out, never leave on time, and I rarely manage to get everything done. There's just too much. Plus sorting out petty squabbles, patching up bloody knees, fixing broken glasses, searching the school for a missing scrunchie for a sobbing child... be prepared for anything! I wouldn't do anything else though.

@aweirdtopic

I was a TA in a private school and it was THE most cush-y job ever! I had lots of spare time to do displays and help with the odd bit of admin, otherwise I was in classes. I adored it!! I had zero work to take home at the end of the day.

Sounds brilliant. But i'm not sure comparing a private school TA, presumably some years ago, to the role of a TA in the state sector right now is helpful.

I am a TA in a primary school. It can be rewarding, but it is also so so hard. I am literally exhausted at the end of each day.
We are expected to do several interventions, daily readers, take groups during lessons, manage behaviour (we have a lot of behaviour issues in our class), cover the class at short notice on our own if the teacher is sick, mark the books of children we have worked with, do first aid...the list goes on snd on.
I work 5 days a week and cover lunch duty 2 of those days (so get like 15 minutes to quickly eat lunch) and I take home under £1000 a month.

Thank you all for your replies.. this is really helpful.

I have been qualified now for over 20 years, and although did part of my training many years ago in a school,as well as volunteering at my children's school pre Covid, I have no other school experience. I have worked as Nursery Nurse in Nurseries and as a Nanny, to then managing Day Nurseries. For the past 14 years I have worked with private training providers delivering childcare vocational training and qualifications.

The money I earn is good and for the large part I am at home managing my own diary, but I really miss being hands on with the children. I
miss the buzz of working with them
and the rewards of that.

I am incredibly lonely at home ; my DH works very long hours. I really feel the need to be with other people.

Thank you so much for your replies, it is food for thought and I shall have a long and hard think about my next steps.

The money I earn is good and for the large part I am at home managing my own diary

I guess you have to decide if swapping all this for a job with very poor pay and very little flexibility, is worth it. Think of the impact on your pension as well.

It sounds like it's the children you miss, rather than wanting to change jobs. Could you perhaps look into volunteering, perhaps with guiding / scouting etc.