Would you apply for a TA job in your dc's school?

[Fluffybubble]

A part-time job has come up at my ds's school - I would really like it! Ds is only in Reception though, and I don't know if it is generally frowned upon to be in your own dc's school?

I can speak to the head about it but I think she will just tell me to apply if I want to and be very neutral about it (I think employment is down to the governors anyway?). I am a coward and don't want to get into this if it will just cause embarrassment for the school and myself!

Wwyd?

Thanks!

I would apply.

I know a ta who works in her children's school, I think it shouldn't be a problem.

I wouldn't. I would not want to be continually told what my DC had been up to . There is no escape!

I would but then DS[also in reception] school is huge with 4 classed pet year. He also loves when I go and help out and keeps asking me to get a job there. It would actually be ideal when mine are older.

i wouldn't personally, but all the TAs in dcs infant school are parents of children there. i don't have anything against it per se.

(i did work as an lsa lol, but in a different school)

There are plenty of parent TAs in our primary school. It seems to work fine.

And as for " I would not want to be continually told what my DC had been up to " that happens whether you are a TA or not. If you know any of the TAs they are forever telling you what your DC has been up to. So far only the positive stuff....

Luckily I don't know any of the TA's personally and also very good at timing when collecting and dropping off. Zoom in and soom out avoiding eye contact with any officionado

I do hate that 'Mrs Poopscoop, could I have a quick word....' !!!

Yes I would but, like Nemo, my DSs school is 4 form entry and massive.

Not sure.

There are quite a few parent TA's at my ds' school. But not so long ago I was having a conversation with someone who had worked in her dc's school, and she said that with hindsight she wouldn't have done it, not because she was too close or anything, but because her children always had that reassurance that their mum was on the premises at all times, and that when they went to secondary they really struggled with that.

Yes - nearly all the TA's at our school are parents. I know several of them as friends and it doesn't cause any problems. However, there are an awful lot of TA's at ours as it is a big, three-form intake Primary, so the TA's don't have any involvement with their own children (I'm not even sure if they are used in the same year groups as their own children)

Mixed response, thank you!

The school is quite small (200 children total) and only one year group entry so I would come across ds pretty regularly. He likes me going in to help but it does worry me that he might become attached if he knew I was there. It is only 17.5 hours a week, though, so I would only (hypothetically!!) be there for half the time...

Thank you for your replies, is nice to hear both view points .

Go for it I'm a TA in my dd school. It works out quite well don't have to worry about getting her to school before getting myself to work. The after school club is free if I do any training which is work related. Understanding the working of the school better is a great added bonus.

I don't have problems with other parents as I will always send them to their childs teacher if their are any problems. I never discuss their childrens school life with them or other children.

I don't work in dd class which helps as don't normally see her in less I'm on playground duty. She fine with me been at school and there are no issues with the other children.

I'm a TA in my ds's class

It works out really well...however you do need to be sure that your child will not have a problem with this.

I had been volunteering in a couple of different classes before i got the job, so my ds was used to seeing me around the school.

I do try to minimise the contact we have, especially if he is upset - i let the teacher handle that, and he knows that i am 'mummy' at home and 'Mrs goblin' at school.

Go for it and see how it works out.

I love it, its brilliant. Although the downside can be that your child can sometimes not be picked for things, ie. teachers/TA pet.

Good luck

Yesm wouldn't bother me at all.

I work, voluntarily (not paid) in a TA role in my DD's school two afternoons a week. Before Christmas when I got a paid TA job part time, I did it three full days a week. I help in all he infant classes but especially Y2 - which is my DD's class.

It has never been a problem and I don't treat DD any differently in class than the other children. Only thing is is she calls me mummy. But then some of them call me Claire (as they know me out of school); the rest call me Mrs Hula.

Only disadvantage I sometimes have is that I see if there are times when I feel DD could have put a bit more effort in or might not have paid attention quite enough IMO - and I tend to be a but harsher on her than others.

I think it depends on how big the school is.generally i think the child has to have a life of his own at school away from mummy.

DD's school is very small with just 90 pupils; 14 in DD's class. Still never been a problem.

I have a lovely TA, have taught all of her children at some point over the last 7 years and I think of it as a benefit to have her knowledge of the children from outside school (small school 100 kids) so she knows most of the families much better than I ever will and this is invaluable in Foundation Stage.

Out of 4 TA's at school 3 of them are parents of children, it has never caused a problem.

I would say, go for it, if you dont get it or you dont get an interview who will know, except you, the head and the secretary? It shouldn't be common knowledge.

Good luck if you decide to go for it

Our school has lots of parents working there as Ta's and other staff.

I would consider being at the same school but I wouldn't like to be in the same class. It can get quite hard I think if you don't separate school & home issues.

Thank you for all of your input, it's really interesting to hear everyone's experiences of this . I thought it might be an outright 'no, don't do it'!!

I suppose there are positives and negatives to any job - this seems to be perfect wrt doing something I'd enjoy and still being able to do the school run! I might just go for it then, it should (hopefully!) stay confidential, as gingernutlover says, so it's worth a try.

Thanks again for all of your help.

I teach at ds's school but not his year (though I have relieved for them sometimes). The boys have to call me Ma'am and so Mum sounds pretty similar, so no problem there.

He's just in year 2 so it's still okay when he comes up after a lesson and says

"Well mum, I think that went quite well don't you?"

I teach lots of his friends and they just call me Mrs Pence at school and Thirty when they are at our house. I think children can seperate home and school just fine.

When we went out for ds's birthday all of year 1 were at the same place and kept coming up to me to ask them to help them.

My dad was a policeman and my FIL a minister so it's actually pretty normal for me to have dual roles.

Go for it! Most of the young school secretaries I know are mothers of children at the school and also a good number of the teaching assistants. Why do 2 school runs?

Thank you too thirtypence .

I have been in this afternoon and asked the school secretary (font of all knowledge!) whether she thinks that it is worth applying and she said to go for it too!

Now I just need to to produce a brilliant application ....