URGENT please - Learning Support Assisant - advice!

[Hopeoverexperience]

I am very seriously considering applying for a job as a learning support assistant at a local secondary school. This role is to help support students with learning / behaviour difficulties in the classroom. Does anyone have any experience of a similar role - can offer any advice - pros /cons ect... I am really scared returning to work after a 7 year break - I used to work in a bank !! I have done some childminding in this time but would be relying on personal skills and a willingness to learn as my main assets!! The job spec does not require experience as such & offers full support & training . What do you think - do I stand a chance?

anyone?

I'm a TA in secondary & swapped to this from another unrelated career. I did some volunteering before applying but had only volunteered in primary. Theres a big difference between the 2 roles. In my role I have a timetable like the kids & go from class to class yrs 7 -11. If you are a quick learner, have lots of patience, can think on your feet, have a good broad general knowledge of the subjects you should be ok.
I love it BUT the pay is rubbish & you do get some that think I'm 'just a mum who wants a job to fit in with kids' NOT TRUE in my case. I did a BTEC TA qualification & have almost completed a 1yr dyslexia tutoring course. PLease shout up if you have any specific questions - I got loads of advice on here when I was t hinking!

I am responsible for appointing Teaching Assistants and I can tell you that I have people in the team from all sorts of backgrounds... some are mums who have been on a career break and may not have formal qualifications relevant to the job, but come with a wealth of experience and common sense. Others are on their way into teaching. So, your lack of experience wouldnt in itself be a barrier - though you may want to get into a school and try to get some experience.

I think Whizzz makes a good point that once you are in the job, there are huge possibilities for training in specific areas, which could lead to greater job satisfaction or even other opportunities. The most valuable members of my team are those who are keen to take a specific area - eg ASD/dyslexia, EAL - and really get their teeth into it, with further training, and maybe having a specific responsibility within the school for it.

Key skills I look for when interviewing - excellent communication skills (you will be liaising with many teachers in secondary), being a good team player, but balanced with ability to use your initiative and work independently. You also need to like teenagers - may sound obvious, but they are not always likeable and secondary is the point at which kids with learning and behaviour difficulties often start to get seriously disruptive/disengaged.

Good luck!

Just to add since you asked for pros & cons:
Pros

• very satisfying when a pupil just doesn't get the teachers explanation, so you re-explain & it clicks!
• being asked for advice, opinions & input during a lesson by teachers.

• great to build relationships with the pupils you work with & see their progress
• mix with a lot of different teachers & staff, not just a few (as in primary)
• your own knowledge increases every day!

Cons

• being treated with little respect by pupils ('you're not a proper teacher') & some staff unfortunately.

• Pupils telling you to F-off (even in 'nice' schools!)
• low pay
• unlike Dept TAs, we don't often know whats coming next in a lesson, so have to be able to pick up things quickly in order to support (no time to prepare)

quick hijack - hi whizz - how's the course?

Hi there Cornsilk! It's going brilliantly. I'm on the last unit now & 2 more lessons to do - should be all done & dusted by Easter.....

Fantastic! It's a great feeling when you come to the end of a course like that isn't it!

It is..now the fun starts, trying to get them to put me up me a grade & give me some groups to tutor!

Too right! You go for it.

thanks Corny

Some great advice here from some experienced professionals already.

I agree completely, and won't repeat what they say.

Whether you stand a chance depends very much on your area and partly how rough/tough the secondary is! But generally secondary TA jobs are not terribly desirable, for some of the reasons mentioned already, so your lack of specific experience and training will not necessarily be a barrier.

Our school would hesitate to employ someone with no recent experience of secondary schools. But you would strengthen your application immensely if you arranged now to go and spend a day or two in a local school just observing teachers or shadowing a TA. Most schools are very happy to arrange this sort of thing - but it may take some perseverance with the switchboard/reception, to get put through to the relevant person!

I applied for a job as a cover supervisor in secondary from a similar position to you: No relevant experience, no qualifications. I'd had a career break of 6 years for the boys, and then only worked part time for a couple of years.

The fact that I'd gone out and arranged some experience in a secondary school to support my application really impressed them. And 4 years on (or is it 5? I can't remember!), I'm still there. And most of the time I enjoy the work.

Wow! thanks everyone for taking so much time & trouble to reply - I'm really grateful !