can you give me some training advice?

[SarfEast1cated]

I don't want to hijack someone else's thread, so am posting separately here.
I am forty-something with long career in publishing. I am about to finish a part-time BA Education Studies. My classroom experience has been as a volunteer weekly reading partner and a numeracy scheme volunteer, with some additional time spent in a school working on an art project.
I REALLY want to work with children, but my time on the reading partners scheme has made me want to concentrate on children with reading difficulties, or with EASL children. What would be the best route for me? Should I qualify as a teacher and try to specialise afterwards, or is there another route I am unaware of?
I have seen that there are roles for 'learning mentors' but they seem to include outreach work and managing behavioural issues, neither of which I have any experience of.
I am quite realistic about the fact that my age may not make me hugely employable anyway, so I need a career path that my experience will be relevant for.
Any ideas? Flashes of inspiration?
Thanks everyone

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

I think your age is a bonus, but schools are cutting back on specialist expensive help. Train as a teacher and see what other opportunities arise.

[EatSleepTeachRepeat]

I'd agree with Sally in that most schools are cutting funding for jobs like that - but there is the option of becoming a HLTA (Higher level teaching assistant) which in some areas is a similar salary to that of an NQT but with less responsibility.

They would lead groups like reading support etc - though the jobs at few and far between! I think in your shoes I'd do my teacher training and go from there - you can always take a lower position iyswim?

[SarfEast1cated]

Thanks both, very interesting. I will go for the PGCE and see where it leads, but the HLTA does sounds tempting, especially if it comes with a shorter working day :)

[EatSleepTeachRepeat]

If you have the time you could always volunteer in alternative placements - that'd look really good on your application, perhaps an SEND setting?

Good luck!

[SarfEast1cated]

I have used all of my annual leave this year (on my college days!), so can't actually do any volunteering until 2016. My application form has to be in soon. I guess I can organise it and mention it on my form? That might work...

[rollonthesummer]

I'd investigate the HLTA role carefully-I know roles are sometimes advertised as looking good with eg a £19-22k salary, but when 'pro-ratad' down to 20-25 hours a week and 39 weeks a year, are not great.

Learning Mentors don't always do outreach work, but are often dealing with behaviour.

I'm sure you used to be able to do a solely SEN PGCE-not sure if I dreamt that or not!?

Interested to hear you've worked in publishing though-I thought that might be something rather less stressful to do than teach! Can you tell me about it...!?

[SarfEast1cated]

I work in legal publishing rollon My role has changed a lot over the last 5 years, from a creative and exciting job in an independent company, to a dull and repetitive job in a massive corporation. Macmillan's are a good company to work for and they specialise in EFL books... you could look there?
I know they do internships/work experience placements... Feel free to pm me if you need anything.

[rollonthesummer]

Thank you-I will investigate!

[SarfEast1cated]

OK - I'm going for either PGCE or Schools Direct. I assume both routes are equally as intensive? I have a DD who is 8 and I will need to settle her into a new area and school at the same time [idiot]. Which do you think would be more 'family friendly'? They do do part-time PGCE's but that would mean I'd need to find a part-time TA job to work around it...