Anyone switched to a TA role from teaching ?

[habibihabibi]

I'm in a great school (abroad ) in a specialist role but it has much different hours and holidays than my young children's school and with a traveling DH it's a ever increasing struggle to juggle family life . I can't bring them to my school .
Considering applying for a TA role in the kids school .
Has anyone does this ?
Obviously it's a massive pay cut and friends say I will be very demoralized after 20 odd years teaching but I need to change something .

Not a teacher but just thinking could you do private tutoring or child minding instead?

Yes. I was a SAHM for a year or so when the kids were small and then worked as a TA in their school (I'm a secondary English teacher) for a while before going back to teaching. It has lots to recommend it - short hours,taking no work home,nice children etc. I really liked it for a while. What did for me eventually was the feeling that I was being taken advantage of - the school were beginning to use me as a teacher while paying me as a TA; the v poor pay and the menial tasks including cleaning up vomit!
It was a good stepping stone back into teaching and I enjoyed aspects of the work but ultimately dropping to TA status wasn't for me. Lots like it though.

Three of my 'mum' group are TAs that used to be teachers. One went back to teaching when her DH's salary dropped but the others are still TAs even thought their DC are late teens or at Uni! You get the best bits of teaching without all the planning and paperwork.

The problem with private tuition is that it is almost exclusively outside of school hours when I need to be with my own children .

I could just do supply but I'm not sure there is enough work even though it is full primary and secondary.

If I leave my current school I need to give two terms notice .

Very confused .

Yes I've done this. After DS1 I did supply teaching for a little while which was ok, I was offered a TA maternity cover and I loved it. I never went back to a teaching role. I've been a TA at my current school for 5 years now and I still love it. The money's not great but we manage. I feel like I get all the best bits of a teaching role but with none of the hassle. I do work in a lovely school though so that also helps.

Well I have given notice for my current role and approached my children's school. Hopefully there will be a TA/support role there next year.

Be firm about your role from the start of you do get a TA position!! I'm another teacher who was totally taken advantage of as a TA, as they kept using me as a cheap supply teacher, or giving me increasing teaching duties (by the time I left, they had me teaching full classes two full days a week, and a fair bit of cover for other teachers on the other three days). It drove me out of the job, because I couldn't reason with them, try as I might, that kept just using me "on this occasion because there really is nobody else"... So be firm and it can be great!

What is your visa status?
If you are an expat do you know your DC school will consider you for a TA role? They often want local staff in that kind of role.

I was a nurse, then moved into FE lecturing for a few years before having health problems and having a couple of years off. I've been a TA for 5 years now even though it was only meant to be a short-term occupation before I returned to normal service!

The money is lousy but I enjoy leaving at the bell and the fact that it takes up no head-space once I get home. I work in a secondary school and I think the teachers appreciate that I can co-teach on any almost subject, especially given that I'm mainly supporting them in junior years and bottom set classes. I enjoy the variety immensely.

Yep. Love it. Crap pay but I walk away from the job at the end of the day with no responsibilities on my shoulders. DH works away from home a lot and I know I couldn't be a good mum and a good teacher. Not saying that's true for everyone but I know its true for me.
The only time its hard is when you're stuck with a not so great teacher. You will probably find yourself thinking 'I could do this better'. But the benefits for me mean I could live with this! Luckily for me I work with two very experienced and fantastic teachers so its all good.

My mum did! Teacher for 40 years, then retired (technically!) and now works 3 days a week in a school as a HLTA delivering specialist support for reading and writing and working with a Young lad with ASD.

My ds has ASD and so her level of understanding is very personal and she finds its fulfilling knowing how much pupils with ASD struggle in school and that she can help.

She's also doing some days, and I know other teachers in the uk doing the same as a teacher with a responsibility. Some schools want a specialist PE teacher or similar and are happy and it's better for budgets Ofsted! to employ someone PT as a specialist than FT as an all rounder. Especially when that person is top pay scale!

me sort of. My PGCE isn't recognised here (not UK) so I took a role as a TA. It is easy, pretty stress free, short hours etc. BUT I find it too easy, i.e. I am bored. And the loss of status is demoralising. I mean I work in a very nice school and people are friendly, but there is definitely an 'us and them' divide. I want to be the organ grinder rather than the monkey.

Despite being much more qualified (also in terms of age, mothehood, work experience) I don't feel as listened to as I would be if I were employed as a teacher.

SO I am trying to do a further course to get the official teaching status here.

Though it will mean longer hours, I think it will be worth it.

Marcopront
All the staff ;TAs and teachers in international schools are expats , we are in the Middle East and it is extremely rare for nationals to be employed education outside the government sector .
In my children's school there is a qualified dentist and a psychologist working as TAs as the aren't able to work in there sector due to visa restrictions .

their

I have worked in International schools in 5 countries. I have seen plenty of local staff employed. I cannot think of any expat staff employed in a TA role.
Obviously our experience is different.

In my school the majority of TAs are qualified teachers. Like me their qualification is not recognised. But plenty of 'local' staff too.

I am and I hate it. I find it demoralising being in this pisition, but the way teachers are being whipped to within an inch of their lives atm I'm not really sure I want to go back into teaching either.

Another former teacher working as a TA. Mainly love it; no marking, no planning, no parents' evenings and reporting. Don't get that Sunday night feeling, and I have time for my children. Also, the students love you because you are there to help and support them (what they thought I did while sweating blood and tears for themes a teacher, I don't know!). I feel my school are getting an absolute bargain though, because I do much more than my contracted role. On the downside is obviously the pay. In addition, teaching responsibilities are starting to creep in without the correct pay. I wish I had said a firm No from the outset. With the way budgets are slashed, I can see more of this happening. Ours is also probably the most experienced and well qualified department in the school!