Would I be daft to apply for a TA job

[Frazzled2207]

A part-time mat cover TA job has come up in a very nearby school (not my kids’ one, but well regarded locally). I am very tempted to apply but wondering if I’m wasting my time as have no experience as a TA. However, the last two and a half years I’ve been running a business providing a particular extra curricular activity for primary schools and nurseries and thus have loads of experience with children and also in dealing with schools. My business may not survive covid- at best it will run in a very limited form next year which I could potentially do alongside because the job is advertised as 15 hours.

Previous to running my business I had a corporate fairly highly paid role for 12 years (I may go back to it at some point but not soon) . Before that I worked with kids as an EFL teacher. Before that I got a very good degree (in my early 40s now if that makes a difference). I have also volunteered at my kids school on occasion with reading and as part of the PTA.
Am very aware that the salary is pittance but luckily my husband is well paid so I’d not be doing it for the money. I genuinely do enjoy working with primary aged kids and although have had plenty of thoughts about becoming a teacher over the years frankly don’t fancy the stress. But friends with TA friends (I don’t know any personally) say that I would get frustrated with the lack of autonomy. Maybe I would eventually but after running my own business and then homeschooling the thought of someone else telling me what to do is quite appealing!

I don’t have any TA qualifications but am wondering if my experience and degree might make up for that. Also wondering what I might need to brush up on if I was lucky enough to get an interview.
Any thoughts from TAs appreciated!

You’ve nothing to lose from applying, for maternity cover there are very few applicants as it’s not a permanent post, plus with the current situation this may reduce applicants too as people may be worried about being with groups of kids. If you get an interview make sure you’ve look on the schools website and are familiar with their policies. Make yourself aware of behaviour policies and especially safeguarding. By looking through the website you’ll get a feel for the ethos of the school and it will also show you’ve taken an interest which is always looked at favourably.

You sound like you’ve got a wealth of experience so it depends on what the application asks for in the way of qualifications really, but even this may be flexible for the right candidate.

Good luck, it’s a great job but be aware the pay is very poor!

I had no TA qualifications when I became a ta. They are not necessarily essential. I did have a good English degree, which probably helped. The pay is dire and because there is no autonomy, it is not altogether stress free (there’s nothing more frustrating then having to spend hours doing things that will not benefit the children, but ticks some government box or other) However, I also run a small business alongside, so it’s a good combination for me at the moment.

Do you have a teaching qualification? If so you are definitely qualified.

I think you're also qualified with a degree and experience if the school like you and your skills. So I'd say go for it if you wish to!

We've had TAs who've only had a degree, usually childhood studies. They often use it as a stepping stone to further study, either teaching or other things. Lots of teachers become tas.

I applied for a TA job last year having not worked in a school before, although like you I had experience of working with children and plenty of employment experience.

I paid for one of those online courses to learn about working in a school and demonstrate that I was serious about the role.

It's been a fantastic year, apart from the unexpected pandemic obviously. My school has been very proactive in running an online school so all teachers and TAs have been working from home.

You've definitely nothing to lose. I had no experience when I applied for an LSA role earlier this year, which I was successful in. What I did have was experience in SEN (own children) and had both worked with youth groups as well as volunteering in my kids school. And I was honest at interview. I was just myself. They liked what they saw!

I still have no clue with teenagers. But they are teaching me as much as I am helping them and I love it.

thanks for the positive thoughts, no I have no teaching qualification (unless you count CELTA). Looking back at the advert it requires a level 2 qualification - a quick google suggest it is possible to get this by distance learning relatively inexpensively (unless you know something I don't). I have emailed the school with a brief summary of my experience asking if it would be worth my while applying anyway. Hopefully they'll get back to me. My degree is MFL which I would have thought could be useful.

Is your business MFL related by any chance? That could be a huge selling point for you to potentially cover PPA with MFL lessons, as the new Ofsted framework has put pressure on primaries to start delivering the curriculum properly again.

Gosh yes, Mfl is an issue in primary. Perfect!

In fact at one point we had some money to bring an external provider in. It could be good experience as a ta.

I had a really bad experience.

I was a volunteer at a primary school for a while. Applied for a TA job in year 3. On my first day they told me the job was 1:1 with a child with additional needs. The child needed somebody with training - he screamed at me, ran away, tried to kick me and stab me with a pencil. He attacked other children (yanking hair, slapping.)

I walked out at lunch time and never went back!

thanks all. Update - I have an interview on Thursday! Quite exciting but slightly terrifying.
I will have a good look at the school website but if anyone has any suggestions of specific questions I should be prepared to answer I'd be really grateful.

@FluffyKittensinabasket that is awful - I would have done the same.

Fantastic! When I was interviewed to be a TA I got asked about how I would support children struggling to understand fractions, how I would build relationships with parents, how I would deal with bullying in the playground, and the inevitable safeguarding question (report to Designated Safeguarding Lead, don't ask leading questions, etc)

@rillette that is a very useful starting point thank you

100% have a good idea of safeguarding, no leading questions, writing a report and passing to safeguarding leads would be the basics. You can probably find out who these are on the website so you can say that you'd report to x, x or x as safeguarding leads.

Also think about what you'd find hardest about the role (maybe a training gap) and how you'd resolve classroom issues. Emphasise all your work with children, how super organised you are, your energy and initiative, and have some good examples ready to go that could fit a variety of questions. Assuming it's a zoom interview you can have the advantage of jotting a few down in case you go blank! I always write a list of these and also some qualities and skills I have before I do an interview to keep it fresh in my mind.

Good luck!

@MsJuniper thank you.

Yes I have found the safeguarding policy on the website- it says in all job interviews candidates will be asked about this so clearly very important. I have had to deal with a couple of incidents in the past so have some real life stories there.

Yes via zoom so can in theory have notes there for emergencies- don’t want to be glancing at them constantly though obviously. Just hope my kids don’t gatecrash- though I Imagine other candidates will be In a similar situation! Mine are just about old enough to understand that when I say it’s very important that means no disturbances unless an emergency thankfully.

How did your interview go?