What’s a typical day for a TA in a secondary?

[paxman]

I’ve been out so long I would love to know what it’s like these days. Is it more challenging in terms of behaviour than 10 years ago? Do TAs generally help in class or are interventions more focused?
Any experiences would be appreciated.

Following

A good question to ask. I am training to be a TA but don't know anyone who works as a TA in a secondary school.

I did this last year. Standard village comp, c 1200 pupils. 20 LSAs. All LSAs had a key child on the SEN register, and spent form time with them. Then of the 5 lessons a day, probably about 4 were spent supporting an individual student in a lesson (a different one each lesson if that makes sense, so maybe Y7 Geography, Y10 Maths, etc). The fifth lesson would be in a nurture group, supporting the small class, or manning the SEN base or doing an intervention.

Can't compare behaviour as I wasn't in schools 10 years ago, I would say that I am in an all through SEN school now and there are some students from the mainstream High school I was at last year who would have fitted in well and benefitted from the school I am now in. Some do leave for SEN/AP every year, but it is really hard to get a placement for them.

I adored it, and am training to be a teacher now. Good luck looking! Lots of jobs seem to be appearing now, at least where I am.

Hi there, I’m a TA in a large (2000+) secondary school. I’ve been at the same school for over 10 years and haven’t noticed a decline in behaviour. Although my school is in a MC area with generally supportive parents.

At the moment, I support students in a Y8 bubble. Which has its pros and cons. The main downside is that I have to work in subjects I don’t enjoy or I’m not good at, eg Art, Music. Normally we work across year groups in our strongest subjects, for me that’s Maths and English mainly. We are lucky in that we can have some say in where we work and which year groups.

There are very small intervention groups for our very low ability students, but these are run by HLTAs. Sometimes normal TAs help in these classes too, which I enjoy.

I absolutely love my job, and I take great satisfaction from trying to instil confidence and self-belief into our SEN and lower-ability students.

The pay is bad, as I’m sure you’re aware, but it’s a great stepping-stone into teaching (which I have no interest in!).

Thank you all.
Would you say it was stressful at all?

I didn't find it at all stressful, but very rewarding. Turned up at 8.30am, did the work, left at 3pm.

It can be stressful because quite often we are expected to support too many students or if there are behaviour issues (which you tend to get in lower sets).

I wouldn’t let that put you off though!

I've been a secondary TA for 10 years and I wouldn't say behaviour has got worse. I have a timetable that goes across all year groups and all subjects. We also might also take out small groups or individual students to work with. We also work with students who cannot go to regular lessons. I absolutely love my job - no two days are the same. I totally agree with Alina when she says she takes great satisfaction in instilling confidence and self belief into the SEN and lower ability students. It's lovely. Every day is filled with laughs and magic moments.

@Awning10

I couldn’t agree more. So many moments of joy and fulfilment everyday

We don't have any!

Don't you have any students with an EHCP?