Retraining as a TA

[Weedsorwishes]

Hi all I've been a housewife and now a SAHM for almost 15 years. I'm looking at retraining to be a TA.

I'm looking for ideas on what the job is like in reality. Ive previously volunteered at school on trips etc and hopefully going to do one morning a week soon doing reading etc.

I've seen some jobs when browsing for future reference that say 25 hours or 30 hours etc. What would that equate to in days etc?

Also ideally I'm looking for half days / part time to fit around family commitments do they come up often?

Also is there anything I can do to enhance my knowledge and skills so I would make a good TA?

Also as part of the course you need to do a one day a week placement. Is it best to do one school for the year or a few eg one primary one secondary and one Sen school?

I think I would like to work with Sen children so is there any way to specialise in this?

Many thanks

The TAs employed at my school are not qualified at all-they are volunteers that the head liked! Mostly, they are working mornings or full days (8.50-12 or 8.50-3.15) depending on the KS. I’d go and do some volunteering in a classroom a day a week and see how you enjoy it.

The pay is dreadful though

The TAs in my school have qualifications, level 3 or foundation degree mostly. A couple work half days (8.30 - 13.00 including lunchtime) others work 3 full days, the rest of us 5 full days (8.30-15.15)

I'm employed for 30 hours so do 5 full days.

I started out as a lunchtime supervisor and got my L3 diploma through distance learning, doing my placement two mornings a week in a class in the same school. Then I ran before and after school care until I was made redundant and moved on to my current job.

You could look at a level 3 in supporting teaching and learning but there are level 2 courses which might help too - things like understanding autism or behaviour that challenges. They're fully funded subject to certain criteria and look good on your CV.

I support children with SEN in mainstream as well as general TA stuff which is a good medium.

The pay is definitely not good though!

Thanks for replies

The course im looking at is in a local college.

Its cache level 2 then 3 in supporting teaching and learning in schools, a year each. You can just do level 2 then stop or you can skip level 2 and go straight to level 3 if you have enough experience

I know the pay isn't much I think adhere it tends to be around 11k

1:1 support in my county tends to be part time as EHCP funding is not great! So it generally fits in well with those that want to drop/collect their own children from school. We look for a mixture of experience and/or qualifications- the experience can either be in school or, more recently we have employed those who have worked previously as child minders, youth club leaders and all sorts. It is often personality and enthusiasm that are just as important for some roles!

@spanieleyes

1:1 support in my county tends to be part time as EHCP funding is not great! So it generally fits in well with those that want to drop/collect their own children from school. We look for a mixture of experience and/or qualifications- the experience can either be in school or, more recently we have employed those who have worked previously as child minders, youth club leaders and all sorts. It is often personality and enthusiasm that are just as important for some roles!

Ah ok that's interesting thanks I have lots of experience as a Sunday school teacher do you think that could count as experience or does it have to be school age?

I just started a TA 1:1 role having never worked as a TA before. I did used to work in a non-teaching role in schools so I could draw on knowledge gained there in my application. I intend to start studying for a qualification next September if this year goes well. If you don't have the qualifications /experience and would like to start working rather than go to college, you need to emphasise previous childcare / school /tutoring experience you have (of any age group) and any knowledge of how you would support the various needs in the class (my school has a high proportion of SEN and EAL children so I focused on strategies for those groups in my interview). Enthusiasm and willingness to get stuck in with whatever the school needs you to be doing are good.