Any primary school TAs here?

[MissBlacksheep]

How did you end up being a TA? What qualifications do you have? What experience did you have before your first TA job?

Not a TA but a teacher. TAs come from a huge variety of backgrounds.

More and more are qualified teachers who no longer want the stress of teaching, so that often makes it difficult for non-teacher TAs to get a look in in some areas.

Many TA applicants have level 2 and level 3 qualifications, either completed before the application or in a previous job.

Lots of TAs have had previous careers and start as TAs as a change of direction.

Lots of TAs start as volunteer readers or lunchtime staff and apply once a position comes up.

Very few have no experience in schools these days. Most at least have voluntary experience.

So there's no set rule for it really!

I started as a volunteer in a local school, a few afternoons a week. I don't have a TA-specific qualification, but do have a degree. I had a previous career, but wanted a change of direction. Really enjoyed the volunteering and that gave me enough experience to get a job. Have done this for a few years now, and will be starting teacher training in September.

I’m a teacher now but worked as a TA many moons ago. I had no formal qualifications though core subject and Child Development GCSE/A Levels and no real experience, though short placements gained through CD qualification. Most places ask for L2 or GCSE English and Maths and lots of don’t need experience.

I started as a volunteer in my dc's primary school, got a job at lunchtimes with them, then did a placement whilst doing my level 3 diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning. Then the before and after school care leader retired so I took that on, eventually went for a TA job there and was told I didn't have enough classroom experience. I was then made redundant and was offered a TA role at my current school with the experience I had. Every school is different but at least some experience working with children at primary level is helpful.

Not all schools want qualifications beyond GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above but if you choose to get one be careful and make sure its a recognised one as lots of 'colleges' offer online distance learning courses that cost a lot but aren't actually proper qualifications.

When you were made redundant, what year were you working for?

I was before and after school care so I covered all years from R-6.

Did you observe children in reception and write reports about them? How do you know what to write?

No, I did take photos and put them onto the online learning platform though. I work with children with SEN now and do observations - its fairly common sense in that I just write what they said and what they did in relation to the task. Any specific training will be given by the school if needed.

Thanks dear so much.

You’re the supply TA from another post I think? Same as others, lots of volunteer work in school and after school activities.

I don’t believe experience is necessary for supply work, it should be or perhaps a few people are taken on without the experience. We have had a number of lovely, very keen supply TAs with zero experience. All graduates, all educated so no concerns there. But when dropped into a busy classroom with lots of needs and missing experienced staff because of illness or resignations, it has been challenging.

The worst example was a lady came in and we were told she was experienced with SEN. There was a child, delightful lovely child, with severe SEN who didn’t have a dedicated 121 (should have had one but money, lack of staff and goodness know what decision making) and we all took turns in between the various groups and interventions.

Of course, she couldn’t do these interventions etc, plus we were told she was very experienced, so she was left with the child for most of the day. This shouldn’t have happened but lack of staff, other needs of children etc so it did. It was awful. She was shell-shocked. When we had time to chat, it turned out her vast experience was one day in a special school as a student helper and had never worked as a TA.

Who messed up? Agency or school? She didn’t come back.

I am now a TA. I was a teacher for 26 years.

I'm a primary school TA which is a career change for me. I started out volunteering at my local primary school and when a TA position became available a few months later I applied. I have a degree and the experience from volunteering. Considering teacher training but at the same time absolutely love my current job.