TA advice

[anon199900]

Hi all - I am seriously considering a career change and becoming a part timeTA. I know the pay is rubbish but I am lucky that’s not an issue and this is more something I have wanted to do for a while.
I haven’t worked in schools before but I have volunteered on many school trips with my boy’s primary, I know that doesn’t count as experience but I feel it’s given me a feel of what the job can be like, I am under no illusions and I know it is hard work.
My question is, for primary, do I need to go and get the level 3 in teaching and learning to give me a better chance, or would it be more beneficial to do some volunteering in school such as reading with the children?
TIA

I would advise volunteering. Don't go paying for qualifications which might not be necessary. Schools are desperate for TAs these days. So many advertised roles go unfilled, as so few people are applying (as you acknowledge, the pay is sadly abysmal).

Most schools would be only too happy to accept a volunteer, and it's often a foot in the door if a TA role comes up in that school. If it doesn't, it's good experience to mention on an application to different schools.

Good luck

I was a TA for 6 years before returning to teaching. Many of my colleagues had no previous experience of working with children, some (like myself) were overqualified on paper, but I learned so much from other TAs. In my experience, you will learn everything you need to on the job.

During interviews, you are usually observed working with children 1:1 or in a small group setting. It is worth volunteering or asking to observe in a range of classroom settings before applying to be sure you understand the role.

Some TAs work 1:1 with high demand pupils, some in Early Years, some supporting Y6 pupils to achieve in SATs. Most TAs have an area of the school that they work best in. I thought I would enjoy working with younger children because I had young children, but much preferred working in Y3+ and was much better at it.

I also think it is important to understand and demonstrate that you will be there to support a child to learn, so being a TA is not doing the work for them and telling them the answers, but listening to the teacher's explanation and modelling with the child/children and helping them to access a task with as much independence as possible. It was great for our family whilst we had young children, but I know some colleagues who were TAs for decades. Good luck!

I'm really not sure schools are desperate for TA jobs. Although they are badly paid, they are school hours and term time only, and in my experience, lots of people apply for them.

TAs are being cut to the bone at the moment... with pay increases for teachers and current TAs being funded from school budgets which are very limited at best.
With an increase in children needing 1-1, you may find that there will be jobs advertised to work with specific children. These jobs will be hours tied to the child, meaning that it will be a temporary contract, renewed each school year until the child leaves.
Experience with children with sen would be more valuable for this role, than training.