Who is a teaching assistant? Please tell me about it...

[TooTicky]

How did you start? What qualifications do you need? Anything you particularly like/don't like about the job?
Thanks

I had an interview at my local infants...I have an NVQ3 in Childcare and Development which seemed pointless at the time but actually stood me in good stead at the interview. I think enthusiasm, some experience with children and awareness of their learning is important.

I like working with the children in my job...I would like more time to plan things better, I seem to have to 'wing it' quite a lot of the time, but that may just be how my class teacher works. Its rewarding, but the pay is crap!!

I think its a harder job than it used to be

Think you have to know and do a lot more now

I wouldnt be able to do it lol The kids would ask questions and I wouldnt know the answers lol

TRAINING DEFO NEEDED AS EVERYTHING HAS CHANGD SO MUCH FROM WHEN WE WERE AT SCHOOL, MATHS/READING IS ALL DIFFERENT

oops sorry about caps !

Thanks both of you
I have been helping in ds2';s class (recep and y1) once a week and really enjoy it. When my youngest is at school, am thinking it might be a good thing to do.

That's a great way to start!

More and more schools are wanting NVQ level 2 TA or childcare qualification as a minimum. You could study for that now if you want to. (One evening a week/fortnight for a year and a minimum of 5 hours a week volunteering in school).

It's the best job I've ever had And the worst paid

Each day is different. You never stop. You work with different groups of children. You run intervention groups. You do one-to-one with low achievers. Update records, do assessments, loads of photocopying and laminating, doing displays. The list is endless. Teaching assistants need assistants. There is always pencil sharpening and filing to do! At the end of the day you really feel like you have made a difference.

The part of my job I'm not keen on is clearing up glue and paints! It's so time consuming and there is no time between finishing that activity and going on to the next! Also the constant whining of parents who 'know' their child should be on the next reading level as if it's a race or something.

The best part is being part of the 'clicking' process when you see the lightbulb go on in a child's head in reading or maths. I get quite emotional

A good Head is essential. You feel part of the team and valued. My Head is always interested in the professional development of the support staff.

Good luck!

Have an informal chat with the head. In my area they have introductory courses. Its a 10 week course and you need to be working as a volunteer in school (not paid) for 20 hours over that time. Your school needs to support you. but it would give you a greater understanding of the current way of thinking!

Good luck, I work in the slightly older range and love it.

Thank you both, that is very interesting and helpful

Is it really that badly paid?

I net about £7500 pa for 21 hours a week working 39 weeks a year. I don't think anyone would do it for the money

SOme colleges are now running SWIS course for Support Workers in Schools to get a recognised qualification. Going in to a school as a volunteer will really help get you noticed in lieu of any formal quals or experience. I know a few TA's who started off like this or as a Midday Asst and then got offered with a LSA or TA role.

Could be worse wht, I was imagining minimum wage

I swapped careers almost 2 years ago (got loads of advice on here first!!). I work in secondary - a totally different role to primary (no admin / photo copying etc) - mostly 1-1 or general class support. I volunteered 1 day a week at my sons primary, just to get a feel for the role before I started looking for a job.
I did a distance learning BTEC course before I got the job but really that was for my own piece of mind & to get me back into using school 'language'! I don't think it mattered too much at interview. I have a good range of good old fashioned O levels. I work 27 hours a week, don't get paid much (which is the downside) - personally I find it a bit hard being a lowly 'no one' as I came from a previous job where I had a bit of clout! BUT on a good day, it's fantastic - you do feel as though you are making a difference when you get through to the pupils. On a bad day - they give you loads of lip & attitude so you have to take the rough with the smooth!

I could never do secondary school - I'm a coward!
It's really important to me to do something worthwhile, the good days must be great

Secondary is not that scary once you have a bit of confidence in what you are doing. The difficulty comes when the kids don't see you as 'a real teacher' yet you still have to 'persuade' them to do what they are supposed to do!
But yes, the good days are great!

can i ask what hours ta work

Hours can vary greatly depending on your contract. Personally I work the same hours as the pupils I support so when they go home, I do. Others are paid full time (37hours) & stay after school, some TAs at our school only work 3 days.

Primary schools in my area employ KS1 TAs from 9 - 3 which is 25 hours a week (Not 21 as I said earlier).
KS2 are employed from 9 - 12 (15 hours a week). Some are asked to supervise at lunchtime as well making 20 hours.
These are TAs who are general assistants obviously 1-to-1 TAs' hours depend on the statements for the children they work with.

I am a TA and work from 9-3:30 five days a week.
I have been there for 8 years now and it really has changed in that time.
It really suits me as I have youg children so its important for me to be able to take and collect them from school and also be with them during school holidays.

I started off working there with a NVQ2 in health and social care but I now have HLTA status.

What does a TA in a secondary do? we didn't have them in my day.

princessosyth - department TAs provide support including admin/prep of resources etc + in class support for pupils

Cross curriculum TAs (like me) work across the whole curriculum. I work with all year levels providing 1-1 or support for several pupils in one class. This may involve reading texts / scribing for them, re-explaining or breaking down tasks, keeping them on task, behaviour management etc. Generally whatever is needed to enable them to participate in the lesson