Teaching assistants - what do you do in the holidays?

[redfox14]

As the title says - I’m just wondering what current TAs do to supplement their income during the school holidays? I have worked as a TA before and I loved it but simply couldn’t afford not to get paid throughout the holidays. I work in a different role currently but really miss it. I just don’t know if I can afford to go back to it.

For a bit more context, a friend of mine who is a qualified teacher but works as a TA, is employed by a school who arrange her pay so that she gets a lower monthly salary but still gets paid during the holidays. The agencies I have been in touch with have said that they aren’t able to do this and I would be paid during term time only so I just wonder, what do other people do for the 13 ish weeks a year where they’re not being paid for work?

I worked as a TA, our LA paid TAs the same way as they paid teachers so we were paid across all 12 months of the year.

I have worked summer playschemes in the past too, they were always keen for staff (especially the schemes for kids with disabilities).

Do you have SEND experience? I'd have loved to pack my autistic child off to summer clubs so I could work, but would have needed to have paid someone to go with him go support him on a 1:1 basis. Or even just have someone entertain him at home for a few hours so I could get some work done...

You'll always get paid monthly working for a school directly.
Agencies will only ever pay per assignment day/week.
Either you'll be on a higher daily rate or they will be charging the school much more and not passing any of it onto you.
Summer jobs include as a pp said, Summer playschemes, exam marking if qualified, hospitality, fruit picking, English language teaching centres, cleaning, conference stewarding, online tutoring, Summer au pair work or holiday camps.

A TA that worked with me did a private nannying job (day time only) in the holidays for several years. She worked with the same family and really got to know the children.

Ta are very sought after to be Pas for kids and teens with disabilities during the holidays.

If you stick an advert up on your local Facebook site you should get plenty of takers.

The agencies I have been in touch with have said that they aren’t able to do this and I would be paid during term time only

Why would you need an agency to do it? If you can survive on a TA salary spread over 12 months just calculate the monthly amount yourself and put aside some of your pay to use over the holiday months.

TA are paid during the school holidays. That August paycheck was always the best one.

Do any TAs claim Universal Credit as the pay is so low?

Are you wanting to be a ‘supply’ TA? That will only pay you for the days you work. Why not work directly for a school, then you will be paid the same each month, throughout the year.