TA in a secondary school?

[BeAquaBear]

I currently work in a primary school as a TA and am getting more and more frustrated each year as each year seems to come with more children who can't cope with the classroom and need babysitting elsewhere - I can't think of a better way to put it as that's basically what I'm doing. I take them to a quiet area and get some toys out for them to play with. I'm not helping them do the work that their peers are doing in the classroom. I'm not using my brain. I'm just playing with toddler toys with them.

I never thought I'd want to work in a secondary school but I'm wondering what a TA role would look like in one? Does anyone here work at secondary and could outline their day for me? Do you get to actually help kids learn?

If you're looking to actually help kids learn, I'd look at special schools

I think it depends on the secondary, but generally TAs seem to flit about and chop and change students so you might not get what you want from it. A lot of the work will involve behaviour in some schools.
I’ve seen TAs who are attached to the maths/english department who probably do a lot more work with students.

I worked in secondary and we had LSAs attached to departments – so one specific LSA would come into the MFL lessons (mine) and work with the students that needed support.

I also had a LSA as a co-tutor with me who also supported three specific students with a high degree of SEND with their learning on core subjects. I think ti was a tough job but probably rewarding if you found you saw progress. Certainly my co-tutor was not wrangling bad behaviour.

I’m an LSA in a secondary school and I love it. I work with a range of SEN and find it incredibly rewarding. Make the change.

I work as a SEN/class TA in a secondary school. I work across all years but more so with year 10 & 11 however I also work with year 7, 8 & 9. I support in class, primarily with EHCP students & SEN students but across the whole class in all subjects. I may work with small groups on an English task, support in science with group work, Geography, support all students with maths tasks, along with Art & Music, it varies daily. I also support students with behaviour & regulation during lessons from ‘having a chat, walks, gym & sensory room visits to de-escalate. I also support with behaviour at break & run interventions in AM reg & PM reg which vary from Maths/literacy/GCSE revision to regulation/sensory. I also have to prep for meetings, reviews etc. It’s a very busy & some days are tough but I support some students very closely. I follow a timetable like the students with lessons & set interventions.

Thank you that's really helpful 😊