Thinking of doing a Teaching Assistant course

kazimojo69

Hi

I am thinking about doing a home learning Teaching assistant course.

Most of them I have looked at wold give me a level 2 qualification. I also want to pay monthly as cant afford a one off fee.

Can anyone recommend a website or course?

Also - would I be classed a a student? i.e. receive a student card?

Thanks xxx

brians_daughter

Hi you do not NEED to do a course to become a TA

In my area they want experience. so volunteer at a local school if you can. Even if it means booking 1/2 days from your current role and working in a school. It ios by far the best way to do it. Even if you did do a home course (which i know nothing about sorry~) you will still need experience to have a good/any chance of getting a role as a TA

Once you have experience you will find it easier to gain paid TA roles. Your LA may even pay for the level 2 and beyond once you are in post - many do. infact i think it is quite the norm in most palces

I would save the money of the cost of the course and go get experience

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/life/you_and_school/working_in_schools/training_ta.shtml

edit re student cards. Do you mean NUS card ? If so, no i doubt you will you need to be in FE to get the NUS card- or as far as i am aware you do!

rapunzelz86

http://www.homelearningcollege.com/Courses/Child-Care/Teaching-Assistant/

This looks like what you may be looking for. I dont think youre entitled to a student card etc if you learn from home. there are lots of these colleges now that offer pay monthly options

angel.cake_2

I really would avoid Home Learning College. I tried to find out about an accountancy course recently. The price is not on the website so I called them and was told "we do not have access to course prices". When I asked how i could find out, she said i had to give all my details and a tutor would call me back. Something dodgy if they can't list the price clearly and openly, and they insist on all YOUR details before they give anything away.

Fruitloops

Is it that easy to get work experience in a school? How do you approach them? What's the best way?

angel.cake_2

Try your local colleges and schools, I know mine do at TA course, although you may have to wait until Sept for next start date. I always think it is better to attend a course for something like this rather than via home study.

lady_wolfs_head

I got a TA job and hopefully the school will send me to do the nvq. Get a job in a school.
My job is fantastic, I love it, everyday is different and the qualifications I had were not job specific.
Apply for TA posts and see what happens

Good luck

Spendless

Fruitloops wrote: »

Is it that easy to get work experience in a school? How do you approach them? What's the best way?

Have you got school age children? I told my child's Head that I'd not got a job and was told that it had gone to someone with experience of working in a school and she immediately asked me if I'd like to volunteer 1 half day a week.

demonicangel

Fruitloops wrote: »

Is it that easy to get work experience in a school? How do you approach them? What's the best way?

IME its very easy to help out in a school.

I did a lunch time club while waiting for my CRB to come back and now do reading as well. Once my youngest goes full time in September, I will be able to help out more. I will also be going on a small trip with one of the classes to a local care home for the children to perform their story telling skills.

I also help out on a PTA type thing, although I think its called something like EPPA and basically run an after school fun hour with an another parent.

Most of the parents that want to help ask at the reception and leave their details.

I'm hoping to one day become a TA, either in foundation stage or KS1.

Fruitloops

I don't have kids myself. Only nieces and nephews. I was considering asking at my nephew's school if I could get involved somehow. I imagine it would be easier to ask if I had my own children at school. One day... *sigh*

Magnolia

Don't let the fact that you have no kids - that can be a plus in some eyes - you wont need time off when they are sick

Also don't do one of them distance courses. I clicked on the link posted earlier and the cost of their level 2 is nearly £200 more than the level 3 in our college :eek:

You don't need days of volunteer work to do the level 3 - I think it is only about 3 hours per week and doing the course with a tutor led group means you will get more ideas and discussion regarding the role.

You might have to wait until September before you can start your TA course but in the mean time if you don't have level 2 in literacy and numeracy you might find that your local college will be offering them both starting after Easter so you can make a start on getting the right qualifications.

Most colleges will now have the opportunity to pay in instalments. Contact your local college and ask to speak to the nextstep adviser who will be able to guide you to your goals.

Whatever you do - keep away from the online learning scams. There are so many about these days as with more and more people wanting to retrain they are cropping up all over the place and they do cost the earth!