NCFE Teaching assistant course with Stonebridge

hennagirl

Hi

Thinking of doing this course online as I want to gain a TA qualification asap and not wait until September for local college course. However have researched on the Net and whilst loads of people say the course is good, no-one has said whether it was accepted as a valid qualification for job applications/iinterviews. I know that having a qualification doesn't guarantee you a job but was wondering if any MSEers had done this course and are now in employment as TAs.

Oldernotwiser

Distance Learning is rarely a good way to go about gaining practical skills . I would wait and to a course at your local college, backed up with practical experience.

kingfisherblue

I agree with ONW - you really need practical experience for a TA job. As part of a course, I would expect you to have to volunteer or work in a school for at least one morning or afternoon a week, depending on the level of the course.

Would you consider volunteering in a local school now? It's probably a good chance to get some experience before beginning a local course in September and you will already have a placement.

hennagirl

Thanks for your replies.

I agree about the work experience and am looking to go back into school (was volunteering about two years ago and did it for a good four years). I am just aware that that the next lot of courses at college doesn't start until September so in essence, if I was volunteering now, I could get on and do a course now and still have some chance of hitting vacancies in September; hence asking about anyone who has done NCFE which I notice a lot of colleges have also started to do.

Oldernotwiser

All the jobs I've seen ask for a minimum of NVQ 2, and many ask for a level 3.