Teaching assistant qualifications

tiff

For the last 18 months I have run an after school club and just finished my NVQ 2 in play work. Something someone said to me today made me think that I may be qualified for a teaching assistant position, which I hadnt realised.

I've been applying for school admin jobs but would go for TA if possible, would I realistically get a job with this qualification?

Oldernotwiser

I'd keep applying but be prepared to do your TA NVQ if you haven't got anything by September.

narabanekeater

Tiff I was thinking of doing the playwork nvq can you tell me a bit about it please?

tiff

Not sure what to say narabanekeater. I've been doing it since April last year and just one more appointment with the assessor to go. Mine is with a company called jhp training, they come and observe me working with the children, plus you do a literacy and a numeracy test on a laptop. I have to do some research on a list of points they have given me but quite frankly am going round in circles trying to find the information on the net. Its not hard, the research bit is the hardest because I dont know where to look lol but sure I'll get there.

kitschkitty

I'm not sure if the NVQ2 in Playwork will cover it or not. If you have been running the out of school club I'm slightly surprised you haven't done the level 3 NVQ instead as it would have been more relevant to the job responsibilities and duties you've been doing.

The mandatory units of the NVQ2 for a TA cover:
Provide support for learning activities
Support children's development
Help keep children safe
Contribute to positive relationships
Provide effective support for your colleagues

For the Playwork NVQ2 they are:
Support relationships in the play environment.
Work with children and young people to create play spaces and support freely chosen, self-directed play.
Contribute to the health, safety, security and welfare of children and young people using the play environment.
Help to improve your own practice and the work of your playwork team.

So there is some difference there.

But looking at this http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/life/you_and_school/working_in_schools/training_ta.shtml it says you may not need a specific qualification anyway, so I guess that you have plenty of relevant experience and should apply for those jobs!

Have you already looked at any job adverts in your area, and are they asking for specific qualifications, as that's what Id go by.

Besides they can only say no/not take your application further, so what's to be lost by applying anyway?

tiff

Its complicated, when we opened the asc in jan 09, I was working with a playleader who was doing the level 3 but she left and they decided not to replace her as we were running at a loss and in the hope that things picked up in numbers.

I've not tried applying as I hadnt thought about it, but will put in some applications and see if I get any interviews. Thanks.