Job searching again, help needed

teabag29

Ok so I wrote a post a few months ago about my situation and my desire to get back to work (In short violent relationship > father died > began studying > got degree only 2:2 > escaped violent relationship > became single parent > raised my children and got remarried > home educated my special needs daughter). My problem is I have next to no work experience and finding it hard to get my foot in the door. My degree is in Criminology but my passion is to be a primary school teacher so I have thought about doing the PGCE however I lack one requirement on it and thats atleast 2 weeks experience working in a British school....here lyeth the problem.

There is a position for a TA going at the local primary school next to my mums house, ideal location however i'm unsure if I meet the criteria to apply for it. It says I need to provide details of how I meet the criteria detailed in the specification for this role, thus being:
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following:
* High expectations of the children you work with and of yourself professionally
* Knowledge of the primary curriculum
* A willingness to be part of a committed team and to play a full part in school life
* Experience of KS2
* At least NVQ 2
* Experience of BRWP desirable

I understand what the better reading partnership is (was written into my daughters IEP when she was at school before I home educated her) and have a Ba Honours degree, I have the willingness and have knowledge of key stage 2 and the the curriculum (I have 4 kids), but what does it mean when it says experience of key stage 2, does that mean I have to have worked with kids at ks2 before and also how do I provide details of how I meet this criteria if ive not worked in a school before, infact my only experience of teaching is home educating my daughter. I feel like experience is holding me back but seems I need experience to even get my foot in the door, how am I supposed to gain this experience without being given a chance?

Any advice? I'm determined to get back to work now my youngest is 5 and in full time school but its much harder than I anticipated when I have next to no work experience and therefore no referees :eek:

keep_flyin

Volunteer in a school to get some knowledge and experience, it's the best way of getting paid work as a TA which will then get you the work experience needed for a PGCE. Most TA's in primary are known to the school before they get the job.

There is no harm in applying though.

teabag29

Thanks, yeh I emailed the local primary where my daughter goes today but no reply as of yet

pukkamum

Just go for it, for many interviewers in these kind of posts, experience with your own kids goes very far.
However, as the pp said I would definitely think about volunteering in a school if you don't get this job.
When you write your cv point out that although you lack professional experience you haver personal experience and are willing to learn.
I am hoping to get back jnto a school setting as a ta, was previously called a nursery nurse, my plan is to volunteer at my daughters school and ask them to consider me if a post comes up.
Oh and it is always worth arranging a visit when you put your cv in, this gives the staff a chance to see beyond the cv.
Good luck, keep us posted x

pukkamum

teabag29 wrote: »

Thanks, yeh I emailed the local primary where my daughter goes today but no reply as of yet

Don't rely on emails pop in and speak to someone, face to face is always better in my book, it shows more effort.

Dunroamin

With a degree in something like Criminology it would be worthwhile speaking to any institution where you might want to do your PGCE to see whether this would be acceptable.

Also, do you have GCSE grade C or over in English, Maths and Science?

teabag29

yes I have 10 GCSE's all grade c and above

busiscoming2

I can't comment on the job application but you have nothing to lose by trying.
Regarding the 2 weeks experience, I would think that any school would be pleased to give you this.

Good Luck!

marisco_2

teabag29 wrote: »

Thanks, yeh I emailed the local primary where my daughter goes today but no reply as of yet

Good on you for doing this. Don't worry that you have not heard back as yet. For many schools today is the first day back after the summer holidays and staff will be very busy. I hope you get a response from them soon though.

I am a teacher and my current TA joined our school 3 years ago as a volunteer whilst she did her NVQ studies. My colleagues and I were really impressed by how well she connected with the children and the positivity she brought into the classroom. She worked extremely hard and was always reliable. So when our head mentioned in a staff meeting that he was looking to recruit TAs, a number of us put her name forward as a serious contender for one of the roles. She was offered a position the next day and has been a valued member of staff ever since.

de_g.

Have you rung and spoken to someone at the school?

Heads have a huge amount of discretion when it comes to appointments, and so if you're an exceptional candidate in other ways they may be willing to overlook a specific area in which you're lacking the required experience, or indeed they may have other roles which have yet to be advertised. The last time our Head interviewed someone for an advertised TA role, he ended up (after considerable discussion with the SLT and governors) creating a post for an entirely new HLTA in addition to the advertised role - the candidate was wrong for the original role but a perfect fit for the school.

de_g.

busiscoming2 wrote: »

I can't comment on the job application but you have nothing to lose by trying.
Regarding the 2 weeks experience, I would think that any school would be pleased to give you this.

Good Luck!

It's not always quite as simple as that. It's a lot of work for schools to check, train and supervise volunteers, so they may not be keen to put in the work for someone who is just doing it for two weeks experience on the CV. If the OP is planning to go down this route, it will be more valuable to them and the school there is a commitment to regular volunteering over a longer period.