Does anyone here work as a teaching assistant? (LSA)

tiff

I'm thinking of going out to work after being a SAHM for 9 years. I have worked on and off doing part time evening jobs and also worked from home since having the children.)

I've seen a couple of teaching assistant jobs and was just wondering if anyone here is a teaching assistant and if they have any tips or advice? I dont believe you need to have any particular qualification? One of the jobs is an LSA for a statemented child in year 4.

samanthag

tiff wrote: »

I'm thinking of going out to work after being a SAHM for 9 years. I have worked on and off doing part time evening jobs and also worked from home since having the children.)

I've seen a couple of teaching assistant jobs and was just wondering if anyone here is a teaching assistant and if they have any tips or advice? I dont believe you need to have any particular qualification? One of the jobs is an LSA for a statemented child in year 4.

hi tiff
i am an LSA and i have been in the job for nearly a year (september) you dont need any specific qualifications i didnt anyway my only experiance was having a special needs child myself they ask you questions about how you would deal with a pupil in different situations i am now doing 4 different courses and i am loving my job
good luck hope this helps a bit
sammy

chmmy

Ooo me too. Ive been a TA since Sept too. Was a SAHM for 5 years. It really is a great job, although it has some difficult days, just like any job. Visit the "staffroom - teaching assistants" on www.tes.co.uk for some info on likely questions you might get asked at interview.

http://www.tes.co.uk/section/staffroom/list_threads.aspx?path=/teaching+assistants/

tiff

Thank you both, that link is really helpful. I assume a learning support assistant is similar to teaching assistant? Did you have any previous experience chmmy? I dont have any experience apart from being a parent but neither of my children are special needs.

Nenen

Hi Tiff
I'm a teacher and can honestly say that a good TA/LSA is worth his/her weight in gold! Different education authorities use different names and, just to confuse the issue, some have different meanings, e.g. in some areas LSA means working with one particular child with a disability or learning/behaviour difficulty and in other areas it means general teaching assistant!

What attracts you to the job? If it is purely for the convenience of hours and holidays then (while these are obviously important factors) it might not be the right job for you. If you get a buzz out of working with children and don't mind mixing lots of interesting and stimulating work with some very mundane chores then it could be a good choice. You have to be able to follow orders but use your initiative simulataneously... not always easy! It's also helpful if you can read minds (teachers' and children's)!:rotfl: :rotfl:

Many schools prefer to employ TAs who have previously worked as volunteers in the school. Have you ever done any voluntary work in your children's school? Is it possible to do some for a while now? Not only will it give you a 'foot in the door' it will give you a feel for the job too.

What is your current highest level of education yourself? This might influence the sort of post you would be suitable for and/or interested in.
HTH and good luck

tiff

I have to say I want the job because it fits in with my children, but I do think it's something I am more than able to do. I have offered in the past to do voluntary work at school but they've always had more than enough volunteers (maybe the others are more pushy than I am lol) The job I am applying for is at another school. Maybe I could volunteer to listen to reception children reading, I know someone else has done that previously.

I've also seen a receptionists job at a sixth form college (also part time and term time only), and I have to say the LSA job appeals to me the most.

Part of me is put off because I'm sure they might already have a parent in mind, but having to advertise anyway but thats me being defeatist. Its hard to make that move after 9 years at home!

chmmy

In my school you can work as a general TA supporting the class and the class teacher, or you can work as an LSA where you work much more closely with one statemented child, working with them in groups as well as 1:1 programs. Im a general TA in Yr2 ATM, but I started as a LSA for a boy with ASD in Yr1. It would be useful if you could find out what special needs the child in Yr 4 has so you could read up on it (not sure if they would give that info, but worth asking?)

Im sorry but I qualified as a secondary science teacher and taught in high school for just 2 years, but then had 5 years at home. But all your work experience and qualifications will be relevant, it's just a case of doing your homework and wording your application in the best way. There are more than one level of TA(4 I think) which will affect the pay (dont forget it's pro rata), so it may be possible, depending on what the school is looking for, to start as say a TA1 then work your way up gaining qualifications along the way. I think schools are often looking for skills, personality and flexibility, rather than qualifications. Does the job advert specify that you need NVQ2 or anything? However I think it would be helpful if you had recently spent a day or two in school, or at least with children. Good luck, go for it!

samanthag

hi again tiff
i was a sahm for 11 years looking after my special need son before i got this job i am now with 2 year 7 pupils and 2 year 8 pupils the job can be very challenging but also very rewarding i work with pupils with severe special needs who are statemented
what is also nice is that most of the teachers really appreciate what you do to help in the classroom and they also now ask my opinion to see if the work is differentiated enough for the pupils that i look after which is nice because it means that they take what i say into consideration
hope this helps
sammy

Nenen

tiff wrote: »

Part of me is put off because I'm sure they might already have a parent in mind, but having to advertise anyway but thats me being defeatist. Its hard to make that move after 9 years at home!

Well.. don't be too defeatist because, while it is true that schools do often look favourably upon someone who has done voluntary work, occasionally it can go against the person; for example if the person hasn't proved to be very reliable or if they favour their own child while supposedly being there for all the children. I do know some heads who prefer to employ staff who haven't got children at the school for this reason... so don't give up hope yet!
Don't underestimate the skills you have gained through being a SAHM either... maybe you've helped at toddlers/playgroup etc or can emphasise how you've learnt to think quickly on your feet to juggle the needs of 2 or 3 children simultaneously!

bestpud

Don't know how you feel about going back to college but another option would be to do a teaching assistants course (can't think what the qualification is called). Here you can do them part time and you would need to get a placement, so at the end you'd have a qualification and experience.

But I would say (not one myself but know people who are, or have been) that volunteering for a while is the way to go. I think it's true that these jobs are often 'allocated' already and usually to people who have volunteered within the school for a while. No reason not to try but you're right to recognise it (it definitely happens here at least).

Another reason to volunteer is it is often who you know for things like this and it can be useful to get your face known.

Plus, of course, it will increase your confidence as it's a while since you've been in paid work and you will soon know if it's what you want or not.

Good luck!

Bestpud

Meatballs

Nenen wrote: »

I'm a teacher and can honestly say that a good TA/LSA is worth his/her weight in gold!

Just finished my teacher training and agree totally.

Remember that your goal is to make the child independent and help them access the lessons, not to do their thinking or their work for them. Keep that in mind the whole way and you'll be good