Essential
Job Information
The following information will be of interest to those
seeking jobs or, considering a career in the education. Teaching agencies
and employers of teaching assistants etc may also find this of value.
What is a Teaching Assistant?
Teaching Assistants work throughout the UK in primary,
secondary or special schools, either in a general role or they may have
responsibilities for
a particular child (with a statement or additional educational needs).
A key role of the Teaching Assistant is to help raise educational standards
in the classroom, by providing support for the pupils, the teacher and
the school.
Teaching Assistants' classroom responsibilities can range
from performing routine tasks, such as getting things ready for lessons,
putting up displays
around the school, administrative tasks (photocopying, collecting dinner
money etc), to sometimes working with individual children.
The demand for good teachings assistants is increasing
all the time, as a result of the governments ‘Remodelling
of the School Workforce’ agenda
. There are currently around 150,000 teaching assistants in the UK.
Schools will often decide what qualifications and experience they require
when appointing a teaching assistant, although many schools do prefer either
older candidates or those with previous child-care experience.
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What is work like?
Working as a teaching assistant can
be a lot of fun, extremely rewarding and also very demanding, not to mention
tiring!
The working day is usually during school hours
and often, term time only. Salaries can range from £10,000 to £15,000
depending upon experience and responsibilities, although this is only
a guide.
They work with individual children, small groups or the whole class. The
work often involves helping children with special educational needs, such
as learning difficulties, physical impairments or those for whom the first
language is not English.
In a nursery or primary school, with children aged three to eleven, a teaching
assistant will help in a variety of different ways:
getting things ready for lessons
- reading and telling stories
- helping children with number
work by using counting games or learning tables
- playing games and encouraging
children to play together
- talking and listening to children
- displaying art and
craft work
- supervising dining and play areas
- escorting pupils between
classes and on outings and sports events
- comforting and caring for children
if they have a minor accident or are upset
- helping younger children with
motor and co-ordination skills such as holding pencils correctly
or tying shoelaces
- helping the teacher to maintain records
- liasing with
other professionals, parents and carers
Most teaching assistants
in secondary schools work as special needs assistants. This might involve
accompanying a pupil around the
school, taking notes for them in lessons or carrying bags and books.
Secondary schools usually have learning support departments,
where teaching assistants
work
with
individuals or small groups of pupils, often
complementing work
being done in class.
There are increasing opportunities for professional development
as a teaching assistant. These can lead to Higher Level
Teaching Assistants and ultimately
qualification as a teacher, for those wishing
to pursue this route.
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What qualifications are needed?
There are no set entry requirements. However, it is generally encouraged
that applicants have nationally recognised qualifications. An understanding
of English and maths is important in order to support classroom literacy
and numeracy. People normally need to be at least 18 to begin training.
Previous, relevant experience including nursery nursing, play work and
youth work may help. Some people work as volunteer helpers in schools whilst
taking a course to train as a teaching assistant.
NCFE Initial Training for Classroom Assistants (Stage 1 and 2) is suitable
for those who wish to begin study in this area. No previous experience
is necessary for Stage 1.
The following are vocational qualifications suitable for teaching assistants
with little experience or for those with no previous experience:
• CACHE Level 2 Certificate for Teaching Assistants
• NCFE Level 2 Certificate
• BTEC Level 2 Certificate
• ABC Level 2 Certificate.
Those who have successfully completed Level 2,
and existing teaching assistants who want a nationally recognised
Level 3 qualification,
can work towards
their Level 3 Certificate for Teaching Assistants.
NVQs in Early Years Care and Education at Levels 2 and 3 for teaching assistants
are also available for those already working in the classroom.
Some universities offer certificates or diplomas of higher education or
foundation degrees specifically for teaching assistants or learning support
assistants.
Apprenticeships have now been developed for teaching assistants. They provide
a work-based route to recognised qualifications, such as NVQs and Key/Core
Skills, and can lead onto higher-level qualifications.
For further information, please refer to our ‘Great
Links’ section.
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What is a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)?
Teaching assistants in England can achieve Higher Level Teaching Assistant
Status (HLTA), as long as they have reached the required standard in literacy
and numeracy. It is usual for the employer to play a lead role in helping
a teaching assistant achieve HLTA status.
HLTA’s may sometimes to be required to supervise a class of children,
this may occur when there is a teacher absence. It is expected that the
period of supervision should only be short term (see www.coversupervisors.co.uk).
Clearly the HLTA has an increased level of responsibility and as such can
also expect to receive a slightly higher income than a regular teaching
assistant. However pay rates are set by the employers and salaries can
therefore vary quite a lot.
With HLTA status, a foundation degree or equivalent qualifications, teaching
assistants can progress on to teacher training by taking a degree leading
to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Teaching assistants can move into other work with children, such as day
nursery, playgroup or playleader work, childminding or residential childcare.
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How
can you find work?
There are numerous sources available to help you to
identify jobs as a teaching assistant, including our message boards and
our free online newsletters
(Subscribe Now!).
There are also a wide variety
of education recruitment agencies (sometimes known as ‘Teaching Agencies’),
who can help you to find work that suits.
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Teaching Agencies
There are hundreds of recruitment agencies
nationwide, dedicated to the task of helping to find you work. Some agencies
are well known national
high street names such as Reed, Select Education, Protocol and Celsian,
however there are also many local agencies available too.
The standard of agencies can vary from area to area and it cannot be assumed
that a national agency will be any better at finding you work than a local
agency. A guide to Teaching Agencies, the services they offer and a comprehensive
list can be found at: www.teachingagencies.co.uk
Alternatives to recruitment agencies include:
- Contact local schools directly
- Local jobs papers.
- National jobs papers such as the TES
(Times Education Supplement), The Guardian or, The Independent.
- Contacting
your LEA (Local
Education Authority) see attached list and link
- Search
online – see Great
links.
The Government is committed to
delivering additional childcare places
benefiting 2 million children by 2006. To achieve this expansion we estimate
that some 175 -180,000 new childcare workers will need to be recruited
(and where necessary trained or re-trained) up to 2006. This will enable
the workforce to expand up some 85-90,000
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Other key information.
Related jobs
Childminder
Cover Supervisor
Nursery Nurse
Playworker
School Lunchtime Supervisor
Teacher
Youth and Community Worker
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