Any TA's out there ?

[coco]

Hope this is in the right place ??

I have been a SAHM for a long long time, our eldest is 22 this year and I have'nt been out to work since he was 2 when we ran a pub. We were heavily involved in fostering and I have experience of children with Special Needs and have recently started doing parent/reading in the youngest's school.

In September we will have two grown up (still at home) lads, 2 at high school and one just starting in the Juniors and I feel the need to do something - ideally school oriented so that I don't have to look for child care in the holidays .

Where do I start ? The local college appears to have courses for TA's but I could do with some hands on advice if any one can give me any I would be MOST appreciative

Thanks L xx

[Netty]

Hi, I have done the introductory CACHE course for teaching assistants and found it really interesting. Didn't go onto the stage 2 due to personal circumstances, but may do in the near future.

For the courses, you need to have a placement, voluntary or paid, so your "reading" hours would probably count towards that. You would also have to show the college you have a CRB check - some ask for it to be current (ie within the last couple of months, even though they are usually valid for a couple of years ....

Would the school allow you to do a bit more with the kids? Maybe sitting in with another TA when they take a small group of children, or something?

The pay is pretty dire, but I am sure it is very rewarding (plus, the advantage of school hours and holidays!)

[coco]

Thanks Netty, that was what I was a bit confuddled about as there are two courses listed both with the same name but one says a placement is needed the others doesn't mention it at all.

I must admit I can see the sense of a placement and training along side the college bit and I do think the school would be happy to give me as many hours as I like lol they don't have a lot of parent helpers this year for some reason.

Will make some more enquiries and thanks for the info

L xx

[Jen]

The NVQs are a great way to go, you need to be in work placement first, but NVQ in early years and education. with this qualification you can work in pre-school as well as children up to the age of 8.
I did my NVQ level 3 in early years and education; it took me just under 2 years.

why dont you see if your local school or pre-school will let you volunteer while you complete the course? some schools/pre-schools may be able to fund your course for you.
If you decide to do your NVQ I am happy to help in any way I can.
Good luck

[coco]

Thanks for that Jen - will look into it when the children go back - hubby has just been laid off so need to look at finances too as he checked up on doing some courses and was told that new gouvernment legislation means a lot of previously free courses were now going to be charged for. BUT the college had no idea which ones which makes committing to any thing a bit dodgy for any one at the moment me thinks

The school is only small but it has a nursery block too plus the parenting centre is built at the back of it so plenty of scope too.

must admit that whilst doing the voluntary stuff a number of the TA;s have said that is how they started off - most of them seem to have been already IN the school when a paid position came up.

L xx