Teaching Assistant Jobs?

Question

I am currently looking after our son who is 18 months old and I would really like to train towards a NVQ as a Teaching Assistant or maybe a Playgroup Assistant. I worked voluntary in a playgrpup setting about 6 years ago for 18 months or so and really enjoyed it, unfortunatley the playgroup leader no longer wanted to run the playgroup and so I had no where to work. I have thought about this and I would like to do this as a career but have no idea where I should start or how to go about this. Do I contact my local college or schools/playgroups? I assume I will have to re-do my English and Maths at college because I didn't get that good grades at school(D grade in both)although I am good at maths now and English but I just messed about at school and could have done better really. What is my first step to be able to train in this area. I know the job is rewarding as I experienced at the playgroup. I have a up to date CRB aswell. Please any help would be greatful.

Answer 1

Contact your local college, CRB's are not transferable so you may have to get another done! If you do an NVQ you may not have to do Maths or English again, they might be part of the course!! Good Luck xx

Answer 2

Apply for jobs in schools and local playgroups. LEA playgroups often sponsor the assistants to go on in FE. The schools will also do that. Probably the best way in would be to apply to one of the schools that have an intake of handicapped kids....that way you would be on a one 2one and it would give you some experience. It may be worth sending a spec  letter with your CV to some of the local schools. Better still why not approach a school personally and ask if they need any unpaid helpers while you look for something permanent?  This will give you experience and show your willingness.  Hope that this helps.

Answer 3

CRB is not transferable.

Ask for the nearest uni with a creche that way you can be on site and learn what you need to.

On a lighter note:

You walk into the classroom and say good morning...

When they say good morning back very slowly it's a primary school.  When they say nothing and grunt it's secondary modern.

When they put their cosmopolitan down and open their books, it's an all girls boarding school.

When they look up so they can see the instructor over the tops of the newspapers, it's a boys one.

When they put their feet up on the desks and keep reading, it's the local college.

When they write it down, it's graduate students.

Answer 4

Hi, to be a nursery nurse you can train on the job.  You can contact any nurseries that are looking for trainee's and they will point you in the right direction.

Also you can go to college and do a Btec National in Childcare (which I did).  This will also qualify you to be a classroom assistant as long as you have decent maths and English GCSE grades.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

If you can afford to, volunteer at a preschool. This is probably the best way to work your way in - if they know you they may use you for supply cover and when they get to know you better they may offer you a job. I own a preschool and personally I'm not very impressed with NVQ qualifications, they're a too easy option. Go to college one evening or half a day a week and get a level three or four child care qualification such as the DPP or Cache cert (the old NNEB eqivalent), they show that you're committed and enthusiastic. Most employees get courses paid for by the Local Authority. You won't need english and maths GCSEs unless you are doing the foundation degree, so you've got plenty of time for that. Get yourself known as someone who can be relied on and get lots of experience and training.

Having been both a teaching assistant and preschool practitioner, I much prefer working in a preschool - in a school you have a very low status and you are pretty much just there as a teacher's slave. Preschools are more fun and more about the children, and you will be much more appreciated.Good luck!

Answer 6

hya, you should check out vacancies through your local council for job vacancies, some councils have this on the net, get applying too. as long as they know you are committed to getting qualified they should be keen cos of your experience. good luck x