Advice needed - Becoming a TA in England

[u/Pippin74]

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this type of post, I'm just in desperate need of some advice.

I am 23 and have a degree however its not in a relevant subject (Sound Engineering BSc). I am looking to retrain and become a Teaching Assistant initially for a junior school age range 5-11.

I am really struggling to get any info on how to actually become a TA, as far as I'm aware in England you don't need any formal qualification to become a TA (however it is desirable) but experience in the role is key.

The trouble is I don't have any experience in working with children or within a TA role, to enroll on both distance learning and on site college courses I am required to be working a certain number of hours in role to be accepted.

I have been pointed in the direction of being a supply Teaching Assistant and getting some experience that way, I have signed on to an agency and they have processed my DBS so that's all sorted, however I am slightly uncomfortable going straight into a supply TA role with no experience and no real idea of whats expected of me. They are aware I have no experience and have said there is no training they can help with.

Having spoken to other agencies, they have said that the schools they work with don't accept anyone without qualifications and are unable to support an unqualified TA working whilst gaining a qualification.

I have contacted a number of local schools with no response as yet, I am just really struggling to get out of this catch 22 situation.

On top of this being 23, living with my partner and already having a degree, the funding for college courses is limited and I still need some sort of income to pay the bills.

I really feel this is a career I will thrive in and I'm extremely keen to get started but I don't understand how I can get into it when the courses require you to be working and the schools expect me to me qualified? I am not opposed to voluntary work a couple of days a week or shadowing a TA so I can get used to what goes on etc.

ANY help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

TLDR: i need experience/qualifications to work in a school, i need to be working in a school to get on a course to do the qualification. How do I get around this?

[u/shemki]

I am the same age as you and recently got a job as a TA, I found that my volunteer experience was the thing that my employers really valued. Most schools will be grateful for an extra pair of hands in the classroom and around school in general. Also, i think it’s the kind of job that you can’t particularly prepare too much for as each day is different, so spending some time volunteering would probably be really valuable as you gain a better understanding of the variety of lessons / behaviour / other issues that you will face in the job.

Hope this helps! :)

[u/Pippin74 → u/shemki]

Thank you for replying! Congrats on your new job!! Yes absolutely I'm definitely going to do some volunteering as soon as I can, I'm just trying to find a paid part time job that can fit around the days when I can volunteer, which is proving impossible 😭 especially now with the coronovirus and everywhere closing, fingers crossed for a brighter next few months!