Schools and learning

Teaching Assistants

This is a rewarding and enjoyable post for someone who enjoys working with children, who is caring, flexible, shows initiative and can work as part of a team supporting pupils and teachers. You should have good communication skills and be able to demonstrate a commitment to helping young people. The position can be either full time or part time.

For lots of really useful and interesting information on the role of Teaching Assistants and Higher Level Teaching Assistants in Hertfordshire schools, including newsletters, please take a look at the Hertfordshire Grid for Learning, by clicking on the link Teaching Assistants (inc HLTAs) on the right.

If you are looking for a position as a teaching assistant, the direct approach to schools in your local area is often the best. All schools have different requirements and it is often easier to chat things through with the Headteacher on the telephone – many people start with the schools which their own children attend. If you do not have children in a local school, or have just moved to the area, the local library can supply a list of schools, addresses and telephone numbers (or look in the telephone directory).

Jobs are also advertised in local papers, and on our online recruitment web site for schools - link on the right. You can Search for Jobs - click on Support Staff Vacancies and then select Teaching Assistants from the drop-down list in the Category box. When you find a post that you are interested in, you can either contact the school by telephone or post, or if you wish you can apply online. You can also register your details on the website for job alerts (sent weekly to you by email if a job is advertised that meets your criteria), you can apply online if you wish and you can be contacted by schools directly if they have a post that may be of interest to you.

To obtain a teaching assistant position you do not need to have any formal qualifications but must be literate and numerate. Once you are in a post then various training courses can be arranged. The school puts teaching assistants forward for courses and the first is usually the DfES 4-Day Induction Training, after which various training opportunities are possible - but this will depend on the school and the amount of funding available.

However, if you feel that you would like to attend some short courses before applying we would suggest that you look at the prospectuses of local Further Education colleges in the child health and social care area. Often there are short courses, which might not only be interesting but demonstrate to a prospective school employer that you are serious about working with children.

The role of teaching assistants and other support staff within schools is changing and further information about these changes can be obtained from the DfES website: www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/teachingassistants/ You can also find information and a newsletter for Teaching Assistants on our own website - the Hertfordshire Grid for Learning
www.thegrid.org.uk/schoolworkforce/supportstaff/ta.

For further information about taking Higher Level Teaching Assistant status, visit www.hlta.gov.uk.