Teaching Assistant help and advice

[Sharpshooter]

Hi All. My wife is currently helping out at our youngests Primary school in the classroom. She now wishes to gain an NVQ in being a Teaching Assistant. What is the best way to go about it. We have looked on the net, and prices vary between £300 and £700 for what doesnt seem very clear. She has had a discussion with the head of the school who advises going for an NVQ level 2/3.

It would be easiest to do it from home, but we wondered whats the best way to do it. Verity (My Wife) already has CACHE level 3 in  Childminding. Does this count anything towards it??

Thanks in advance

Wayne. :D

[freelanderpx54]

How recent is the CACHE qualification? If it is less than 2 years it should be able to be used as evidence towards NVQ. The main thing with NVQ is to read the standards carefully and make sure that your written evidence statements cover as much of the standards as possible.

I assess the NHS Cadets at work to NVQ 2/3

Cheers
John

[Skibum346]

I'd recommend getting in touch with learning direct for some info.

[Bouncy]

it may well be that there will be some funding available for her to do the appropriate training depending on the area you live in . Given they are desperate for TAs you would stand a very good chance of getting several courses paid for.
Good luck

[andyhubbard]

Hiya Sharpshooter/Verity you should be able to apel the NVQ acroos to gain points towards the classroom assistant qualification,try your local adult learning classes as they may well offer the course and at a greatly reduced rate,hope this helps Andy.

[Sharpshooter]

How recent is the CACHE qualification? If it is less than 2 years it should be able to be used as evidence towards NVQ. The main thing with NVQ is to read the standards carefully and make sure that your written evidence statements cover as much of the standards as possible.

I assess the NHS Cadets at work to NVQ 2/3

Cheers
John

Hi John. The CACHE was gained in 2001. Does this make a difference??

[Sharpshooter]

I'd recommend getting in touch with learning direct for some info.

Unfortunately Learning Direct want more than all the others put together.

[Sharpshooter]

it may well be that there will be some funding available for her to do the appropriate training depending on the area you live in . Given they are desperate for TAs you would stand a very good chance of getting several courses paid for.
Good luck

Good idea. I will look into that. :)

[Sharpshooter]

Hiya Sharpshooter/Verity you should be able to apel the NVQ acroos to gain points towards the classroom assistant qualification,try your local adult learning classes as they may well offer the course and at a greatly reduced rate,hope this helps Andy.

Cheers Andy. We will look into that. Thanks :)

[Jamin]

Can she not apply for a position (if there is one available) and then the school should pay for it as part of CPD.

Im not sure if this is the same for assistants or just teaching staff, but a lot of qualifications require you to be in the position before you can start the course!

Im a lecturer who had no teaching qualifications, but i'm being provided with the training and will acheive the qualifications required as part of the job.

[Sharpshooter]

Can she not apply for a position (if there is one available) and then the school should pay for it as part of CPD.

Im not sure if this is the same for assistants or just teaching staff, but a lot of qualifications require you to be in the position before you can start the course!

Im a lecturer who had no teaching qualifications, but i'm being provided with the training and will acheive the qualifications required as part of the job.

She has been told by the school there arnt any permanent positions at the moment. But if She does this, then it will give her a better chance when a spce comes availiable.

[annabelle]

Hi, I am in kind of the same position, I really don't want to shell out that kind of money because it would only work out if I got a job at my kids' school.  Plus, most TA courses require at least 15 hours unpaid work experience during the week.  So as well as helping out on a voluntary basis I am also a "midday supervisor" (fancy name for dinner lady), for which I do get paid and hope that this has "got my foot in the door" - so to speak.
Good Luck, it is a very rewarding, and also demanding career choice.
Annabelle

[simdeb]

hi, i had a career change around 3 years ago due to a slipped disc in my neck,  my eldest secondary school offer a passport to learning, which entitles me and Simon to free courses with a qualification  at the end of it they offered the same scheme to feeder schools, if you don't know much about the inside running of the school then do the nvq 2 first, it is hard work lots of repetition but both worth it if ,  the school i did my placement was my sons primary school, our eldest is 17 and i thought i knew quite a lot about the school :oops: :oops:   i did learn loads about the admin, staffing, pupils behavior too much to mention,  the only thing i have found is that they except good grades in english and maths, i have nether but am in process of doing my gcse maths., keep your foot in the door and ask if you can sit in on a Ta's session at the school you work  so you can see what it entiles as working in the class is very different from taking a group out of class.

at present i run the breakfast club and have around 40 kids come! :shock: :shock:  and midday supervisor.the head has offered me another 12 hours ta work before we broke up at easter :lol: :lol:

debbie 

[freelanderpx54]

How recent is the CACHE qualification? If it is less than 2 years it should be able to be used as evidence towards NVQ. The main thing with NVQ is to read the standards carefully and make sure that your written evidence statements cover as much of the standards as possible.

I assess the NHS Cadets at work to NVQ 2/3

Cheers
John

Hi John. The CACHE was gained in 2001. Does this make a difference??

It probably will. In order for evidence gained under "other" qualifications to be classed as valid, they have to be fairly recent. The daft part starts now, if your wife is still working in the field that the qualification was gained then the "Grandparent Papers" rule comes into play. This means that the qualification would be allowed to count towards the NVQ. I agree with the comments of find a job with training. It is in the Employers interest to train and cultivate their own staff.


If you want to have a chat then PM me your phone number

Cheers
John

[Sharpshooter]

hi, i had a career change around 3 years ago due to a slipped disc in my neck,  my eldest secondary school offer a passport to learning, which entitles me and Simon to free courses with a qualification  at the end of it they offered the same scheme to feeder schools, if you don't know much about the inside running of the school then do the nvq 2 first, it is hard work lots of repetition but both worth it if ,  the school i did my placement was my sons primary school, our eldest is 17 and i thought i knew quite a lot about the school :oops: :oops:   i did learn loads about the admin, staffing, pupils behavior too much to mention,  the only thing i have found is that they except good grades in english and maths, i have nether but am in process of doing my gcse maths., keep your foot in the door and ask if you can sit in on a Ta's session at the school you work  so you can see what it entiles as working in the class is very different from taking a group out of class.

at present i run the breakfast club and have around 40 kids come! :shock: :shock:  and midday supervisor.the head has offered me another 12 hours ta work before we broke up at easter :lol: :lol:

debbie 

Thanks Debbie. She is volunteering as a calss helper one afternnon a week at the moment. So she has her foot in the door. We will have to enquire more as to wether they may help along the way. Thanks again. :)

[Sharpshooter]

How recent is the CACHE qualification? If it is less than 2 years it should be able to be used as evidence towards NVQ. The main thing with NVQ is to read the standards carefully and make sure that your written evidence statements cover as much of the standards as possible.

I assess the NHS Cadets at work to NVQ 2/3

Cheers
John

Thanks John. I think i will get Verity to enquire more about it at our Sons school. This is where she is currently Volunteering. I may take you up on the offer of a chat soon. Thanks Wayne. :)

Hi John. The CACHE was gained in 2001. Does this make a difference??

It probably will. In order for evidence gained under "other" qualifications to be classed as valid, they have to be fairly recent. The daft part starts now, if your wife is still working in the field that the qualification was gained then the "Grandparent Papers" rule comes into play. This means that the qualification would be allowed to count towards the NVQ. I agree with the comments of find a job with training. It is in the Employers interest to train and cultivate their own staff.


If you want to have a chat then PM me your phone number

Cheers
John