The Teaching Assistant College will be holding events for Teaching Assistants throughout the year, these events will consist of workshop sessions relating to different aspects of being a Teaching Assistant...
August 4th, 2010
We would like to thank all of you who attended our open day, especially those who travelled a distance to get here, it is really appreciated.
We are delighted at the response and the eagerness to find our more about e-learning through the college.
As a consequence we are looking at further open days during the coming months, especially to [...]
May 18th, 2010
The Teaching Assistant College attended the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) held at the Royal Horseguard’s Hotel on the 15th – 17th May 2010.
The conference proved to be extremely successful for us, with very positive interest in the Teaching Assistant qualifications and INSET training from schools based in a wide range of locations!
It looks like the [...]
Placements
Whilst studying for any of the courses it is a requirement that you spend time in a supporting role within a school classroom.
If not already done so, a placement can be obtained by contacting the Headteacher of your local schools or setting, requesting a position on a paid or voluntary basis to support your studies.
We will send you more guidance on finding a school placement, if you don’t already have one, at the time you enrol with us.
Once you have enrolled onto your course The Teaching Assistant College will send you a letter to take into your school along with a placement information pack to prove that you will be starting a course with us and to give them an idea of what you will be required to do.
Placements are a highly valuable part of your course because it is in school that the theory learned online can be put into practice and you will start to see everyday school life happening at first hand.
At The Teaching Assistant College we consider that what you learn during your school placement is just as important as the learning you gain with us, consequently you will find it a highly rewarding experience.
Just think of all the difference YOU can make to the children you will be working with.
Every school is different and every day in school is different. You may therefore be requested to perform a range of different tasks as a Teaching Assistant.
These are a few of the tasks that may be asked of you in school:
- Work with groups of children playing a learning game or supporting them in completing written work
- Listen to children read
- Put up a display
- Help children spell a word to use in their work
- Find or prepare resources for the teacher
- Photocopying
- Make resources e.g. a game to help the children learn about something specific such as numbers
- Reading a story at the end of the day
- Take the children to assembly
- Go on a school trip
- Wash paint pots
This list may make you quite excited about becoming a Teaching Assistant, or it may even cause you concern, as you consider you may not know how to perform some of these tasks.
Please do not worry, this is why studying to be a Teaching Assistant is so important, and of course the Teachers you are working with will know you are new and will be expecting you to ask questions.
Learning in schools has changed dramatically from when you may have been at school and we are aware of this too, so we know you will need to be introduced to many of the modern teaching methods used in school today.
The ideas we have mentioned are only a few of the kinds of things that you can expect, as it really depends on the age group you are working with and the amount of time you spend in school, each will provide you with varied types of activities you are likely to see; so if you are planning to go into school in the same class, at the same time, on the same day each week then it is likely that you will be expected to perform only similar tasks each time you attend.
We are sure that you will enjoy your time in school and studying with The Teaching Assistant College.
