My work in the classroom (Classroom Assistant)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Classroom Assistant
Date:	17/05/05 (1716 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I like my work

Disadvantages: beurocracy

Classroom assistant, teaching assistant, welfare assistant, nursery nurse, learning support assistant, general dogsbody. The job I am describing goes under all these names. A classroom assistant works in classes of children of any age. In any school setting. It is more usual to find classroom assistants in classes of younger children or working with special needs children.
You do not really need any formal qualifications to do this job. But qualifications do help both give you recognition as to your ability to do the job and give you practice and knowledge you will need also give you slightly higher wages. I am a qualified nursery nurse (N N E B). There are a variety of other qualifications suitable. N V Q national vocational qualifications one that is best recognised.
I have worked in an infant school and a special needs school.

The job of a Teaching Assistant (I think that is the preferred label we are given these days) is to give support to teachers to provide relevant learning experiences for children.

Activities that I do in my day are to organise the classroom setting up activities, keeping equipment in good order. Greeting children on arrival into school helping with their toileting and personal needs setting up toilet training programmes. Liasing with parents. Administering first aid when necessary. Supervising playtime and lunchtime feeding children who have difficulty in eating (I have gastronomy training) and activities outside. I assist in managing pupil’s behaviour. In the classroom I lead small groups of children in their work, I assist the teacher by helping children in a group she is leading. I will listen to children read I take relevant notes observing and recording pupils progress. I display the childrens artwork. I generally just do anything and everything necessary to help the classroom run smoothly and assist the childrens educational development.

Salary for a classroom assistant is from about £1100 up to £1600 for fully qualified experienced staff. Prospects for progression are very limited, unless you use being a classroom assistant as a stepping stone into teaching.
Classroom assistants are often employed part time or for working with one specific child with educational needs.I f you are interested in this kind of work a goo website is http://www.nurserynurses.co.uk/http or http://www.lgcareers.com/careers/profile.asp?
I do enjoy my job working with special needs children helping them achieve their full potential, So yes I would recommend it

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