Becoming a TA after being a teacher

[PatTheHammer]

Just this really.

Wondered if anyone had any experience of doing this. If you did leave teaching to become a TA what 'Grade' were you paid at? Did you have to start over in effect and train or could you apply for higher grade jobs as you were essentially qualified?
Also how does TA pay actually work, I take it you don't get paid for the holidays?

By the way, I'm talking about an experienced teacher with 10 years plus experience.
I realise there are people I could talk to about this at work but at the moment it is highly confidential for personal reasons that I'm even considering this.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can add anything.

[serengetty]

My colleague did this and gets 14000 per annum pro rata, 200 a month. Much less money, but much less stress!

[serengetty]

800!!!!!

[PatTheHammer]

Thanks Serengetty, Is that £800 a month full-time?
I'm always confused about what pro rata means, does this mean if she did a 0.5 part-time position she would get 7,000 per annum?

(disclaimer: I don't teach maths and finance......fortunately!)

[serengetty]

Her gross is something like 11000, and she gets paid monthly, through holidays too. So if you worked full timetime you would get the actual salary...if you see what I mean!

[serengetty]

That's TA Level 2 btw

[CremeEggThief]

I have a thread about this in the Staffroom section, as I'm trying to get back into work as a T.A. No luck so far, although it's fairly early days, but some of the others' (on the thread) responses are well worth a read.

[PatTheHammer]

Oh thanks cremeegg, will have a look on your thread.

Marius- Thank you for explaining the pay thing. This is kind of what I was expecting and I think sadly for me it means that it will be very difficult for me to find something suitable as the amount I need to cover my bills/childcare/out-goings etc is probably not going to be covered by a TA salary.

Its all so confusing with the contracts isn't it, some are employed full-time, some term-time only, some on a temporary basis.

[inappropriatelyemployed]

Is this not a very difficult and complicated move unless you are happy to suddenly not be leading a class and to take direction from someone else?

My son has a TA and she was a teacher. We thought we were lucky, yet she knows nothing about supporting a child with additional needs, finds it very difficult to take instruction from external agencies and so does what she thinks is right. This has led to constant tension and a very poor relationship with my son.

She is now having to be moved sideways.

I am not saying this would happen with everyone but, especially when supporting children with SEN, you may have to make sure you are prepared to change your mindset.

[PatTheHammer]

Thanks for the advice, when I first started as an NQT the school did not have enough teaching hours to fill my timetable so I did spend some of my timetable in learning support. I had a small maths extraction group and also supported children with additional needs in year 8 and year 11 lessons.
I know this was a long time ago for me but it was an invaluable experience for me as a teacher as it helped me plan the best use of my TA support.
Most years that I have been teaching I have had an entry level group at key stage 4 so I do have experience with working with small groups of children with quite complex SEN. I'm hoping this will all help if I do make the transfer, especially if it is to non-mainstream school.

Sorry about the situation with your son- inappropriatelyemployed. That does not sound helpful at all. I'm glad it seems to be on its way to being resolved for you.

[morethanpotatoprints]

My friend found this a difficult move. If you are able to take a back seat and not feel like piping up, at times watch a teacher and be directed by them when you seriously don't agree with them. I think if you liked the teacher and you could respect them then fine, not sure if I could have done this.
However, as others have said less stress, finish when school does. Good holidays as you know teachers don't get 6 full weeks. Although TA's I have known still attend meetings i.e planning etc.

I know my friend would be shouting don't do it, but do you think you could manage the transition?

FWIW my friend now works supporting dc in pupil referral. She no longer teaches but has great satisfaction in turning their lives round. Also at the end of school day she is finished. She is paid aprox 32k and has done this for about 4 years now.