[senco-forum] TA Training?

I have been reading the posts with interest!

After having a varied teaching career, including many years as a SENCO I  now 
teach at the local college parttime...dare I say it...NVQ3 City and Guilds  
Teaching Assistants!

I hope that my students , I only accept "mature" people, i.e. those that  
have either some experience of life, families etc, are an asset to any school  
and also clearly know their role. The course is quite intensive with 6 hours a  
week in school and a weekly class and they have to produce a portfolio  which 
looks at the school and curriculum etc in depth. I hope that I bring  
experience to the course and I think that this is the important part...that they  are 
taught by teachers not just tutors in a college with other background  
experience.

I think it is necessary for ALL teaching assistants, whether they have been  
there for years or not, to achieve this qualification. If they have the  
experience then the course will prove a doddle !!As teacher sw ehave to improve  
and constantly train so why not the TAs?

This year I have over 60 students , some are actually PGCE students who  have 
changed their mind, 2 are speech therapists ,others have backgrounds as  
volunteer mums , dental hygienists, bank clerks,long distance coach driver,ex-  
professional footballer (is this where they end up ???) etc etc ...what a wealth 
 of expertise to go into schools!

I am thinking of holding a seminar to explain to local  SENCOs etc the  value 
of TAs training, that way it might help to alleviate many of the problems  
that we are all discussing here.

Hope this gives food for thought.

Hazel Edwards
Barrow-in-Furness