At this time of the year we are always looking at whether we are satisfied with our lives and what we can do during the upcoming year to improve things for ourselves and our families. It is a great opportunity to evaluate job satisfaction, and possibly think about taking that step to begin to work towards changing your career, particularly if you feel held back by personal circumstances or a lack of qualifications.

Female teacher with a female student

 

Our learners often get in touch to celebrate their success with us and to show their appreciation for us supporting them through the process, and it is because of this we are able to share with you some of their success stories.

Judith’s journey into teaching

In 2013 Judith became a learner with NCC Home Learning and embarked upon a Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning Certificate which she was able to complete within 8 months.

NCC learner describes her journey into teaching

“Years ago when I started working as a teaching assistant I was just taken on at my local school on a part-time basis because my children went there. I love working with children, and I think I am good at what I do, I have made a difference in terms of innovation in our school. After working here for 7 years I was invited to go for my Supporting Teaching and Learning Certificate as part of my PDP.

Initially, I wasn’t sure that I could go back to learning, particularly as I had a busy home life with 4 kids to raise as a single mum, but I gave it a go. I managed to pass the course quite easily and after a year I asked the Headteacher if I could take on the Higher Level Teaching Assistant certificate again for PDP, funding was found to support this and I was a HLTA for 6 years. I did both my courses through NCC because our bursar had previous experience dealing with them, and she knew that they were a reputable company. I have to say that with both courses I was taken care of really well and my tutor support was excellent. When I was doing my HLTA, I did have a second tutor because of maternity leave, but the transition did not affect me. After being a HLTA for 5 years, my Headteacher suggested me doing a PGCE. I already had a BA (Hons) Applied Art, and my Headteacher informed me that I could do the PGCE course as an apprenticeship and obtain my QTS upon completion.

After a very tough year and a half in terms of both the demands of the PGCE, but also personal demands because my mum passed away, I did actually achieve a job as a qualified teacher obviously at the same school that have supported me through the process. My mum would be so proud of my achievement.

Thank you to NCC, because without the courses that I did which evidenced my knowledge and ability, I never would have progressed to where I am now. I never imagined when I left school that I would become a teacher, but I love the work I do and the difference I make in my children’s lives. Without online learning to enable me to study around my work, I could never have afforded financially to get to where I am now.”

Teaching assistant courses offered by NCC

NCC offers a range of qualifications designed to support the professional growth of teaching assistants. As pioneers of the Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) qualification, we have been at the forefront of empowering teaching assistants to advance in their careers.

For individuals entering the field, our Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (STALIS) suite includes a foundational knowledge-based qualification, which is the Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Award Level 3 RQF. This allows those who may not have immediate access to a school placement to obtain a formal qualification, enhancing their prospects of securing a teaching assistant role. Upon completion, learners can seamlessly progress to the Level 3 STALIS Certificate at a reduced cost, building on the modules they have already completed. Further advancement is facilitated through the Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools Level 3 Diploma RQF, with the opportunity to leverage completed certificate units to streamline the progression process.

 

STALIS suite of qualifications showing units across each one

 

Experienced teaching assistants seeking to enhance their qualifications and earning potential can aspire to become Higher Level Teaching Assistants. NCC provides a tiered suite of qualifications to support this journey. For instance, a teaching assistant aspiring to become an TQUK Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) Level 4 Award independently, tailoring their pace to accommodate work commitments. This award serves as evidence of the knowledge required for an HLTA role, potentially opening doors for career progression within the same school or elsewhere. It’s important to note that achieving HLTA status is typically determined by the school, and additional requirements may be required beyond the Award to secure this status.

This year, NCC has expanded its Higher Level Teaching Assistant suite by introducing an Ofqual-regulated TQUK Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) Level 4 Diploma. This diploma offers a higher level of qualification beyond the Higher Level Teaching Assistant Certificate – HLTA Level 4 RQF, allowing individuals to further extend their professional development. Similar to our approach in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, learners can leverage previously completed units from the Certificate qualification, saving both time and costs on their journey toward achieving the Diploma.

 

HLTA suite of qualifications showing units for each one

 

NCC is happy to provide further information or respond to any questions regarding these courses, or any of our courses on our website. Simply email [email protected] to communicate with one of our dedicated sales team, who will be happy to clarify anything that is unclear after reading the course details on our website.

FAQs

Can you become a teacher without going to university?

Numerous online courses offer pathways to becoming a teacher; nevertheless, it’s important to note that these courses typically demand a certain level of education and might not confer Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a prerequisite for teaching in state schools in the UK.

Can you become a qualified teacher without a degree?

Achieving the status of a qualified teacher without a traditional degree is possible, albeit an uncommon route. Some independent schools, private institutions, or academies may recruit teachers without degrees, but these positions can be competitive and may limit career progression. For service members leaving the military without an undergraduate degree, the Troops to Teachers program provides an alternative option.

Can you become a primary school teacher without a degree in the UK?

To become a primary school teacher in the UK without a degree, you would need to consider alternative routes to teacher training, such as School Direct or Teach First. These pathways require you to have some education and relevant experience working with children.

 

As a teacher, everything you do in the classroom has an unprecedented ripple effect, including your general attitude. This article discusses how a teacher’s lack or abundance of motivation affects their students.

Think back to your school or college days: think of one teacher who inspired and enthralled you, and another that didn’t – why was this? What were the differences? As well as sharing a passion not just for their subject but for learning, one key difference was their motivation. Excellent teachers are fuelled by their passion for student learning. This often grows through the effort it takes to become a qualified teacher, whether that be through a traditional university route, or by starting off with an online teaching course. As a teacher or teaching assistant, you are now in the position to pass on vital skills and knowledge to your students.

An excellent teacher fuels the natural curiosity to learn that is in us all. But why is motivation important?

A successful learning environment

Motivation is key to a successful classroom whether it is a class full of primary school children or a workshop in a college setting.

A motivated teacher has a different outlook that one who is simply ‘going through the motions’.

Motivation is what energises, directs and sustains positive behaviour in the classroom. It means creating challenging goals alongside activities and tasks that help a student or class reach these dizzying heights.

Sparking the desire to explore and to learn, a motivated teacher doesn’t necessarily mean someone who bounces around the classroom with unfettered energy. It isn’t about being popular, either.

Value and respect

In considering motivation and teachers, we need to think back to the two examples we started with.

What kind of learning environment did the good teacher create? And what kind of environment did the not-so-good teacher create? Was this experience particular to you or was it shared by the whole class?

The truth is, you may have found some lessons and a certain teacher boring, but the person sat next to you found it interesting and seemed to do well.

A motivated teacher is one who personalises and individualises learning. And to do so, they create a learning environment in which they value and respect each individual learner.

There is a saying – try to teach a goldfish to climb and it will spend the rest of its life thinking it is stupid – and this is what underlies the teaching methods of a teacher motivated to help ALL their students to learn.

Personality

Teaching is not a personality contest BUT, personality and likability do play a part in fostering a successful learning environment.

Teacher training today looks at every aspect and every minute of the lesson, from the greeting at the door of the classroom, to the respect within the four walls of the learning space, to how a lesson is ended.

It is also about a teacher interacting with students outside of the classroom when they engage with students in the hallways, the canteen, the schoolyard and other areas of the school or college.

When a student feels a personal connection with a teacher, they engage better. More importantly, they want to engage with someone they see and feel as liking them but valuing and respecting them too.

Teacher motivation in the classroom – what does it look like?

What makes a good teacher is a combination of all kinds of factors, principles, skills and more than a dash of personality;

Motivation has long been studied by modern and ancient scholars. What do you think it is? What motivates you to learn and to teach?

Slowly, we are beginning to understand more about autism and how it affects children.

a symbolic puzzle heart illustration for autism awareness. vector eps 10 available.

School has an important part in supporting children with autism and their families. Likewise, with greater awareness and understanding, schools are better placed to support children with autism. Find out how schools do this.

Autism is something we are hearing more about. With more people taking notice, discussion and dialogue about what autism is and how children and adults can be better supported is bringing about much-needed change.

But there is still a lot we don’t understand about autism. For schools, dealing with, managing and supporting children with autism has long presented a balancing act. On one hand, every school wants to make their learning environment fun, stimulating and dynamic but for a child with autism, these three things can be what they least need.

Schools have a big role to play so just how are they helping students with autism?

Spot warning signs

Nursery education and primary years are important formative years in the education and development of a child. Most children with autism will display a range of developmental issues and behaviours in the first three years of life.

There is no cure and the symptoms don’t ‘get better’. For nursery educators and early years teachers, they can be part of the diagnosis mechanisms.

This doesn’t mean that teachers or teaching assistants are qualified to determine who is autistic and where on the autistic spectrum they are. But they can provide evidence and feedback on how children react to certain stimuli in the classroom.

Often, it is the parents who understand that ‘something is not quite right’ and have to push hard for a diagnosis. Teachers and school can be part of supporting this process.

Create better acceptance amongst peers and colleagues

Autism awareness in school is essential for promoting acceptance too.

Autism affects people differently. How one student displays symptoms is very different to how another child does. Boys present autism differently to girls, although our understanding of this is only just beginning to come to the fore.

Innovative teaching

There are many schools across the country who are taking steps to change the physical school environment to accommodate and welcome students with autism, as well as changing how they teach.

To truly understand what it is like for a child with autism to attend school, we need to understand what it is like to be locked in a world where the smallest sound can be unbearable.

To support national autism week, the Autism Speaks has produced powerful videos that offer a glimpse into what it is like for some people with autism to do everyday things that we take for granted. From walking along the street to being in a café, there are so many things that can cause distress to someone with autism.

Small changes and adaptations to the school environment, as well as how teaching staff and colleagues interact with an autistic child, can make all the difference.

Prepare students for a world beyond school walls

At some point, a child with autism grows up to be an adult with autism. It is not a disorder that fades with time, it is not a phase or something that a child grows out of.

A child with autism is a child with a future and school can play a big part in the process of readying them for life beyond its walls. Both ‘special schools’ and mainstream schools have a part in helping a student with autism to go on and live a fulfilling life.

Supporting families

Schools work with parents and carers to establish a routine that helps, supports and nurtures their students.

But autism awareness in school extends further than you think. From providing support for the siblings of a child with autism to working with parents, carers, health organisations and social services to give every child the education they deserve and need to become well-rounded adults.

Not everyone appreciates the true value of the teaching assistant in the classroom but for pupils with learning difficulties and other support needs, it is the teaching assistant who helps them to access the learning opportunities on offer. How does a teaching assistant perform this vital function?

School budgets across the country are being squeezed. Along with other roles, the teaching assistant is under threat. With schools not replacing TAs or cutting hours, it is hard to see how some children with additional learning and support needs will be able to access mainstream learning.

With the TA being so vital to the smooth running of the classroom, what is the secret that lies behind their success? How are TAs able to help pupils with all kinds of barriers to learning?

Robust training

TAs have traditionally been used as an ad hoc support system in the classroom or an ‘extra pair hands’ for helping out in the learning environment. From fetching and carrying to sweeping up glitter, the role of the TA took some time to professionalise but slowly, over the years, this has come to fruition.

In some schools and colleges, TAs are still used to step into the breach where their teaching colleague doesn’t have the time nor the expertise to deal with low-attaining pupils. But again, this is an attitude that is slowly changing too.

There is no denying that the investment in robust training of teaching assistants to deliver structured help and support in the classroom has made for significant improvements. It means TAs can successfully support students to not only access education but to take responsibility for it.

Many schools are now offering a structured training approach in how to become a teaching assistant and people interested in working as TAs in the classroom or other learning environments, are also taking steps to become trained.

As a resource, the TA can also be the specialist in many cases. From dealing with and managing challenging behaviour to working with specific needs and barriers to learning, such as autism, the TA can be the connecting bridge between the child and their learning.

But for many TAs, they remain underutilised in the classroom because teaching staff are sometimes how sure to best deploy their skills and abilities.

Structured interventions and programmes

There is no denying that the most successful teaching assistants are those who are confident in the structured interventions they are to offer.

For example, teachers create detailed lessons plans for each session they undertake with students. By sharing this with the TA, they are equipped to understand how these can be modified so that a student with learning difficulties can access the learning in a way that makes sense to them.

Research suggests that TAs carrying out structured interventions in the classroom with a student or group of students with learning difficulties have a positive effect – around three to four months’ worth of extra academic progress a year.

The most effective sessions have been shown to be those that are brief, regular and consistent. In other words, a structured intervention for part of a lesson is more effective than that carried out every lesson, with no guiding structure.

This evidence-based intervention means that the TA understand what they need to deliver, and how they need to do this, with a student or group of students so that they can access learning.

They are a bridge

And finally, the trained TA having completed one or more teaching assistant courses will understand that their work has more value when they are in the classroom, connecting the work of the student with learning or support difficulties with the ‘more formal’ learning setting of the classroom.

There are times when the TA works away from the classroom – providing this forms parts of the structured intervention, it can have the desired results. But, say education experts, TAs are more successful when they work in the classroom (or other learning settings) with students, rather than apart from it.

Understanding, empathy, knowledge and skills

TAs bring a lot to the classroom. As well as knowledge and skills from training, they bring a natural understanding and empathy that a child with learning and support needs can identify with. They connect a child with their own learning, helping them to understand what is happening around them and to be part of the learning process in a way that fits them.

Students who work with TAs will often have a respect that lasts for a lifetime, a person that they will remember as being the person who could really help. Are you this ‘special’ someone who could make a positive difference?

Education has always been and always will be a political hot potato. It is the one subject that is sure to ignite fierce debate and the recent findings by the Labour Party indicating that over half a million of children in schools across England are being taught by unqualified teaching staff is sure to provide a basis for yet more argument and discussion.

What’s the Problem?
To some, the difference between a qualified member of teaching staff and an unqualified one is simply a piece of paper. For a teacher or a qualified teaching assistant, it simply shows that they have the knowledge, the skills and ability to work with children, young people and adult students too. Some would say that the real qualification depends on the subject and that there are many people who have a lot to offer within education but that a teaching qualification isn’t a necessity.

There are others that argue that it is a necessity. A teaching qualification allows standards in education not only to be maintained but driven forward. But why are unqualified teachers and other people making it into the classroom?

Again, the answers say some, lay in the political landscape. One of the biggest changes to hit education in England was academies and free schools. These were institutions that were set up and run by people that were not necessarily first and foremost teachers or headteachers. Under David Cameron, the Tories removed the need for anyone teaching in these schools to be qualified.

Thus, argue some, the floodgates were open with Labour announcing that 613,000 in state-funded are regularly being taught by people with no formal teaching qualification. Their experience in education may not be lacking, their intention may be good, they may the students at the forefront of every activity but it is a state of affairs that will set the education system back, say some.

Getting Qualified – The Obstacles
There is an abundance of teaching courses, or so it seems, and for a long time, securing a place on a teaching course was difficult. But there are obstacles and factors that put people off including;

With university fees and costs now an issue, many more people find accessing education and professional qualifications financially impossible. Not only do course fees have to be paid, many teaching qualifications are taught full-time and are college based, necessitating someone to give up their full-time job. For mature students with rent and mortgages to pay, this is difficult.

Some teaching qualifications may only take an additional year, but it is an intense and all-consuming year of education. For students with families and other commitments, this is a difficult commitment to manage.

Pre-requisites in terms of qualifications set the bar high and whilst this has a steady impact on students entering the profession, it also rules out some people. As a result, some people feel that some teaching courses are not accessible to them. Online teaching courses can be a great way to introduce new skills and stay updated with the profession.

As a profession, education across all sectors from primary to secondary, further and higher education along with special education provision is painted as a high-stress and high-challenge working environment. Long hours, coupled with an ever-changing curriculum and policies has left many teachers and teaching assistants drained. These are just some of the reasons why teachers are leaving the profession and why some people are not entering it.

Working in education, whether that is as a headteacher or teaching assistant, will see you plunged into a rewarding career. Days are busy and there is a lot to do. Every child and student you work with is unique, with their own stories and issues that they will look to you to help them with.

There are moments of euphoria as there are moments of tension. And it is important to be qualified. A professional teaching qualification, from a PGCE or diplomas from other teaching courses, empower you with the skills, the abilities and the attitude needed to help students grow, learn and flourish.

It helps you to learn the basics of behaviour management within a classroom or educational setting. It also helps you to understand some of the many emotional, social and behavioural difficulties that children and young people deal with alongside trying to learn and grow. It helps you understand what safe practice is when working with children, young people and vulnerable adults, and how to keep you safe within education.

Teaching courses and qualifications are valuable and important and with teaching courses online, you escape some of the limits and boundaries other courses present. So why not become a qualified teaching assistant with an online course, studied in your own time and at your pace?

Teaching Assistants (TAs) are valued members of a school’s staff and an amazing resource in any classroom. With vacancies across the education sector (including primary and secondary schools, pupil referral units and colleges) there are many opportunities to become a teaching assistant.

Schools and colleges are increasingly looking for TAs that are both qualified and experienced. Employers welcome applications from people who have experience in other work sectors and industries, as they bring valuable knowledge and skills to the classroom.

But how do you get started?

What Does a Teaching Assistant Do?
Teaching Assistants support the teacher and the students. We associate TAs with working with under-achieving children or pupils with additional learning needs, but TAs are also used by classroom teachers to challenge gifted children.

The role that a TA fills will vary from one school or college to another:

Essential Skills
As a TA, you will need to show a range of diverse skills:

How to Get a Job as a Teaching Assistant

#1 Get Qualified
There is no requirement for a TA to be qualified, so it may seem strange to suggest starting with this point.

However, schools and colleges are increasingly aware of the very complex needs of some of their students. They are also aware that in order to provide a high-quality education that is accessible for all of their students, they need to offer a range of educational experiences. TAs are an important part of this big picture.

Being a qualified TA means that the school or college has confidence in your abilities and your skills, and they trust in your professionalism as an educational provider working within the establishment.

There are many TA qualifications that show employers that you have the ability to work with children and young people. These include:

A Level 2 Teaching Assistant Certificate or a Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma both cover the basics of being a TA in an educational setting. The average duration of the Level 3 Diploma is 200 hours of study, with NCC providing expert tutor support for 12 months.

The level 4 HLTA Qualification course shows an employer you are capable of facilitating small group work sessions and delivering work prepared by the classroom teacher. This course is 240 hours of study over a timeframe that suits you. To support your learning on this course, volunteering in the classroom will cement your knowledge if you don’t already work in a school or college.

As well gaining qualifications as a TA, you can expand your skill set with awareness raising or specialist qualifications, such as working with children with speech and language needs, and behavioural issues as well as mental health issues, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). There are also courses that help with understanding autism and other similar issues and illnesses.

By holding these specialist qualifications, you show potential employers that you have the abilities and skills to help all children access education.

#2 Secure a Placement or Volunteer
Being a TA is an active role. It can be demanding, and even though you may think you are only working 9 until 3 pm (hours will vary!), those six hours are full of non-stop activities.

Employers look for an understanding of the educational setting, and so volunteering or arranging a placement in a school or college will strengthen your applications. Most schools welcome volunteers and will be happy to provide you with a short reference at the end of your time at their school.

A short placement or a term volunteering is valuable if you lack the practical experience of being in school. If you have not been in a school or college for a long time, you will be amazed at how much the lessons have changed.

#3 Search for Vacancies
TA posts are regularly advertised in different places, depending on the employer;

Before applying, it is important that you thoroughly research the TA post. Because TA roles vary so widely, you need to be confident that you know what is being asked of you. For example, TAs who work with disabled students can be responsible for their personal care during the day. Other schools amalgamate many duties into the role of TA, such as First Aid.

Schools and colleges are different, and each has a different ethos and style of education. Before you apply, you need to assess if the school, college or educational setting looks to be an environment you would want to be a part of?

#4 Submitting Your Application
HINT – don’t leave the application process to the last minute. Take the time to work on the application form, covering letter and your CV so that you respond to a job vacancy with a strong application that secures you an interview.

You will need to follow the application process as laid out by the local authority, school or college. Some now encourage applications online, as this reduces costs of paper and postage and streamlines the process. Read through the application process notes thoroughly before applying.

#5 The Interview
The interview is a chance for you to shine and show the interviewing panel that you have what it takes, professionally and personally to work as a TA.

The most important preparation you can do for any interview is to research the school, what if offers, how it is offered and the role that a TA would play in school life as a whole.

Why Study with NCC Home Learning?
NCC is fast becoming a leading online provider of courses, including high-quality Teaching Assistant courses online. With fantastic courses and expert tutor support, we have helped hundreds of students to gain the qualifications and skills they need to bag a promotion or change the direction of their career completely.

There is no shortage of research measuring the impact of teaching assistants (TAs) on student learning.

There is a common thread through all the results from various research projects over the years – if TAs are used in a targeted way within the classroom, learning and progress of individual children vastly improves.

When education budgets are under threat, the TA can be under threat too. As head teachers balance the books, cutting back on or not replacing TAs is a common means by which money is recouped.

With the research highlighting the power of a TA working in a structured way on a one-to-one or group basis with children and young people, it is no surprise that in recent years, the numbers of TAs in schools have trebled.

And you too, may be thinking of joining the ranks of 24,000 TAs in primary and secondary schools across the UK. Or, you may want to join to growing number of TAs working with stuTeaching-assistantdents in a college setting or in pupil referral units (PRUs).

Getting qualified

One aspect of being a TA that has changed in recent years is the expectation of a TA being qualified. There are many high quality teaching assistant courses online, allowing people to study in their own time and without giving up their day job.

These courses can equip a student with the basic skills of working with children and students, and specialist online teaching courses are instrumental in equipping TAs with specialist knowledge and skills where working with student with specific needs.

There are even Higher level teaching assistant courses, such as our HLTA level 4 certificate.

Making a real difference

A TA in the classroom is an under-used resource if they are only being asked to tidy up, quell poor behaviour and switch the lights on and off. When used in a structured way, a TA can make a real difference in a classroom.

When teachers and children were asked how or what this difference was, this is what they said;


The school perspective

Having more people willing and skilled to interact and help their students learn is, for a school, a great thing. This leads to more individual attention per student something that educators say is sorely needed in our crowded and busy education sector.

However, understanding how to use TAs varies from one school to the next, as well as from one teacher to the next;

Professionalising the role

There is no doubt that the role of the TA has changed and still is changing. In effect it is undergoing a professionalization process, whereby the role of the TA is much clearer, both in and out of the classroom. In other words, people are completing teaching assistant courses online, becoming skilled and qualified to a high standard.

There is also an increase in TAs holding additional qualifications, completing an array of specialist teaching assistant courses online. These skills that are sorely needed in mainstream schools and colleges.Teaching-assistant(1)

Many children have additional learning needs, requiring extra support in the classroom. But there are other issues too that many TAs are now regularly dealing with on a daily basis;

More pay?

The issue of pay is a thorny one. Although on a national scale, the pay levels vary widely from one school to another in most cases, from one local education authority to the next. TAs take home an annual salary which does not reflect the vital and important role they play in helping children to learn and progress.

With the role of the TA changing, discussing the issue of increased pay may soon become a pressing need. As TAs complete qualifications, becoming specialists in certain areas and fields, the need to reward this specialism will be needed.

Detractors to the argument of more pay for TAs point out that by paying TAs more, the number of TAs across the board will, by necessity, have to decrease. Although the number of TAs is set to rise, researchers have proven time and time again, that TAs who are qualified and deliver structured sessions are far more useful and powerful in the learning process, than a TA who simply tidies away after the children.

Being a TA – how to start

If you are interested in becoming a TA, you will be joining the ranks of women and men across the country who have one of the most rewarding careers possible.

Volunteering in your local school can be an excellent way to understand the education system in your area, becoming acquainted with the modern ways of the classroom. Studying for a generic TA qualification is also a great start, followed by specialising in key areas.

Online learning is beneficial in so many ways. For many people, learning new skills and knowledge from home is a low-stress and no-pressure environment. You can learn from the comfort of your sofa at a time that suits you – and better still, at a pace that suits you.

Learning with online courses also makes financial sense. You don’t have to give up your current job nor reduce hours. You can also pay on a monthly basis, meaning that when you are newly qualified you don’t have a student debt hanging around either.

TAs are indispensable within the education system with many grown adults still able to remember the teacher and TA that had the most influence on their education.

Why not join the growing throng of TAs and start your online teaching assistant course today?

Teaching assistants are a valuable asset in the classroom. They bring much-needed skills and expertise to challenge ‘more able and talented’ students, as well as work closely with those students with additional learning needs and, it has to be said, a class as a whole.

They are an invaluable colleague in the teaching team, and an asset when working with all students in primary and secondary education. TAs are also become welcomed colleagues in college settings too.

Can-I-get-Teaching-Assistant-Qualifications-Online1

Teaching assistants are a valuable asset in the classroom.

Become a qualified TA
There is a lot involved in becoming a proficient teaching assistant, one of the reasons why teaching assistant courses online are fast becoming popular. Like many professions, the need for an all-round, comprehensive qualification to underpin practice is essential.

NCC Home Learning TA courses cover major aspects of working in a classroom, and working with children and young people, some of whom will be vulnerable. Understanding best practice when it comes to appropriate interactions and forming relationships, for example, is imperative, especially in the modern age in which TAs and teaching colleagues are at the forefront of spotting child abuse and so on.

The Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma also covers child development, as well as working individually with students with disabilities and so on.

Become a specialist
Many TAs find themselves working in specialist environments or working with students displaying specialist needs and behaviours.

For example, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome many children are diagnosed with. Typically, they exhibit a range of behaviours that can make teaching and learning difficult and challenging for the student, their peers, and the teaching team.

A TA with specialist knowledge, as well as skills and abilities is invaluable in such a situation. Understanding behavioural signals and triggers, along with other learning needs, can make a skilled and qualified TA an asset to any classroom and school as a whole.

There are many additional teaching assistant courses online that can be completed, and not just in behavioural issues. Being qualified in working with children with autism or speech and language difficulties are all valuable additional, specialist skills a TA can have.

Career opportunities
The opportunities for progression for TAs has opened even wider in recent years, especially since more and more educational establishments are realising the value of highly qualified TAs in a classroom setting.

Education is a fast-paced world, one where changes are common place. What remains steadfast is the desire to keep students at the centre of learning. There is the increasing emphasis on making learning accessible to all, and that learning is lifelong, not one that ends when a student leaves school.Can-I-get-Teaching-Assistant-Qualifications-Online2

As a result, TAs are becoming commonplace in education, and not just in a primary school setting where, traditionally, TAs have been in abundance. TAs are commonplace in secondary schools, as well as in college settings.

There are also opportunities in specialist education settings, such as pupil referral units (PRUs) where those exhibiting challenging behaviour continue their education, as well as additional learning needs of students in specialist schools and units. Many TAs go on to managerial roles in some of these settings too, and is not the ‘dead-end’ profession that many people think it is.

Why study from home?
Taking up a new course for a new career or expanding on your current role can seem like a distant dream because giving up your work to attend college on a daily basis is financially impossible.

With work and family commitments, it can be difficult to commit to attending class on a certain day at a certain time each week, and for months on end. By choosing to study at home, you negate all these problems.

You study at a time that suits you and at your own pace. Home courses, either studied in paper format or via online, are cheaper too. But this does not mean the quality is any less; in fact, the quality and value of TA course online are on a par with those taught in a classroom setting.

How to apply
Applying for any course with NCC Home Learning is simple. If you want a new career as a TA or want to expand your current skills set, log on to their website and browse the 20+ courses relating to TA qualifications and specialist skills.

When you find the course you want, simply enrol online either by paying a small deposit and paying monthly, or in one lump sum. You can start studying straightaway and with a great tutor support package too, when you have questions or concerns, there is always help at hand.

Not sure which course is the right one? Just give out Student Support team a call, and they will happily talk through the online courses with qualifications with you.

TAs are invaluable in the classroom – and you could be too!

Education, whether in the primary, secondary, post 16 or online, is rapidly changing. The need to maintain and push standards higher underpins everything an educator does, from how they plan their lessons, to the course materials they create to the assessment methods they use.

It is a challenging, yet rewarding career. Getting into teaching is something that many people often wonder about and if you are one of them, then this guide is for you.

Teaching opportunities
There are many more teaching opportunities today than there ever was; no longer is a teacher someone who is ‘confined’ to a classroom. And it is not just children who are pupils of an education system. More and more adults realise the benefits of lifelong learning, and thus, teaching opportunities can come from all different directions.

For example, online courses and home study are an increasingly popular way for people to study. Students choose their course, they take responsibility for their own learning, setting their own pace as well as deciding when and how they study.

Even though they work through the course material on their own, online and home study courses are only as good as the course material itself and the tutor support on offer to the student.

Get into teaching opportunities available may mean that you are suited to act as an online tutor. This is why we offer a Distance Learning Tutoring Diploma.

teacher with group of children

You can also learn new skills at a time that suits you.

Value and credit
However, you may be wondering how much credit and value are actually applied to teaching courses that you study via the Internet.

It is true that many schools and educational establishments still hold sway that a degree, followed by a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) that relate specifically to their sector (lower primary, upper primary, secondary and post 16) is the only qualification route with any value.

The PGCE is completed mainly ‘in the field’. Thus, as a student teacher, you will be supervised in the classroom to deliver a set of lessons and so on. From these school placements – usually, a short one lasting a few weeks, followed by a longer summer term placement and interspersed with weeks at college – you will be assessed and given a pass or fail.

In some ways, the courses that offer a route into teaching that are online offer a similar experience. The preparing to teach courses such as QCF Level 3 Education and Training Award includes a micro-teaching session.

This means that you are applying theories and principles into practice.

Other home study education-related courses
When it comes to teaching, every life experience is important and can be useful both in and out of the classroom.

Some people opt to become a teacher after spending some time in an educational setting as a TA or a support worker of another kind. There are diplomas and courses available that strengthen these skills and these too, can be used to underpin both your suitability as a teacher as well as going on to study more specialist educational courses.

But why study from home?
Online teaching courses provide an exceptional opportunity to gain the teaching skills you need to become a successful tutor. Generally, online courses are proving popular and more trusted in the results they give.

Teaching courses will examine the boundaries of the professional educator, the various teaching and learning approaches, lesson planning skills, assessment methods and the need for accurate record-keeping.

Learning can be challenging, more so if you are worried about how you are going to pay your student loan back or how you will pay the bills now that you are no longer working. It is possible, with hard work and dedication to learn from home and gain qualifications that have value.

Learning is something we all do differently and at a different pace. Learning from home or via online methods means you can study at a pace that suits you; there may be some modules that you work through quicker than others, or some that you would prefer to take at a slower pace.

You can also learn new skills at a time that suits you. It may be possible to read some course texts on your commute home from work, or you may scribble notes during your lunch break.

Applying for online teaching courses
To get into teaching, you will need to be sure that you have a solid background in a subject that is taught in your chosen education sector.

If you require help or advice, call us on 0333 220 1538. If you know which course is right for you, add it to your basket, choose how to pay and click enrol. Within days, your course materials will arrive and you can get into teaching!

The teaching assistant (TA) is an integral part of the learning process in any classroom. As a TA, you will fulfil all kinds of functions, from working on specific projects with low-attaining pupils, to stretching the minds and knowledge of more able and talented students, to reducing the workload and stress that teaching colleagues can face.

They can also free the time of the teaching staff to work with specific groups, such as those mentioned above. And they are a member of staff that is increasing in importance, with the numbers of TAs leaping from 70,000 or so at the turn of the century, to some 250,000 today.

But a TA needs to be trained and with over twenty TA courses, NCC Home Learning are fast becoming a leading online provider of such courses.

TA courses can be categorised into three broad categories;

#1 The role of TA
There are many people who are engaged in the role of TA with no formal training – and in some cases, they are never trained in the role of TA which is detrimental to both the person and the support they offer in the classroom.

Understanding this wide, varied role in the context of education in Scotland, England and Wales is important. Schools and educational establishments operate differently between the three countries, as well as the difference at county and local level.

Thus, the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma is an excellent course to understand how and why a TA will operate as they do, along with other courses such as the QCF Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Diploma.TA

#2 Awareness courses
Today, we are more aware of what can and does impact on learning. Children can live in a variety of situations, showing a range of complex behaviours and reactions to the settings that they find themselves in.

At one time, these children would have been labelled as a nuisance or delinquents. In the modern age, our understanding is such that we can adapt the learning environment so that they too can learn in a way that suits them.

Awareness raising courses are important because they provide the information a TA not only to work with specific pupils, but also to advocate on their behalf in the learning environment. Awareness courses include working with students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), speech difficulties, behavioural issues and mental health disorders that impact on learning and socialising.

#3 Specialist courses
TAs work in all kinds of education settings, which is why we have over 20 courses for teaching assistants. And this number looks set to rise as TAs become the support staff to hold specialist knowledge and skills.

There are certain behaviours and syndromes that will affect how a student is able to learn. Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism, depending on their severity, can often result in a student presenting difficult to manage behaviours. With this is mind, TAs can now complete a variety of specialist courses, such as a HLTA level 4 certificate to become a higher level teaching assistant.

Likewise, TAs no longer work just in the primary sector but in secondary and in colleges too. This is why we also run a popular course for TAs working with students aged 16+.

Self-directed study
Teaching assistant courses online can be the perfect option for anyone working in this field to acquire a qualification without being absent from the class. Studying online or from home means that you can study at a pace that suits you.

You can also learn at a time that suits you best too and with support from your NCC Home Learning tutor, you too can become qualified and a specialist in your chosen field.

With TAs performing an increasingly demanding role in the classroom, being skilled, qualified and experienced is no longer optional, but simply essential in the modern education system.

Enrolling on one of our courses for teaching assistants is simple and easy;

And that’s it! You could start studying one of our online courses with qualifications for teaching assistants within minutes. What’s stopping you? Learn more about how to become a teaching assistant.