JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 128

Teaching
assistant
Christopher Hyland, 31,
works as a teaching assistant
in a Bradford primary school
It's a privilege to do my job. I
absolutely love it and it gives me
complete job satisfaction. Knowing
you can have a daily impact on a
child's life is very powerful.
I'd actually considered teaching
when I was 16, but I ended up doing
a public services course after my
A-levels. I volunteered as a special
constable and then applied to the
police. I worked as a community
support officer and a police officer,
and loved both. But things changed
when I became a dad to Zachary,
now five, and Ruaidri, two. There
were too many weeks when I didn't
see my eldest when he was a baby.
I thought about teaching again,
but wanted to get a feel of what it
was like to work in a school, so I
applied for roles as a teaching
assistant and was lucky enough to
get one in a local primary school.
My image of what a TA did was
far removed from the reality! I
envisaged myself
at the back of the
classroom
sharpening
pencils, but
instead I was
thrown in the
deep end with a
Year 5 class. I was
practically like
another teacher,
leading groups, running activities
and carrying out intervention work.
My job in the police was all about
communication and it's as crucial
in a school - you need to adapt your
language very quickly, ensure you're

being understood and understand a
child's wants and needs. I'm aware
that school is a safe haven for some
children and I'm a constant in their
lives. I take that seriously. As TAs
we often have more time to offer
pastoral care. It's a part of the role
people don't often
see or hear about.
The hardest part
is the uncertainty
of the role with
the financial cuts.
It can be
unnerving. But
working in a
school is like being
part of a tight-knit
family - we all pull together and
help each other. I'd definitely like
to pursue my ambition of becoming
a teacher. I understand what the
job involves now and that
knowledge hasn't put me off!

Working in a
school is like
being part of
a tight-knit
family - we all
pull together

1 2 8 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

Christopher's
tips on becoming
a teaching assistant
Pay a visit
When you're
applying for a job,
take any opportunity
you get to visit the
school in question.
You'll get a good
feel of the institution
and might even
get to see teaching
assistants in action.

so I bought some
revision guides!

Stay one
step ahead
It may be a long
time since you were
at school - I found
it useful to refresh
my basic knowledge
of key subjects,

Keep a watchful eye
You need to be
observant so you can
spot when a child is
being distractive or
distracted, or when
they are struggling
or in crisis.

Remember
to be patient
Children won't
always get things
straightaway - so
you need to keep
going and continue
to be supportive.



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/jcspring2018
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/JobsandCareersAutumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/Careers/Careers_with_Hayley_Taylor_2011
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