Meet Hollie!
Say hello to Hollie! Hollie is our Education Recruitment Consultant for the South-East London team.
“In February, I took the leap to move to Manchester (one of my favourite cities!) and worked as a SEN Teaching assistant. I considered being a teacher, but realised it wasn’t for me so pursued my current role at i-teachers– now I know I’ve found the career for me! It’s fantastic because I still get to work in education, as well as set other people on their dream career paths.”
“I was drawn to i-teachers for their strong vision and ethos for schools and graduates. The long-term contracts offer graduates and teachers the foundations to start their careers, and I’m looking forward to learning more about the role to help others take that next step into teaching.”
“Out of the office I enjoy going to gigs, theatre performances and festivals. I also love cycling and exploring the outdoors!”
Hollie’s top tips on becoming an SEN Teaching Assistant
Are you considering a career working with SEN students? Perhaps you are a psychology graduate looking for an educational role supporting students with additional needs in the classroom? Hollie has put together some top tips on becoming an SEN TA!
“Before i-teachers, I worked as an SEN Teaching Assistant in primary schools in mainstream and SEN provision settings. Having this prior experience has really helped me in my role as an Education Consultant, as I have been in the graduate’s shoes before! Therefore, I would love to share with you my Top Tips for Working as an SEN Teaching Assistant!”
Adapting to learning needs
“Working in a classroom environment means that you are likely to be working with children who have a wide range of abilities and learning difficulties. You will need to find new ways and strategies to adapt to different learning abilities in the classroom – it won’t be a one size fits all approach! Just remember to be patient, it may take time for children to adjust to a new member of staff – you will get there!”
Be reliable and punctual
“This one may seem obvious, but is one of the basic things you should have down from the beginning. Your absence in the classroom could be problematic if you’re working with children with SEN, and as a TA you will be contributing a lot throughout the day. As an SEN Teaching Assistant the impact that you have on the day-to-day life of your students is huge!”
Observe, observe, observe!
“As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will be surrounded by experts in the field of SEN education. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from the best! You’re likely to pick up some amazing skills that you could use in the future!”
Stick to a routine
“For children and students with SEN, sticking to a routine can be vital to ensuring that they feel safe, comfortable and engaged. Throughout the week, there may be scheduled times for you to use sensory rooms, as well as other activities that assist with learning and engagement. Of course, you will always be fully supported and a timetable will be in place for you to follow”
Have a patient and positive attitude
“It’s important to always keep a positive mindset! Keep an open communication with staff if you are struggling, but never take your frustrations out on students. Remember to enjoy your role! Speaking from experience, this will be one of the most rewarding sectors to ever work in! If you do need someone to chat things through with, your i-teachers consultant will always be there to support you throughout your placement”.
Can I become an SEN TA as a graduate?
In simple terms – the answer is yes! It is possible to get a role as an SEN Teaching Assistant as a graduate. At i-teachers, we specialise in placing talented graduates in classroom support roles as part of our Step into Teaching programme.
i-teachers’ Step into Teaching programme
At i-teachers, we aim to support you and allow you to explore teaching roles with our ‘Step into Teaching’ programme to support all graduate roles in education. Our experienced education consultants will place you in a paid teaching assistant position that is perfectly suited to your skill set, in a school that suits your personality. We believe that practical experience is invaluable and learning from teaching experts is key. On your ‘step into teaching’ programme you will get to experience the life of a teacher or teaching assistant, and truly impact the lives of pupils, whilst in a fully supportive environment. It is fantastic work experience both for your own personal development as well as for your CV, and you can earn whilst you learn!
Take a look at some of our current SEN Teaching Assistant roles now, or contact us for more information!