Educational employment now or previously?

[phasmid]

Just flicking through the forum and I got to wondering about this. I am just being curious really. How many of us, I thought have been, or are, involved in schools in an 'employed' capacity (teacher, TA, admin etc) or voluntary basis - in particular as a governor (or parent helper but not with your own child)? So I thought I'd ask.

 

You don't have to give any details just a yes (and employed or voluntary basis if you feel like it) or no.

 

Like I say just being nosey!

 

The other 'stick your nose into everyone's business' question that sprang to mind is how many of us are undertaking any form of education for ourselves and what do we hope to use the qualification for?

 

 

So....

 

I am a SEN TA working in mainstream primary.

 

Currently finishing a BA hoping to go into teaching (though I am open to suggestions - educational ones!).

[justamom]

TA - in a Special Needs School - part time

[Lynden]

I'm not but I'm the only one in the women in my family, my Mum and both sisters are primary/nursery teachers. I did apply to teaching college but was too young to be accepted at the time so did Business instead which I have used for nothing ! Lol

 

Lynne

[call me jaded]

Yes voluntary - I've got nothing else to do, have I?!!

[Kathryn]

I have been in previous lives, a teacher, a parent helper and a dinnerlady.

 

Im now in TEFL, so that's still education - related I suppose, although I work with adults now.

 

K

[annie]

I was a Learning Support Assistant in a primary school.

[LKS]

I was a parent helper for many years when my elder 2 were in primary never in their class though. I recently went to college and did 2 GCSE's in biology and pyschology just to prove I could cos I didn't like school very much

[elainem]

am a parent helper in my twin ds's class. work with all the children, mainstream.

 

would love to retrain as a TA but kids are off ill so often I couldn't be reliable so have to work in the evening. Maybe when they are a little older (5 now) things might be a bit more stable.

 

Elaine

[nellie]

I'm in between jobs.

 

I gave up my last job when my eldest was born in 1978!! Work was never an option when my son was at home. I've worked as a voluntary parental supporter for the past 7 years.

 

I reach retirement age next year.

 

Nellie xx

[Zemanski]

I'm a primary teacher, my specialist areas are ICT and SEN, specifically ASDs. I'm doing a PGC in AS at the moment.

 

I left my last job 3 years ago because of stress (tough job, 2 tribunals and the ombudsman in the space of 2 years)

 

Now I do voluntary as an ASD specialist both in schools and with adults. I also work as an independent parental supporter for parent partnership.

 

Zemanski

[Tez]

I have a BEd but never actually worked in education after I did it.

[oracle]

I WAS COG and SEN Governor for 13 years. Before that I helped as a volunteer with a reading recovery scheme. The reading recovery gave me the greatest buzz. I still have kids (well now adults with children actually) stopping me and asking how I am. And the best thing is I know that they can all read now It's just a pity that I can't do the same for Matthew

 

Carole

[lorryw]

LSA in local primary, 50% special needs (the children, not me!).

Lorainexx

[helenl53]

Non teaching (can't stand kids!) but doing 2nd Year Uni Course - Cert of Higher Ed in ASD's - Education of Children with ASD's!

 

Becoming Independent Parent Supporter - but out of necessity!

 

Co-ordinator of local support group - again out of necessity!

 

Had to give up my business (accountancy practice) three years ago when things became very difficult with my son at school. I try and work - but it is not easy to commit to a job when there is so much other ASD stuff that needs doing.

 

HelenL

[phasmid]

Hey at this rate we could open our own school!

[oracle]

Hey at this rate we could open our own school!

 

Now strange that you should mention that .....................

 

Carole

[smiley]

Oh Goodie - A nosey thread, love 'em!

 

 

Ever reached the point where there's no more training???? I ask because, in the area i work in now - i'm about as far up (training wise) as i can get, other than management (bleugh, no fun and far tooooo much paperwork!!) there's not much more i can do.

 

I would love to do some further training, something ASD specific, but don't know what........... Whadya reckon??

 

Phas n Carole - That Island we were all dreaming about........ think we might just have the school sorted

Edited November 12, 2006 by smiley

[DaisyFulkirk]

I am a volunteer 'mentor' with the organisation Reachout in a mainstream primary school in Manchester (if you click on 'mentoring' you can actually see Daisy and the children I am currently working with) - I help with maths and reading and science, the group I am with are from a MLD special school that was closed recently. I spend one afternoon session a week there, and I like it a lot - although I don't know if I'm very useful!

[oracle]

Daisy

 

How brilliant We have just been puting a local 'wish list' together and one of the things at the top was mentoring for our children - now I know that it can be done

 

Respect

 

Carole

[curra]

I' was a teacher for many years (overseas), then stopped working for some years to care for my son. Now I'm doing a PGCE in England to return to teaching , though I'm not sure whether I'm going to finish it - too much stress!

 

Curra

[helenl53]

Hmmmmm Carole - Do you think they are on to us

 

Daisy, I love the Mentoring idea and now that I am going to be part of an Autism Focus Group, I would like to be able to put it forward as an idea.

 

Quite seriously folks, I think that the combined knowledge on this forum (including that of the shy types who hide their light under a bushel) is awesome and I have no doubt that we could set up the most wonderful schools (the Education Bill may just allow the opportunity).

 

Love

 

HelenL

[helenl53]

Smileymab in a Norland Uniform could be really scary

[smiley]

Oy you!!!

 

Yeah, ok - it bloomin' awful!!

[redberry]

I did NNEB. nursery officer. Ran private saturday school catch up classes.

Nanny ran private nursery.

Youth worker. Erm....

taught sex education classes.

Worked in Family Centre teaching parenting classes and arts crafts, story telling, cookery classes....

now Im at college training to be massage therapist, chinese massage, holistic, on site, deeep tissue you name it! And a diploma in anatomy and physiology, business studies and profesional conduct.

 

Other than that nowt really!

 

Very interesting reading everyone elses bits and bobs!!

 

redberry

[helenl53]

Redberry - you really need to try and find an interest

 

I got knackered just reading how many things you have done

 

Truth is - I am quite envious - how did you fit it all in - are you really Margaret Thatcher

[carrieq]

I am a teacher too!!! Have worked in special needs for ages now at a school for children who are mulit disabled and visually impaired. Very rewarding and I love it!!

Carrie

[redberry]

Redberry - you really need to try and find an interest

 

I got knackered just reading how many things you have done

 

Truth is - I am quite envious - how did you fit it all in - are you really Margaret Thatcher

 

How very dare you madam! How very dare you!!

 

All of the things I have done, believe me have been done at a very leisurely pace over the past twenty years!!

 

The college course in relatively new. I am half way through it.

I had to find something I could do where I chose my hours to work around S my AS son. He has had a lot of time off school due to ill health (stress triggered).

 

Still anyone want a bit of healing or a massage..you know where I am

 

redberry

[jen]

I am not a teacher but work in the medical profession (which involves teaching) and I am currently studying a post graduate course. Took my exam on Wednesday. 3rd exam out of 4 in the course).

 

I work part time and I am going through my third tribunal in 2 years. Its no wonder I have been ill with an abcess this weekend as my body is telling me to rest.

 

Jen

[redberry]

Abcess! OOh <'>

 

get well soon!

 

redberry

[smiley]

Still anyone want a bit of healing or a massage..you know where I am

 

redberry

 

 

ME FIRST!!!! Pleeeeaaaasssseeee!

 

Me necks been killin' me allllll weekend

[jen]

massage relaxation sounds wonderful

 

Jen

[helenl53]

Oh Jen - you are run down!

 

Redberry - I learned how to do Reiki Healing - my son is very responsive to it and I am going to learn another energy thing - something Inspiral I thinK!

 

What is it about us lot - not only do we have a full time job dealing with 'the enemy' , another full time job with our kids, but then we go and do courses! Are we mad

 

Helen

[UltraMum]

Deep breath - here goes

 

After training as a radiographer and advancing up the career ladder I ended up being a practical assessor for the radiography students, I lectured on both the main training and higher education post graduate courses. i was also a marker for the professional exams. I helped to set up a 'diploma to degree' course at Lincoln/Sheffield Hallam universities (the degree vadlidation interview was the most nightmarish interview i've ever had!) and then I lectured on the course.

 

Had J and took a breather!

 

ECDL course in computers

 

Started to help out at school on a voluntary basis and then had the following roles:

Ta for booster classes for Y6

then

LSA for child with autism (prior to knowing about J!)

then

Classroom assistant in one school am and LSA in anothe pm for two children with dyslexia

then

Classroom assistant in Y6 for several years during which time I commenced my present degree course (on the final slog now and I really should be working on that!)

I reached the stage in the last job where I was given my own group for SATS revision and taught all the maths and literacy to that group (most of those were only expected to get 2/3's for their SATS - I was soooo chuffed when several got more than was expected of them! )

 

I also became a school governor during the above period and have been doing that since 2001.

 

Ever reached the point where there's no more training???? I ask because, in the area i work in now - i'm about as far up (training wise) as i can get, other than management (bleugh, no fun and far tooooo much paperwork!!) there's not much more i can do.

 

I would love to do some further training, something ASD specific, but don't know what........... Whadya reckon??

Smileymab

You could always do a degree like mine - it's based on your job role and you can tailor it to your interests. It's done while you are working and is reasonably cheap - esp compared to the OU - you may even get some credits for prior learning with your present qualifications

[Zemanski]

There's a new village being built in Cambridgeshire - think we could club together?

 

Nemo wants to run the post office

 

I vote we call it Krismham

 

Z

[oracle]

Terry and I could explore emotions through Drama Workshops - it can work. Also Terry is an ace artist so he could do art therapy and workshops. He can also just about make anything from nothing. We do lots of craft sessions with Matthew. He can also play the guitar and the organ - he's quite a guy So there's your music covered.

 

Eldest has an applied chemsty degree and A levels in physics and maths (so why is he working in insurance - if anyone can answer that then please do beacause I would like to know why too ) He does the science stuff with Matthew but wont touch biology.

 

David can cook and he also has AS so we sould use him as an example of what can be achieved - not quite sure if that's a good idea though. But he certainly cooks better than I do now.

 

How's that for a start for Krismham?

 

Carole

[bid]

Well, in my previous existence BSEN (Before Special Needs ) I taught briefly at the Institiute of Archaeology, then I taught A Level Classical Civilisation at a private tutorial college (equally briefly ).

 

ASEN (After Special Needs) and a 'career-break' of 12 odd years as a full-time carer to my eldest, I now work as a Houseparent at a residential special school, and I am also covering long-term sick-leave as the 1:1 LSA for a little girl with severe Autism in a mainstream primary prior to her going to a special school in the near future.

 

Bid

[phasmid]

I know the place in Cambridgeshire. I drive past it from time to time. It's a nice looking area, Close enough to all major services (takeaways and pubs) and small enough we could take it over! How do we organise a raid...we could make a film and flog it to channel Four how about :"A Passport to krismham" as a working title?

[annie]

Close enough to all major services (takeaways and pubs)

 

Sounds perfect

[Zemanski]

I have the info pack on 'setting up a small school' from Human Scale Resources and with all our kids' statements we should have a fair bit of funding coming in or we could do that thing they do on the Isle of Wight where everyone runs workshops at home and the kids choose which one's they want to do so it's always in small groups with lots of hands on science and crafty things.

 

who's going to run the corner shop so we can make sure of our supplies of pinot and herb nerbs?

 

Z

[annie]

I'll do it......I'm sure Suze would like to help with it too..........Just mention Pinot and she'll be there, eh suze?