Hi there...this is my first post! Just wondering if there is an E111 (Supporting Learning in Primary Schools) forum that I can join in discussion with when the course starts in October? Have done A103 (Certificate in Humanities)which I've passed and really enjoyed. I like the 'First Class' conference with the OU but find the discussion limitations quite tight. It would be nice to speak freely without being modded...within reason of course! So can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

not sure if anyone else is doing this but Im sure there will be and if they are you are more than welcome to start a thread or threads to discuss it within this forum

to the forum

I am pretty sure that their are people here that are doing E111 in Oct. There are also those of us that have just completed it now and previously so you should get help and info if you start a thread on here.

The OU also have a forum, but I always find it much friendlier and helpful on here.

Have a look through the things we have posted already on E111 threads and you should get some idea of our highs and lows.

Good luck with the course.

Vx

Thanks to Veggie and Summertime for replying with info regarding E111. It's much appreciated.

I agree with the others, I did look at the OU forum but got more support and helpful advice from here. Can't be bad advice as I passed!

Thanks for the reply star-9....congratulations on your pass aswell !

This forum has helped me heaps with E111 and now E243. I'm not a TA and my next couple of courses are health rather than education related - I'll miss the support here - it's different to the OU forums - takes itself less seiously
I'm not sure if I'm aloud to do this - please delete, mods if it's not OK. I want to sell my E111 readers to help me purchase my next lot. If anyone is interested, please PM me. They are in pretty good nick, because I tend to post-it rather than highlight (most of the time).

Good luck, enjoy the course - I did.

Thanks irisabbott.....sounds like I'm going to get alot out of this course. I'm not actually a TA at the moment but go in to school 2-3 mornings a week to help out. I've got my CRB check done etc. Wanted to gain some formal qualification for what I've been doing in school whilst also earning points/certificate at the same time! Hoping that the 2-3 mornings I do will be enough to do the course ( it says it should be in the OU description of the course!) I work part-time for one of the High Street Banks...hoping this course may lead to a career change! Thanks for replies again...you all seem a friendly bunch!

donna a friend of mine, who also works for a bank, did E111 with me last year. She volunteers in school and is hoping to become a teacher.

Hi Susie, thanks for the response....just wondering how your friend (given her circumstances are similar to me) and yourself got on with the course? Did she find that being a volunteer and not a TA made any difference to how she approached the course, did she find it perhaps harder than a TA would? Thanks

donna, I know as a speech and language TA I had a few issues with the E111 course as did a friend who works in a special school as it was directed predominately to main stream schooling. I think however you work with children will have advantages and disadvantages to this course! The main bit of advice I would give is study the learning outcomes (you will see what I mean when you get all the stuff) and implement them.

I will add that my friend contacted Roger (those who have done E111 will know him) and had abit of a rant about the lack of special school material. His answer was to arrange to visit her school to do future possible material - brilliant

Thanks for your interesting response veggie, it's much appreciated.

That's great veggie!
I went from mainstream to special after the Easter hols and also found the course material not very engaging for those working in special schools.
E111 is a great first course and I really enjoyed it.

I switched from mainstream to special needs half-way through the course but found I needed to reflect on my mainstream practice to answer the TMA's. I don't know how people with no mainstream experience managed to complete the course!

With alot of hair pulling buttercup. I am glad that the OU seem to be changing things; sometime 08 is the date my friend has for meetings etc. I know most of the courses have a 5yr-ish roll.

I enjoyed E111 too, especially looking back