Hi all,

I have just registered so please be gentle with me.
I am currently an Operations Manager with an utilities company on a good salary, company car and lots of other perks but I have just reached the tender age of 30 and after some soul searching and a long look at what I am doing and what I want to do for the next 30 years of my career I have decided to ditch the money and poor job satisfaction of my current job and go after my dream of becoming a Teaching Assistant. I been offered the opportunity of enrolling on a NVQ Level 2 course locally which involves 6 weeks classroom training and then 24 weeks out in a local primary school.
I have checked out many of the local councils websites looking for TA positions and they all ask for either Level 2 Teaching Assistant or Level 2 Childcare and Education quals.
I have 10 GCSE's all grades A-C, no A Levels or degree but obviously plenty of job experience at a managerial level. I attended many residential courses surrounding my previous job like 'Project Planning' and an Awberry 'Management Programme' but I guess none of these are relevant now.
My questions are probably the same as many others before me:
1. If I do the course and am lucky to pass it how easy is it to find a role as all the job ads I have read have asked for experience in working with children but how do I get that if I am fresh off a course.
2. Do you think I should skip if it is possible Level 2 and go straight onto Level 3.

I would welcome and very much appreciate any advice anyone could give me, as you will have gathered the salary isnt important to me and I am very lucky to have an other half who is willing to pay the mortgage for a while so that I can go on this course so I just want to make sure I get this right as I am really fired up and passionate about making this career change.

Thanks in advance.
Donna

Hi and welcome.

And congratulations on making such a brave decision.

The course sounds great because it will give you the qualification and experience you will need.

In my former life I came from office background with a degree and various other qualifications and training, this will not necessarily help you when applying for jobs. It is relevant training the schools will be looking for. Some TA's with years of experience find it difficult to get interviews if they do not have the NVQ or similar qualification.


Get your qualification and experience that comes with the course, and you should have no problems.

Good luck

Dot
xxx