East Riding is set to celebrate the work of Teaching Assistants on National Teaching Assistant Day, Friday 26th September.
Teaching Assistants (TAs) support children in classrooms across all East Riding schools, helping them to thrive.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education said: “Teaching Assistants do great work and make a real impact on the school experience for many children. They build strong relationships with pupils and provide essential support to teachers. I’d like to thank our Teaching Assistants for all they do to help every child learn, grow and thrive and the positive impact they make on the educational journey of children in the East Riding.”
Di Brown is a TA at Swinemoor Primary School in Beverley. Di has been a Teaching Assistant at the school for 26 years. She said: “I love it, and it’s a privilege to be part of children learning key life skills, from reading to counting, to making friendships. The school is a big part of the community, and we are a part of that.”
Di currently supports children in the early years classroom. She has worked across different classrooms and year groups but particularly enjoys working in early years. She continued: “Supporting children in any way they need is very rewarding and it’s great to see them coming on in leaps and bounds. As a Teaching Assistant everything fits around the children and their needs.”
Sandie Muir is a TA at Hornsea School and Language College. She has supported children across years 7 to 11 for the past 22 years and said she ‘loves her job!’ Sandie has a background working in the air force and NATO, before volunteering at her son’s primary school in Holland. After a few months volunteering, she decided that working in the school would be something she’d enjoy and took on a role as a TA where she worked for eight years. After moving back to England Sandie began working as a TA at Hornsea School, where she has supported children for the last 22 years.
Sandie says: “Volunteering gave me the experience and the confidence to know that I wanted to, and could, work in a school as a TA. We are a well-respected part of the school community, and I am blessed to be able to see the growth of pupils in their confidence and in their abilities. Success comes with confidence and when pupils believe they can do something that makes all the difference. The little things are important too – saying hello and how are you and ensuring children are seen and heard. TAs come with a band of knowledge and I believe they are a secret army helping so many to achieve.”
If you are interested in becoming a Teaching Assistant, there are a variety of roles across primary, secondary and SEND settings across the East Riding. If you are experienced or just starting out, there’s a place for you to make a difference.
East Riding Adult Learning and Employability offers a range of courses for working with children, including Level 2 qualification in supporting teaching and learning in schools and understanding neurodiversity: https://eryc.link/adultlearn/workingwithchildren
Search current Teaching Assistant jobs in the East Riding: eryc.link/jobs
