teaching assistant

teacher

elementary school teacher

tutor

learning support assistant

Teaching Personnel

Joined Teaching Personnel in October 2020 after leaving University, and so far have really enjoyed my time working for the Company. Before working with TP I had no formal qualifications to teach, but it was a job that I was really interested in and wanted to explore which TP has really helped and allowed me to do. 

Placements offered have a wide range of short tasks lasting from several hours to half and full day roles, and there is a great deal of value given to the flexibility between work and home life. Members like myself can easily update on their TP work diary when they are available to work and what times they can cover, meaning you can work whatever dates and times would be best for you. Tasks I have taken part in so far include a Lunch Time Supervisor role (making sure students are safe within Canteen areas), working with SEN young people getting to know routines and practices and helping with classroom activities, caretaker duties, and acting as a Cover Supervisor in the classroom when teachers are not available.

Schools that I have worked in so far have been really enjoyable with excellent teachers and approachable staff, and managers from my TP Branch have remained in contact throughout placements to make sure everything is running smoothly, to offer support and help if needed, and to give feedback from the schools on my progress which has been really helpful. 

TP has given me really good opportunities to develop my skills in teaching and managing students within schools, and to be able to advance my CV for future opportunities like covering classroom sessions for teachers when not available, managing students throughout the school day Etc.. Their placements have allowed me to advance as they offer opportunities to work within certain places and get to know both staff and students who attend, and allows great opportunities to be offered roles directly by them or for extensions to work placements that I would not otherwise have been able to or have been aware of. This has been a really good advantage to the job where working on a placement has allowed me to discover the exact nature of jobs I'm interested in, and to discover roles that I was not aware of within schools before which I can explore further, and have the possibly and potential to work within further and to build a long term career in teaching that I may not have otherwise been able to access. 

I'm really grateful to Teaching Personnel for the opportunities so far, and would recommend anyone who is interested in working in schools with students or in teaching to apply.  

I am coming to the end of almost two years of working with Teaching Personnel, and it has been a pleasure to do so. The team have been fantastic and managed to find me work in Primary, Secondary & ALN schools. I can count on one hand the number of days where they have been unable to find a placement for me - a tough ask over an 18 month period! They have financially supported me through the COVID-19 lock-down, and looked out for my personal well-being too. 

The team are all very approachable and helpful at Teaching Personnel. Taking the opportunities of working in various schools across South Wales has provided me with the pleasure of dealing with many members of the team on a regular basis.

TP have provided me with the bedrock experience that I have needed in order to advance my career in Teaching. I have covered both teaching assistant and cover supervisor roles with TP. There is a position for everyone - on my first few days, they provided me with an easier role to get into the rhythm of the job. As I have advanced and grown more confident in my role, they have provided me with work that can be challenging, yet rewarding. 

I perform a lot of 1 to 1 TA work, and one of the best feelings is walking away from a school knowing that you have had a positive impact on a student. Yet, adverse to this, the most difficult part of the job is developing an affinity for those same students and having to leave. It is in the nature of agency work, and can be demoralising if you enjoy the work you are doing. This can be testing, depending on your personality type. 

Additionally, the spontaneity of school placements can be quite difficult to keep up with. When you wake up, unsure of where you will work on that day, there can be a sense of underlying anxiety. That said, you can be sure that you are in good hands with an agency that are alert and searching for a placement for you.

I would advise any aspiring educator to look for a start with Teaching Personnel; they communicate with their agents and take genuine interest in your prospects. If you put in as much hard work for them as they do for you, then you are guaranteed to have a successful tenure with Teaching Personnel.

As a 1:1 SEN Tutor, I'm happy working with Teaching Personnel - although I wish I could do all my sessions remotely - but that doesn't suit every student, so I need to be flexible.

I'm the one choosing the students I can work with - depending on their diagnosis and disabilities and of course, my expertise. 

After reading all information sent to me as requested, if I'm sure I can help that student, I will communicate that back and I will have the permission to contact the student's family/caretaker to arrange the first session - date, time and place. 

Most students prefer to have their sessions in their home. In a normal day, I might have 2 to 3 sessions. The sessions vary in time, because each student is founded with different amount of hours per week. The years of the students also vary - depending on the students age. It's very rare that their year correspond to their actually knowledge.

It's a very rewarding job, even though there are also challenges at times - mostly behavioural and cognitive ones. So, in this job I really can use my creativity and think outside the box - and I love that! I get to know different children, help them grow in knowledge and see their progress until their are admitted to a school. The 1:1 sessions (in-person or remote) really helps most children with SEND, due to the session be around them and the distractions are minimized. 

If I could change something it would be add a library with many teaching support tools, because the teaching materials are my responsibility, I need to make the full research myself and even buy materials as needed. That is one downside of the company, in my opinion. Because, depending on how many students I have and the vary years they are at, I have no free time and spend extra money with materials that should be supplied to me in the first place - in my honest opinion.

The team is very supportive, friendly and there is very good communication. 

I registered with TP in April to the cost of around £70 due to DBS, EWC registration etc. I wasn't too bothered as I assumed I would make this money back quickly (I was very wrong!!) In 3 months, I have worked 2 days. The first day was in a school in a rough area of Cardiff which I had trouble accessing. Not only did my travel costs come to £25 (baring in mind my daily rate was £48) but the agency lied to the school and told them I was a behavioural specialist; I am fresh out of uni with NO training whatsoever. At the school, the teacher I assisted was supply and had not prepared work for the class, let alone anything for me once the child I was assisting was sent into internal isolation for violent and aggressive behaviour. I ended up cleaning the classroom which is definitely not my job.
Second day happened a week later in a lovely school. The actual day ran smoothly, however I was told at a later date that I worked for free!! When I sent numerous emails to head office explaining that there is no chance I would've accepted the offer had I known it was free, they initially told me it was my own fault (even after I proved it was a breach of contract.) After emailing back and forth was told I would be paid £48.50 for that day. 1 month later and I am still waiting for payment. I tried to register with another agency and asked that particular school for a reference as they gave me 'fantastic feedback' according to TP, but they refused which has prevented me from working for another agency. 
The company spams you constantly with emails and texts, most of which are to gather more money for "training courses" and such. 
I think this job would be better suited to those who are on their break between a BA and a PGCE with a large amount of student loan left or another part time job as it would secure links, be flexible and provide experience. But for someone like myself who has no other income, it's not worthwhile at all.

Teaching Personnel is a great company to work for. Personally I have been with the company on 2 separate occasions and have never really had any issues.

Standard working hours are usually 8-3 but can depend on the setting you’re in. You can also choose how many days you wish to do or to just do AM/PM, though the more hours you do, the more likely you are to secure a long term placement if that’s something you’d be looking for.

The salary is sufficient, for a Teaching Assistant it’s £70 a day (based on a 6.5 hour day) which works out as above the minimum wage, though with how cost of living now and the way that it’s going I think employees would benefit and be more comfortable if it were raised. I will say they do offer incentives to those who refer others to work for the company which is a bonus.

Your job with the agency is always pretty secure, I don’t know anyone who’s been dismissed as they’re always looking for education staff around Cardiff and the surrounding areas. Essentially you would have to have done something pretty bad to be laid off. On saying that, you will not necessarily have security within a school but that’s not down to the company that’s down to the schools and changes of circumstances.

Management are really friendly, they always make and effort to do regular check ins within your first few weeks at a setting and will always check your happy with settings before booking you to go back should a setting make that request.

I’m regards to the job culture, it has lost of benefits such as the school holidays, chances to gain experience and progress, meeting new people etc. but you do have to prepare that sometimes you may encounter tough children, tough classes and even occasionally schools where staff aren’t so friendly and don’t respect agency workers.

As far as interviews go, it’s been one of the better processes I’ve had; very relaxed. 

I was placed in an SEN school by Teaching Personnel, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. 
A typical day at the school involves a briefing with all Hub staff including school wide announcements and student specific needs/ adjustments. Everything is done to safeguard pupils and ensure that they receive the best quality of education possible, as well as ensuring staff are in the right place to deliver the aforementioned. I do think that there is a lack of continuity for a lot of Agency Staff placed with Teaching Personnel, especially since this is a role dealing with children who are vulnerable and would benefit greatly from consistent contact with members of staff who work for the agency full time. The  most difficult part of the job boils down to a lack of communication between Teaching Personnel and the schools they provide the workers to. Specific examples are with regard to sickness- communication is achieved by the staff to inform Teaching Personnel in good time but the school is rarely if ever informed. This breakdown in communication between agency and school results in unnecessary confusion & staff deficit. 
I was also not made aware of my recruitment consultant’s impending resignation from the company, and neither were my fellow colleagues working for Teaching Personnel. Thus far there has been communication of this particular change in passing or formally. 

Considering all the facts and apparent circumstances, I have an overall very positive view of Teaching Personnel and look forward to their improvement. 

There are many perks to working for an agency, the main one being that you can be as selective as you like. Working for Teaching Personnel I am able to choose when I work, and also feed back to my emplyers where I have enjoyed working and where I have not. I think it is hugely importnat to know what you like, and as this is based on relativity, it is just as important to know what you do not like. 

Teaching Personnel are able to place me in schools they think are suitable for me; in schools they believe I can shine and enjoy each day, getting the most out of the children I am supporting. This may be for a day, a week, or on a longer term basis, meaning that every day and every experience is different and boredom rarely occurs. 

The hardest part of the job is that many days are new days, and so you are unfamiliar with the children and staff you work with and the specific ways in which different schools operate. This means that you need to try to shine on each new encounter and use your initiative based on previous experiences and an enthusiasm to support children. 

The most enoyable part of the job is seeing how different schools are run and being able to decide where you want to work. Rather than applying for a job based on what you read you are able to experience the job first hand; if you enjoy working in a school this may lead to regular or long term work. You get to meet many different teachers and see lots of different styles of teaching, picking up on many techniques which help you to inspire and promote learning in those you support. And of course the children, which are the most important; it is wonderful being able to meet and try to help so many different children whilst covering their regular staff.

The supply teacher comes last

I worked for Teaching Personnel for a number of years.  The more I work for them the more disappointed I get. Let me start with how much I get paid being a fully qualified teacher and years of experience and coherent knowledge of my subject of specialisation and much more, if I calculate correctly it is definitely below the minimum wage bearing in mind the long hours of work and travel to far distances to fulfil my assignments. 
Let alone that I might end up just getting one day of cover work per week with them.
Before the lockdown, I was contracted to work for a full 5 weeks and the lock down started on my week two from beginning the work and I didn’t get paid for the remaining three weeks.
There is also a problem when I agree a certain rate of pay with them and I don’t get that amount somehow. 
When receiving a job offer from them, they usually are most unclear and deliberately ambiguous about the location and the type of the school, let me say that, they make it sound sweet, e.g. instead of saying Cheshire they say East Manchester. I usually end up travelling miles and miles to reach my place of work.
They don’t support their teachers in anyway shape or form too many examples to cite and this has been the case with them all along.
The number of last minute cancellations is really worrying and when the teacher is planning to work and perhaps rejected work elsewhere. And when this happens, the teacher ends with nothing! There are more unpleasant things happening with teaching personnel but I might fill volumes to tell what was happening during the time I worked for them!

Teaching Personnel is the ideal teaching agency to work for, whether you're an experienced teacher looking to begin supply work, an NQT or someone who is interested in teaching but doesn't know whether it's for them.

The agency is highly reputable and its services are employed by loads of schools around the country, so opportunities for longer-term placements are common. At the same time, the agency is very flexible, so you can plan which days you work with other commitments. The staff at the agency are very friendly and will bend over backwards to help you with references, work queries and anything related to the job.

For me the most enjoyable part of the job has been the variety. I am a maths specialist but have been able to experience covering all sorts of lessons from, including subjects I'd really enjoyed but not done since GCSE or A-Level like German, History and Chemistry. There are opportunities to do general cover with the agency or specialist cover in areas such as Design and Technology, P.E. or the STEM subjects depending on your preference. I've met loads of wonderful teachers and pupils during my time with the agency and have subsequently decided to become a teacher. I've had opportunities leading classes, being an LSA, helping after school and more.

The difficult aspects of supply work are its changeable nature and travelling. This is part of the job but Teaching Personnel does its best to help with these aspects by generally giving a good amount of notice about work and allowing you to tailor where and when you're willing to work.

I have worked for Teaching Personnel for over 10 years and have loved it (else, why would I still be here?)
A typical day is attracting the best candidates through marketing and sourcing mixed with business development and customer service. Imagine being self-employed and driving your own advancement: this is pretty much it. What you put in you will be rewarded for in terms or salary, bonus and the sense of achievement. The job involves lots of variety so suits many people from many different backgrounds: there's sales, customer service, marketing, interviewing, business development, negotiation, vetting and much more. 
Management are incredibly supportive and inspiring and put your career development above anything else. Not only that but we promote from within and everything is transparent so the most deserved move up the career ladder.
The hardest part of the role is having the resilience to deal with the rejection and volatility that comes with any business development/ recruitment role so this generally suits people who enjoy sales and have a competitive nature. 
The most enjoyable part of the role is seeing the fruits of your labour, knowing that you grew your own business and then enjoying your successes with the team around you. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Teaching assistant 3947 salaries reported	£103 per day
Teacher 6236 salaries reported	£166 per day
Elementary school teacher 4395 salaries reported	£160 per day
Tutor 4894 salaries reported	£27.29 per hour
Learning support assistant 1365 salaries reported	£13.99 per hour

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