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As a teaching assistant, Hayley knew she always wanted to advance in her career. So when the opportunity to become a Teaching Assistant Level 4 presented itself, she jumped at the chance. Working in a behavioural school, she knew this role would come with more responsibilities and challenges, but she was ready for it.
“I asked if it would be possible for me to get that position if I took the HLTA 4 course. They said yes, and I’ll start in September! I did the HLTA 3 course about five years ago when I was working in a mainstream school,” she explained.
While she was delighted about the potential of becoming a TA4, she was also a little nervous about the procedure. She was unsure what to anticipate from the course or how she would handle it alongside her family duties because she had never done anything like it before.
“I’d never done anything like this before honestly. I was a bit dubious, I didn’t know what was going to happen! I’ve got a family of my own and I didn’t know if I’d be able to balance everything,” she shared.
Fortunately, she had a co-worker who had just finished the same course and could offer her some much-needed support.
“He said it was a really good course and I could work at my leisure, which he said had been really useful for him.”
She took the jump and registered for the course, ready to face whatever challenges were ahead.
Meeting Apprehension with Support
Hayley couldn’t help but feel apprehensive as she started her path to becoming a TA4 through online learning. She was fortunate enough to have a helpful personal tutor in the form of Eileen, who was always there for her whenever she required assistance.
“To be honest, with Eileen I didn’t need much support. Other than the things I struggled with, which she really got me through.” Hayley shared. But the course wasn’t without its challenges. “I’ve never done anything like this before, so I struggled with referencing. Okay… not so much struggled with it, I just didn’t know how to do it! So Eileen did send me some material, and she put an example on it which was so helpful.”
In spite of her initial concerns, Hayley discovered that the format of studying through the Internet was quite beneficial for her.
“It was quite good, because I thought I’d get all of the questions and then do them off of what I knew. But sometimes the questions wanted you to answer them from your classroom experience, and for others it was looking at what you’re supposed to do, and copying and pasting. I studied every evening when the kids went to bed, and I did a couple of hours in the holidays, whenever I had the time,” she explained.
Hayley was able to overcome her fears and accomplish her goal of becoming a TA4 because to the assistance she received from her tutor and the adaptability of the online learning environment.
The Impact of Feedback on Success
Hayley was satisfied with the advancements she had made and the way in which the Higher Level Teaching Assistant Level 4 course had broadened her knowledge after she had finished the course. She completed her training in just under 3 months! She spent some time going back and forth with Elaine on her final assignment, where she struggled to answer one question. Luckily Elaine was on hand to work through the issue, and let Hayley know where the problem lay.
“She was straight with me and said “It’s question eight, you need to do this.” And so, it was done!”
Finally armed with her new qualification, Hayley has jumped into her new role.
New Routes to Teaching
Taking an online course to advance your career can be a daunting task, but it’s one that can reap great rewards. As demonstrated by Hayley, the opportunity to learn new skills and advance in your career is worth the effort.
It’s important to remember that even if you’ve never done anything like it before, with the right support and dedication, you can succeed. Hayley’s experience with her tutor Eileen highlights the value of having someone who can offer support and guidance when you need it most.
Moreover, Hayley found that the course offered her the chance to learn new things, from both her classroom experience and through research during her studies. There’s always something new to learn and discover, even if you’ve been working in a field for a long time. So if you’re considering taking an online course to advance your career, remember that it’s possible with the right support and mindset. As Hayley shows us, the rewards of learning new skills and advancing your career are well worth the effort.
To look at our teaching assistant and school staff training courses, click here.
To see if your passion is waiting for you in the form of an online course, browse our course catalogue.
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