Last updated 12:23, Monday, 08 December 2008

Rachael Doran talks about her role as a teaching assistant

FINDING HER VOCATION: Senior Teaching assistant Rachael Doran in front of her class.

MOTHER-of-three Rachael Doran began training as a teaching assistant three years ago. She left her post with Copeland Borough Council and enrolled on a Level 2 teaching assistant NVQ at Lakes College.

Rachael, 35, of St Bees, said she found the course at Lakes College perfect for her needs as a returning learner.

“The way the course was designed meant it was a good introductory course back into learning. I hadn’t been in an educational environment for years so this was an ease back into it again.

“My first placement was in St Bees Village School where I would spend two days a week in the classroom; it was a good taster. It was that experience that made me realise I had found my vocation.

“It was the first job I found a pleasure to do and I loved getting up every morning wondering what I would experience next.

“I didn’t expect to like it so much with having children of my own but I loved being in the school environment and working with the pupils.”

It was the obvious decision for Rachael to go on and take the Level 3 teaching assistant qualification and she continued with her placements at St Bees.

She now is in her second year of a foundation degree in integrated education and care of children and young people. Her new placement school is St Mary’s Catholic Primary School at Salterbeck, Workington.

“The transition from the NVQ to the foundation degree was hard,” Rachael added. “But the staff and tutors at Lakes College are very supportive, so if I struggle with something I know I can go to them for help and advice.

“Most of my time is now spent in the classroom with four days a week at St Mary’s; one of those days I take the class myself. I love being in school, it’s incredibly rewarding.

“I’m not in college as often now, as the foundation degree is centred mostly on independent learning. But the course covers a whole range of topics from education to social care.

“Once I’ve completed the foundation degree I’d like to do a 12 months top-up course at either UCLan or the University of Cumbria which would allow me to do the one-year PGCE.

“I would love to stay at St Mary’s; it’s a lovely little school. The children are wonderful and I can help different children in different ways but see results almost immediately.

“As a teaching assistant you feel extremely valued by the children and if you’re good you become a positive influence in their lives.

“To become a teaching assistant it takes dedication especially if, like me, you have a family to look after as well, but it’s a pleasure to go to work every morning.

“Being a teaching assistant is a vocation, not a job, and for anyone interested in it I would say the best thing you could do is get into a school as soon as possible. It’s where you learn how to become a teaching assistant.”