Teaching Assistants
 

Do the schools in Canada have teaching/classroom assistants in them ? Im confident in finding a job but my wife is a little worried that she will not. Its the norm in the UK for the teachers to be helped by assistants in the classroom but are there any over there?

Thanks.

Re: Teaching Assistants
 

I found some at this site .... there are not many, but then again the school year has started and most vacancies will have been filled by now (I would imagine)

http://jobsearch.educationcanada.com/index.phtml?dadm=1

All the best

Clare

Re: Teaching Assistants
 

From my experience (London, Ontario), you do get teaching assistants over here but they are assigned to special needs students only. When I taught in the UK (Foundation stage - Y2) most early years classes had EAs assigned to them and they would help out with anything and everything. Over here, because the EAs are only assigned to specific students who manage to get funding, there are less EAs. Unfortunately, students are rarely assessed for special educational needs until they are older (about Grade 4 and up usually) which means you don't see many EAs in early years classes, which is where I think they are needed the most.

As far as finding work is concerned, I only know of one person around here who tried to get work as an EA. Unfortunately she had to move from here because it was really difficult to get in to. It may well be easier around the Toronto area but that is a guess - I don't have any first hand knowledge of that.

I am an experienced primary teacher with a Masters degree in Primary Education and additional Canadian qualifications in Special Education, but I didn't even get an interview to get on the supply list here in London. About 400 - 500 applicants apply for each full time teaching job advertised here and most jobs go to people schools know rather than through job ads. I think this is one of the toughest places to get in to though - other areas could be better.

You would probably be best to contact the school board of your intended location and find out what they have to say. Hopefully they will be able to give you a more accurate and positive answer than me. :o

Chris

Re: Teaching Assistants
 

My sons kindergarten class has a full time teacher assistant and in the afternoon class they have a special needs assistant assigned to one little boy aswell. So 3 qualified staff in a class of 20 children.

Re: Teaching Assistants
 

That's it - I'm moving! :D

Re: Teaching Assistants
 

It very much depends on the school. One school in SW Calgary stated last year that they wanted to have an ed assistant in every classroom this year.

I think it comes down to how the school wants to use its budget.

Re: Teaching Assistants
 

Hi,

in NS they seem to have SSA'S (special needs assistants) here they call them education programme assistants, which is what i was in the uk for 6 years, but as the same as in UK, if you can get in the school system then you normally get your job offers that way. I did apply to the Halifax school board for 8 ssa'a jobs but had no reply. I now work as a pre-school teacher as I have a 2 year diploma in preschool education. In my classroom with 18 children from 3 to 5 years olds we have 2 teachers and one special needs assistant.

Re: Teaching Assistants
 

will you be entering on a work permit or a residents visa? I have a work permit and it has a stipulation that you are not allowed to work with kids until you have a residents visa. I was working as a school librarian in the UK. It is just a child protection clause. Our residents visas should be through soon though.