Pushpa Secures Full-Time Job as a Teaching Assistant

Pushpa, who joined the GRoW Programme in May 2023, has achieved a significant achievement by securing a full-time position at a local school as a Teaching Assistant. Pushpa sought assistance to navigate her way back into the workforce while balancing the responsibilities of being a mother to two young children and has fully engaged with GRoW’s activities and learning opportunities from the very beginning.

Pushpa said “I initially joined GRoW’s Preparing to Work in Schools programme at West Drayton Academy in Hillingdon and after completing the programme I began a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course to help me regain my career of working in a school.  I have previous experience of working as a Teaching Assistant in my home country but I felt it was important to gain the necessary skills and qualifications in the UK to help give me an advantage when applying for jobs. I am very close to completing the course with just one Workbook left to complete.  I have really enjoyed the course and found it so useful.

GRoW have given me lots of support to help me move back into my chosen career.  As well as facilitating my enrolment onto the Teaching Assistant course they also provided me with work experience to boost my CV. In addition, they introduced me to a recruitment agency, Teaching Personnel, who I have been working with since July.  Joining the agency involved an in-person interview at their offices in Uxbridge where I answered safeguarding-related questions and discussed my previous work experience. They carried out a DBS check, child safeguarding training and then provided me with placements in two different schools in Hillingdon.

I completed 10 days work through the agency which was a great opportunity to gain more work experience and demonstrate my capabilities.  One of the schools contacted the agency to express their interest in me joining them on a full-time basis and I couldn’t be happier. I start my new role at the beginning of the new term on 10^th January.

I am so grateful to GRoW for all of their support and guidance they have given me.  Once I complete my Level 2 course I would like to pursue a Level 3 Teaching Assistant course to enhance my skills and qualifications further.”