Straight to teaching in an SEND setting
Lauren Allcock started her journey to QTS as a teaching assistant at Heather Field School, a specialist school for children who have a range of social, emotional and mental health needs as well as cognition and learning, and communication and social interaction difficulties.
Heather Field is part of the Hopedale School group – a cluster group of four schools situated across the country that focus on smaller class sizes to ensure and enable a high level of support and supervision.
We asked Lauren to share her experience of the programme and her journey to becoming a fully qualified teacher.
Lauren Allcock, Heather Field School Straight to Teaching graduate
Why did you choose Straight to Teaching?
Before I started QTS I was a TA at my current school (Heather Field), which is a special needs school. I’d been at my school for just over three months when I was approached by members of the SLT. They’d seen that I had a degree and, from previous conversations, had an inclination that I’d be interested in progression, particularly to teach.
Before joining my current school I worked in EYFS settings and schools as a room leader, which entailed planning, resourcing and tracking pupil progress, so I’d already gained some experience of the roles and responsibilities of a teacher. While working in other settings, I completed a BA Honours degree in education, working full-time and completing the degree part-time. I’ve always found that working alongside completing training, although challenging and requiring good time management skills, provides me with the opportunity to become a reflective practitioner to aid my learning.
How did you find the course?
I completed my course in five school terms. This time flew by but it also allowed me enough time to learn, develop and reflect on my practice. I completed a 30-day second school placement, which was in a mainstream school, therefore totally different to my main school. I was lucky with my second school placement, because I utilised contacts I already had and went to a second school that was attached to my previous EYFS setting. However, I also carried out research to locate other mainstream schools nearby to provide me with available options and opportunities.
While studying and working, I ensured I gave myself time to manage both work and study commitments. My current school provided me with two sessions of PPA time, this allowed me to use one session to focus on school planning and resourcing and then the second session to focus on studying. I also allocated a given number of hours at home in my own time to ensure I was meeting study targets and submitting work on the Tes portal as necessary.
My mentor was chosen by school for me, based on relationships already built and to provide support where appropriate. My contact with my mentor consisted of weekly meetings, regular observations and feedback, setting personal and professional targets and reviewing them at regular intervals. I’m awaiting my final assessment in January 2023 and then I will hopefully be awarded with QTS.
What advice would you give someone thinking about starting Straight to Teaching?
I would like to advise anyone contemplating the Straight to Teaching route to stop hesitating and do it! If you believe that you can manage the workload of studying whilst gaining vital experience then you should go for it, it’s hard work, but worth it. If you feel you can offer something to change even one child’s life through education, nurture and care, then this is the route for you.
Jennifer Newton, Deputy Headteacher, Heather Field School
Jennifer Newton, Deputy Headteacher at Heather Field shares her view of supporting Lauren on her journey to gaining her qualified teacher status:
At Heather Field, we’ve been working with Tes Institute for the last two years to enable practitioners who have adequate experience and qualifications to access the Straight to Teaching programme.
Although the programme is highly structured and supportive to its learners, one challenge we’ve faced is providing staff with enough time away from class to complete their course requirements. We’ve timetabled to allow them a complete day off timetable each week in addition to half a term’s placement at another school. Logistically, it has been achievable; it has required careful planning and considerations to make it successful.
Working with Tes institute has been beneficial to both our school and our staff in that it has enabled skilled practitioners to develop their careers while gaining vital experience and qualifications. Staff who have studied with Tes have been eager and keen to support less experienced members of staff within school, as well as ECT teachers. Tes Institute learners at Heather Field uphold high levels of professional duty and, with the support of the Heather Field leadership team and Tes, are highly competent and skilled classroom practitioners, as evidenced in lesson observations and monitoring checks carried out by the school’s senior leadership team.
The Tes Straight to Teaching programme has fulfilled our school’s expectations and requirements of hoping that we would be able to progress staff within school and grow our teaching staff team ‘in-house’, rather than recruiting externally. So far, we have been successful in gaining two qualified teachers (QTS imminently pending!).
Straight to Teaching has acted as a structured support programme for its learners and has provided our school with an accessible programme to implement and follow. Learner progress has been exceptional, the two learners we have in school have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience which has further invested their futures within the company.
The Tes programme has enabled senior leaders to remain up to date with both policy and practice. As an outstanding school with ample facilities and support to embed outstanding practice, we believe Heather Field acts as a suitable support mechanism for the Straight to Teaching route and we’d be happy to support further learners through the programme.
In summary, Tes Institute is a respectable provider that allows practitioners wishing to develop their teaching careers to progress at a speed which is proportionate to their classroom experience. Our experience of Straight to Teaching has been very positive; we recommend Tes Institute as a training provider to any school that is considering pursuing this avenue and will definitely be using them in the future.
Learn more about Straight to Teaching
To date, we've supported 3,131* teachers to gain QTS. If you’re looking to progress from TA to qualified teacher without leaving your current school, take a look at our Straight to Teaching course page. If you’re a school leader interested in developing staff at your school you’ll find more information our Straight to Teaching for schools page.
Learn more about Heather Field School
Heather Field is an independent specialist school for children who have a range of social, emotional and mental health needs as well as cognition and learning, and communication and social interaction difficulties. Heather Field is a growing school which has been open since September 2019, gaining an outstanding Ofsted result in June 2021.
Currently, Heather Field School has 92 pupils on roll. Class sizes are small with three staff members within the class, which means they can provide a high level of support and supervision. Heather Field believes that a personalised and therapeutic approach can best achieve outstanding results and they are passionate about the care and support they provide.
Visit Heather Field School’s website
Heather Field is part of a cluster of schools within the Hopedale School group. As one of our leading Straight to Teaching school hubs, Hopedale School group offers schools and teachers in their geographical area expert guidance and support to help teaching staff find the route to QTS that's right for them. If your school is interested in knowing more about our school hubs please get in touch by emailing institute@tesglobal.com
*Database of trainee teachers and providers and internal data (Salesforce), December 2022