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Admissions Spotlight on Miss McVeigh, Pre-Prep Teacher
Miss McVeigh shares how Hallfield supported her through her apprenticeship and Early Career Teacher years, the professional development that shaped her teaching, and her advice for future TAs looking to follow in her footsteps.
Published
21 February 2025
Category
#Spotlight On
School
#Whole school
How did your time as a TA help prepare you for your role as a teacher?
Being a TA gave me really valuable classroom experiences, time to observe the teacher’s role and exploring how teachers and TA’s work together to support the class. It has also given me great existing relationships with many families at Hallfield.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your transition from TA to teacher, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I experienced was having to begin to delegate tasks to others and having more involvement in admin-based work such as planning, assessments and report writing. I overcame these challenges by seeking support from colleagues and using my previous experiences as a TA e.g. supporting the class teacher with start of year assessments.
In what ways did the school support you during your apprenticeship and your Early Career Teacher (ECT) years?
The school were a huge support, giving me the time required to be able to complete my module work, taking the time to observe me each week to provide me with helpful feedback and facilitating my placement in order for me to gain experiences at another school. Again, the support of my colleagues and both Ms Williams and Mrs Sanderson was invaluable.
What differences have you noticed between your first year in Foundation and your current role in Reception? How have you grown as a teacher?
I feel much more confident in my teaching, in Foundation I felt like I was still learning along the way whereas now I feel I am a little more established and know how to approach the school year. However, I know I will always be learning and improving throughout my career.
Which school resources or professional development opportunities have been the most valuable to you during your time here?
The apple training with the iPads has been valuable, I have an interest in technology and enjoy the idea of including more technology into my teaching. I have already used this in some of my lessons and am thinking of further ways this can be used with Reception.
For those just starting their teacher training, what words of wisdom would you offer?
Happy children learn, creating a happy classroom environment and building strong teacher-student relationships is key to children progressing.
What has been the most rewarding part of your teaching journey so far?
Seeing the progress my class had made by the end of Foundation and having lots of positive feedback from their parents. Also, the class assembly I did with FCM was also one of the most rewarding parts to date.
What do you love most about teaching, particularly in Reception?
Every day is different, I love seeing the children’s personalities grow and their enjoyment of learning develop. I enjoy finding fun ways to bring new ideas and experiences to the children. I really enjoy the conversations I have with the children, especially as the children’s language skills are developing and maturing.
What inspired you to become a teacher / commence your teaching training and why did you choose the route you did to do so?
I’ve always loved being around children, particularly small children. I started my career within nurseries and as my experiences grew, I knew I wanted to be in the classroom. I loved my time as a TA but this role only confirmed that I wanted to become a teacher. After speaking with Mrs Sanderson, I could see that the opportunity was there and I wanted to take this opportunity with both hands. I am proud of the experiences I have had and the route I took into teaching, it all makes me the teacher I am today.
In what ways do you think the school could continue to support future TAs looking to become teachers?
By being supportive as Hallfield were with me, as soon as I expressed my desire to become a teacher, I felt listened to and supported. I was taken seriously and we began to look into ways of making this happen.
How have you grown personally and professionally since transitioning to teaching?
I have learnt so much since my transition to teaching, helping me to grow as a person. My confidence, experience and general capability have improved massively. I feel so content and enjoy being at school with my class.
How do you balance the demands of teaching with your personal life, and what advice would you give about maintaining that balance?
I believe I have found a good balance, I work hard and actively spend time on organisation. I manage my time well and prioritise tasks where required. I complete most of my work at school ensuring I have a good work/life balance. My advice would be, plan which tasks to complete in your non-contact time, start with higher priority tasks and always accept support from your TA.
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