Teaching Assistant

Written forhttps://christinebialczak.com/2026/02/17/simply-6-minutes-welcome-to-the-challenge-02-17-2026/

Doctors diagnosed my son with autism when he was two. It explained many things, such as him lining up his cars or fixed into a routine. Doctors told me it runs in families, and I have been thinking lately, that I am on the spectrum. Girls mask more, and I have been doing that for a significant amount of time.

Back then I was employed as a postwoman, but the shift work meant I couldn’t spend time with my children.st they said no, but after an un-interview, where I explained my reasons, they understood.

There are no regrets.

With the school holidays and finishing at the same time as my kids, it was the best decision of my life. As a teaching assistant, I support students with their learning. When I went from Primary to Secondary, it was a bit of a shock.

Support staff are vastly underpaid. Gone are the days when we just read to the children. I passed my Math GCSE last year because of listening more in class than I did when I was there age. We need to have a knowledge of a variety of subjects, and sometimes I am learning with the students.

My responsibilities range from being in a class, interventions, and phonics. We all learn at a different pace, and when a child has gone from reading sounds to having the confidence to read in class, they have a right to be proud.