Why Cycling to Work is the Best Decision You Can Make!

Are you tired of struggling to find a parking space near school or college? Are you worried about the cost of your daily commute? If you are a teacher or educator, cycling to work could be the solution to your problems.  

Cycling is a great way to reduce commuter costs, improve your overall health, and release any stress before a busy day at school or college. Plus, by cycling to work, you can encourage your students to do the same and lead by example.

In this blog post, we'll explore the various benefits of cycling to work specifically for teachers and education staff. From improved physical health to a boost in productivity, we'll highlight why cycling to work is the ultimate choice for a healthy and efficient commute.

1. A Cost-Effective Alternative

Let's face it: commuting can be expensive. From petrol to ULEZ charges and parking fees, the costs can add up quickly. By cycling to work, you can save money and invest more in your overall health instead. Your daily commute can become your workout!

2. Reduced Carbon Footprint

If you're living in a larger city such as London, you may be aware of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which charges certain vehicles to enter the city centre. By cycling to work, you're reducing your carbon footprint and contributing to a cleaner environment. Plus, by inspiring your students to do the same, you can help to create a healthier, more sustainable community.

3. Reduced Stress Levels

The daily commute can be stressful, especially during rush hour traffic. Cycling to work is a great way to relieve stress and promote mental wellbeing. Studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins,, the feel-good hormone, which helps reduce stress and boost mood. Cycling is also a great way to clear your mind before a busy day at school or college.

4. Improved Health and Fitness

As teachers, it's easy to feel like you're constantly on the go. But cycling to work can provide a leisurely and effective way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s a low-impact exercise that helps you burn calories and improve muscle strength. Unlike sitting in traffic or on a bus, cycling can increase your heart rate and decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Plus, it's easy on your joints, unlike running, while still helping you to stay active.

5. Improved Time Management

Cycling can be a time-efficient way to commute. If you live within a reasonable distance from your school or college, you may find cycling to be faster than driving or taking public transport. You won’t have to worry about traffic congestion or waiting for buses. You’ll also be able to avoid traffic jams and get to work on time, improving your time management skills.

6. Increased Productivity

Cycling to work can also put you in a more focused headspace. A study published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, found that employees who cycled to work performed better overall than those who didn't. It's no secret that exercise can give you a burst of energy and set a positive tone for your entire day.

Cycling to work can offer numerous benefits to teachers and support staff in the education industry. It’s a cost-effective alternative to driving, it promotes good health and fitness, reduces your carbon footprint, relieves stress, improves time management skills, and increases productivity. Given these benefits, it’s no wonder that cycling to work is gaining popularity among those who work in education. If you’re looking to improve your daily commute and your overall health, hop on a bike and start pedalling your way to a better work-life balance.

How to become a SEN Teaching Assistant?

If you are a parent, family member, or friend of a child with learning difficulties, you know how rewarding it is to see them make progress, overcome challenges, and succeed. But did you know that you could turn this passion into a career as a teaching assistant (TA) in the special education needs (SEN) sector? This article will take you through the role of a teaching assistant, take you through the steps involved in becoming one, and explain how you can apply for a job in SEN sector.

Role and responsibilities

As a teaching assistant, you will work closely with the classroom teacher to provide one-to-one or small group support to children who need extra help. This may involve adapting teaching materials, supervising students during lessons, assisting with classroom management, and helping with personal care. The role comes with its challenges, but it is also extremely rewarding if you want to help children thrive in their education. If this sounds interesting to you, here’s how you can start your career in SEN:

Step 1: Gain Experience in SEN Sector

To become a teaching assistant in the SEN sector, you’ll need to have some experience working with children with learning difficulties. You may already have some experience through supporting a family member or friend. If not, you could consider volunteering with local charities or organizations that support children with special needs, completing a work placement or apprenticeship. This will give you a chance to work with children and learn about the various strategies and approaches used to help them learn.

Step 2: Research Training and Qualifications

To work as a teaching assistant in the SEN sector, you’ll need to have certain qualifications and training. These will vary depending on the school or organization you work for and the specific role you’re applying for. Generally, you’ll need to have a minimum of a Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools or an equivalent qualification. You may also need to have additional training in areas such as autism, behaviour management, or speech and language therapy.

Step 3: Apply for Jobs

Once you have gained some experience and qualifications, you can start looking for teaching assistant jobs in the SEN sector. The first place to start is to search for vacancies within schools or educational organizations or simply contact our team to get full support in the process. Give us a call on 0203 011 0044 to find out more about current opportunities.

Step 4: Attend Interviews

When attending interviews, be prepared to answer questions about your knowledge of SEN education, talk about your experience, qualifications, and ability to adapt to different learning needs. You may also be asked to provide examples of how you have supported children with SEN in the past and explain how you would approach specific scenarios. Show that you are passionate about working with children with SEN and are committed to helping them to achieve their full potential.

Becoming a teaching assistant in the SEN sector is a rewarding and fulfilling career choice. By following the steps outlined in this post, you can gain the experience, qualifications, and skills needed to work in this sector. Your passion for helping these children will make a significant difference in their lives and lead to a long and fulfilling career as a teaching assistant.

If you are interested to find out more about teaching assistant role and request a call or upload your CV, please press the button below.

Why use an Education Recruitment Agency to find a job?

Why Use an Education Recruitment Agency to find a job? 

If you’re looking for a first teaching job in the education sector and don’t know where to start, using an education recruitment agency may be the best solution for you to find the right opportunity. Recruitment agencies are invaluable resources to help you find the perfect job matching your skills and experience. Here’s why they’re so helpful and what they can do for you. 

Find Jobs Faster and Easier 

Most people spend hours searching through job postings online to find something suitable. With an education recruitment agency, you don’t have to do all that legwork yourself; instead, the agency will do it for you. They know about the latest vacancies first and can scour their own database of contacts to find jobs that match your criteria, saving you time and energy. 

Recruiters will be able to help streamline the recruitment process for you and help you understand what the school or college is looking for. This information will not be available elsewhere and can put you ahead of other candidates applying for the same role directly.

Get Guidance Through the Application Process 

The application process isn’t always straightforward—especially if you’ve never applied for a teaching job before. That’s where an education recruitment agency comes in handy; they can provide guidance throughout every step of the process, from submitting resumes to getting ready for interviews. This can reduce stress and ensure your application is as strong as possible. 

Receive Advice on Your Career Path 

When working with an education recruitment agency, you won’t just get help finding jobs; recruitment specialists can also provide advice on how to progress your career in the education sector. They can suggest courses or certifications that would be beneficial to take and tell you which roles could be suitable for your skill set. Having someone knowledgeable by your side who understands the education sector inside out is invaluable for career growth. 

Overall, there are numerous benefits of using an education recruitment agency when looking for work in the teaching industry. From helping you find jobs faster and easier to guiding you through the application process and advising on future career paths—an education recruitment specialists have everything covered! 

If you’re considering working as a teacher, get in touch with our team at OmniaPeople to find out more. Call our office today on 0203 011 0044 and start your new journey with us!

The latest preventative COVID recommendations for schools and colleges

On Tuesday the 22nd of February, the UK Prime Minister announced that the remaining COVID rules would be dropped in England. But what does this mean for England’s school and colleges? Here’s what we know along with the latest recommendations.

An end to mandatory isolation

It is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate after receiving a positive COVID test. This means students and teachers are allowed to attend school and college if they have COVID. However, the advice from Public Health England remains that anyone who receives a positive COVID result should self-isolate.

An end to mandatory testing

Students and teachers are no longer required to do a lateral flow tests twice a week. However, regular testing is still advised for SEND settings, alternative provision and SEND units in mainstream schools or the equivalent in colleges.

If staff or students wish to continue with weekly testing (although not recommended) they can still access them online here or through their local pharmacy if they wish.

Recommendations

COVID-19 will remain part of our lives for the foreseeable, and so we need to continue to reduce the spread of the virus in our schools and colleges as much as possible whilst still getting on with our lives. There are 3 main ways we can do this:

Ventilation

Good ventilation in classrooms in one of the best way to prevent the spread of COVID. Simply opening the windows will help with this. The UK government has provided over 360,000 carbon dioxide monitors to all state funded education settings including early years, and further education providers. The monitors help staff to identify areas where ventilation needs to be improved and to help get a good level of ventilation whilst keeping the classroom warm.

Hand hygiene

All through the pandemic we’ve been encouraged to regularly wash our hands with soap and water and this advice remains the same. Hand hygiene is a simple and easy way to slow the spread of germs.

Vaccination

Vaccines remain the best protection against the virus and everyone who is eligible for the vaccine (age 12 and over) is encouraged to get fully vaccinated.

You can view the UK government’s update on COVID restrictions for England and the implications for your school or college here.