Education support is a charity that champions good mental health and wellbeing for teachers, lecturers and school staff. It was formed in 2015 from the merger of three sister organisations: Teacher Support Network, Recourse and Worklife Support.
It is impossible for schools to operate without the hard-working ESPs who keep children healthy and safe, prepare meals, drive buses, clean classrooms and offices. They are the backbone of every public school.
Education Supporter Job Duties
Education support staff work as a team alongside teachers in the classroom and perform a range of tasks to assist with the education process. This can include organising educational resources, providing photocopying assistance and preparing lesson plans. They may also be responsible for planning and scheduling excursions, incursions and other activities.
They may also be expected to take on a security role in the school environment. This can include taking on a duty roster for playground, car park and bus parking duties. In addition, they may be responsible for assisting with catering, cleaning and other administrative duties.
Children who are struggling to concentrate or who have behavioural issues often benefit from the empathy and patience of education support staff. They can help them to manage their behaviour and allow the teacher to focus on teaching. ESPs are the backbone of every school and deserve to be recognised for the important role they play. MSEA has a strong track record of supporting ESPs to win decent wages, improved working conditions and respect for their essential role in schools.
Education Supporter Salary
Education support professionals–paraeducators, food service workers, custodians and bus drivers–are essential to the school system. But they don’t earn enough to make ends meet, according to a new report by the National Education Association.
The NEA’s 2023 ESP Earnings report offers an in-depth look at the salary breakdown for these school-based employees, who work in K-12 schools and higher education. It reveals that most of these employees–37%, in fact–work at least one other job outside the classroom to make ends meet.
On average, these workers get paid about $10 per hour, and they have several weeks off for school holidays. Little on-the-job training is provided. Most schools give education support workers a brief orientation or grace period to observe other employees and students before they assume daily responsibilities. Positions at this level have a considerable degree of independence but operate under clear priorities and procedures with limited scope for deviation. Several types of leave are available to these employees, including the family and personal leave allowance and the annual leave purchase.
Education Supporter Job Requirements
To be an effective education support officer, you need to have a range of skills. You need a strong understanding of the developmental needs of children and the ability to communicate in ways that take this into account. You need to be able to assist students in creating educational plans, and you must be able to work as part of a team.
You also need to be able to organise resources, equipment and activities for the school, including incursions and excursions. You may be required to carry out administrative tasks such as photocopying and managing student records. You will also be responsible for maintaining classroom stationery and supplies.
Positions at this level are accountable for a specific function and have well-defined objectives and priorities. These are carried out in accordance with clear procedures, with a degree of scope for discretion on how the work is completed.
Education Supporter Job Outlook
Education support workers are vital to a school’s function and the students they work with. They often face challenges in their roles and require a level of sensitivity that takes into consideration the age of the children they interact with.
These professionals are also tasked with providing educational counselling to students on issues such as mental health, social development and learning styles. They can also help teachers create education programs and lessons.
They may be responsible for creating partnerships with external resources that can assist with career development, further education or technical training. They can also provide assistance to families with paying for child care expenses, course fees or license and testing fees.
The NEA has found that education support staffers are more diverse than the teacher workforce, but they aren’t making a living wage. It is important that they be given recognition for their contributions to the educational system and be allowed to enjoy the same pay, benefits, and working conditions as other school-based personnel.