Portable Carees

If you are trying to work within a globally mobile lifestyle, perhaps moving to a new country every few years, you might consider trying to develop a career which you can take with you. Portable careers can begin with making your existing career more flexible through distance working, or you can start on a new career which will be usable in different countries. On the following pages is some general advice about four different types of portable career which other globally mobile partners have followed with success; with the advice comes a useful list of resources specific to the UK to help you begin to develop that career while you are living in the UK.

There are many different types of childcare careers, including nanny work, childminding, playgroup, learning support and so on. You will need to be patient, enthusiastic, and responsible and the government now sees childcare careers as an extension of teaching.
Some jobs you can start from scratch, but it is easier to progress and be globally mobile with qualifications. Early years care & education and playwork qualifications are available at different levels: as a rough guide you will need different qualifications as

A person working under supervision
A person working on their own initiative, planning and organising their own work and supervising others
A person in managerial roles and quality assurance

To be a childminder you must be registered with Ofsted (www.ofsted.gov.uk) and increasingly you can expect to have a criminal record check. Rreferences are quite important in this field especially for nanny work, so be prepared to ask employers to become referees as you go along.

www.childcarecareers.gov.uk government site providing lots of information
www.cache.org.uk awards qualifications site contains information on this and other areas
www.daycaretrust.org.uk provides information on childcare
www.childcarelink.gov.uk provides a portal to information from local governments on childcare.
www.ncma.org.uk National Childminding association of England and Wales, speaks on behalf of registered childminders in England and Wales

Getting into childcare, Joanna Grigg, (Trotman, 2001)

Working with children: A guide to qualifications and careers in early education, childcare and playwork, (Scottish Executive, usually published yearly)

Events management is an area of work that can involve many skills and disciplines, and also crosses many professional fields, including academic, sales, charity sector, health and media. Qualities that are sought by events management companies and agencies include determination, communication skills, negotiation and imagination (‘thinking out of the box’) and sometimes budget management too. You should expect to have good IT skills also, as you might need to manage a database of delegates, for example.

It is also possible to become a speaker for an events management company either as a regular position or just to fill a guest slot. If you are interested in this area, you are expected to have a good standard of public speaking, charisma and be well informed on your subject area.

ESP recruitment specialising in recruitment for the events management field www.esprecruitment.co.uk
Anne Ellington Associates: specialist recruitment for conferences, incentives and event management personnel. www.ae-assocs.com
Linda Raymonde Connects is a specialist events recruitment consultantcy for permanent and contract staff. www.lrconnects.co.uk
Eligo recruitment also offers recruitment services to the events management field www.eligo.co.uk
Marcus Evans offers speaker opportunities and careers with their firm: www.marcusevans.com.
First Conferences: a company who organise business conferences; also links to a jobs page. www.firstconf.com.

Opportunities in event planning, Blythe Camenson, 2002, higher education, ISBN 0071382283

Meeting and event planning for dummies, S. Friedmann, 2003, john Wiley & sons, ISBN 0764538594

Event planning: the ultimate guide to successful meetings, corporate events fundraising galas, conferences, conventions, Judy Allen, 2000, John Wiley & sons, ISBN 0471644129

Successful event management: a practical handbook, Anton shone & Bryn Parry, 2001, Thomson learning, ISBN 0826452191

There are 4 main branches to nursing including Adult nursing, Children’s Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Learning Disability Nursing. Midwifery and Health Visitors are regarded as separate professions. If you are coming to work as a nurse from abroad you will need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), who will test English language, skills, Nursing Education and work experience.

A degree of 3-4 years length or a diploma in nursing is necessary to become a registered nurse. Courses are usually 50% theory, 50% practical.
If you are returning to nursing you may have to re-register depending on the length of time out, and perhaps take a refresher course lasting up to 150 hours.

www.nhscareers.nhs.uk NHS site provides lots of information on its careers, and also information for returners
www.nmc-uk.org Nursing & Midwifery Council site, including information on registration
www.nmas.ac.uk Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service gives information on nursing courses
www.nursing-standard.co.uk Nursing professionals site with magazine and other services

Royal College of Nursing
20 Cavendish Square
London, W16 0RN
08457726100
www.rcn.org.uk

Working as a Nurse: How to Make Your Career in a Fulfilling Profession, Esther Bartlett, (Marion Field, 1999)

Writing the Nursing CV, Anne McErin, (Edukom, June 2004)

Teaching English as a Foreign Language can be done in large groups or individually, privately or through a school or agency, and the flexibility in delivery makes it a very suitable and successful choice for a spouse/partner career abroad. Generally, speaking the language of the foreign country to a high standard is not a necessity for finding work as an English teacher, and it is a good way of getting involved in the local community outside the mission.

There are also opportunities for teaching English as a Foreign Language in the UK – the majority of which are in private language schools – although Further Education Colleges, Adult Education Centres and state schools also employ EFL teachers.

To teach EFL in the UK you need to complete a recognised TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL Teaching English as a Second Language) qualification. Courses are available in a wide range of language schools throughout the UK and vary from short introductory courses lasting a couple of days to certificate courses which may take a month or so to complete. If you intend to make a career of TEFL teaching then it is advisable to complete one of the certificated courses, the most popular being the Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) or the Trinity Certificate in TESOL. A Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is needed if you want to teach in state schools.

As well as a TEFL qualification, employers will also be looking for a good command of English, the ability to communicate with a wide variety of people, energy and patience. Any teaching experience would also be very valuable.

Most language schools offer a recruitment service for those who complete their courses with them but these are often overseas and it’s worth checking the scope of your language school if you intend to stay in the UK.

Contact Details:

The British Council
10, Spring Gardens
London SW1A 2BN
Telephone +44 (0)20 7930 8466
Fax +44 (0)20 7839 6347
Email: generalenquiries@britishcouncil.org
Web: www.britishcouncil.org

Trinity College
89 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7TP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7820 6100
Fax: +44 (0)20 7820 6161
Email: info@trinitycollege.co.uk
Web: www.trinitycollege.co.uk

University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
1 Hills Road
Cambridge CB1 2EU
Tel: +44 (0)1223 553355
Fax: +44 (0)1223 460278
Email: ielts@ucles.org.uk
Web: www.ucles.org.uk

There are so many acronyms – TEFL, TESOL, ESOL, CELTA etc. etc. What do they all mean?

General
TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This is the generic term for work of this kind.
TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language. This is an alternative term for TEFL.
TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Again, this is an alternative term, but is particular to the Trinity College examinations system.
CILTS: Cambridge Integrated Language Teaching Schemes.
IELTS: International English Language Testing System (jointly managed by British Council, University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and IDP Education Australia).

Exam Boards, Associations and Moderating Bodies
ALTE: Association of Language Testers in Europe.
BIELT: British Institute of English Language Teaching.
IATEFL: International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language
QCA: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The government’s exams moderating body.
TCL: Trinity College London, one of the main examining bodies for TEFL teaching and learning.
UCLES: University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, one of the main examining bodies for TEFL teaching and learning. Now incorporates the RSA board as well.

Qualifications for Teachers
CELTA: Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. This term is particular to the Cambridge Examinations Board.
CELTYL: Certificate in English Language Teaching to Young learners. This term is particular to the Cambridge Examinations Board.
CertTESOL: Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This is Trinity’s initial teacher training qualification.
CertTEYL: Certificate Teaching English to Young Learners. This is the Trinity qualification in teaching English to under 16s in the independent sector.
COTE: Certificate for Overseas Teaching of English. Cambridge course for those overseas learning to teach English.
DELTA: Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults. This is the second stage qualification offered by the Cambridge Examinations Board for those wishing to develop their career as a TEFL teacher.
DiplomaTESOL: Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This is Trinity’s second stage qualification, taken after CertTESOL for those wishing to develop their career as a TEFL teacher.

Qualifications for Learners
ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages. Trinity’s term for their courses for those who wish to learn to speak English.
Comes in levels 1-12, equivalent to stages of the National Qualifications Framework. For more details go to www.trinitycollege.co.uk and select ESOL under Subjects.

EFL: English as a Foreign Language. Cambridge’s term for their courses for English learners. The CELS: Certificates in English Language Skills (Cambridge):

KET: Key English Test
CAE: Certificate in Advanced English
PET: Preliminary English Test
CPE: Certificate of Proficiency in English
FCE: First Certificate in English
BEC: Business English Certificate

What should I consider when looking at courses?
Considerations fall around two basic issues. How much time do you have to devote to a course per week, and what sort of learner do you think you are?
Some courses are run over a very intensive period, mostly full time over four or five weeks. Intensive courses require flexibility, resilience, fast learning, adaptability, and versatility. You are going to be mentally committed to this course at an intense level, and if you have a number of other pressing commitments at home or work, this may not be a suitable mode of learning for you. Typically, you will study during the day, and have classes to teach and prepare in the evening, and perhaps student work to mark. It is extremely hard work to sustain this level of study, let alone to continue with a normal home life at the same time, so consider very carefully whether you are able to study in this mode.

Other courses are run part-time over a longer period, perhaps several months. As with any prolonged part-time study, you need a lot of self discipline, ability to organise your commitment to the course alongside other ongoing work or domestic commitments, and an impetus to keep going with the study over a long period of time.

Check also that you are happy with the content of a course: does it meet your expectations of what you need to learn, not only about English as a language, but also about teaching methods.

Consider the balance between contact time with tutors, and practice time with students. Think about the modes of assessment and of reflection: are you going to be comfortable writing a journal about your experiences, or do you prefer a more objective approach?

You should also approach a potential college or course provider to ask them how best you should prepare for the study period ahead. Most colleges will have a leaflet or brochure explaining what their course entails on a practical level and will be able to advise you on how to prepare mentally and organisationally for what is coming. Be clear that you know what to expect.

Who offers these courses?
Two main examination boards offer schemes in teaching English as a Foreign Language: Trinity College and University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). Both courses are accepted by the British Council as initial TEFL qualifications for those wishing to teach in British Council accredited institutions here in the UK and abroad.

Trinity College do not offer courses themselves. They have a list of course providers whom they have validated, so there is guaranteed quality in the provision of teaching and assessment from any of these listed institutions.

Cambridge offers courses through CELTA centres, in the UK and around the world. These centres are approved by UCLES, but they are not directly controlled by UCLES who do not act as agents for the centres.

How much do they cost?
Prices do vary and you should contact individual providers for details. Typically you should expect to pay at least £600-£800, perhaps as much as £1000 to study in the London area, plus an examination fee of around £80 if you are studying the Cambridge course. Costs are usually the same for part-time or full-time versions of the course, but again, you should check with the individual provider. Courses may also require a deposit up front to secure your place, perhaps of around £100.

Can I learn to teach English as a Foreign Language if I’m not living in the UK?
Yes. You should investigate where approved centres exist in your area. The British Council will be able to provide a list of centres, or you can contact either ULCES or Trinity College directly for details, if you have already decided which course you would like to take.

How long do courses take?
Courses range in length from 4-5 weeks for an intensive, full-time course, to up to a year if studied part-time. Part-time courses might typically involve two evenings per week of three hours in length.

Can I do a course if English isn’t my first language?
Yes, but you will need to demonstrate a high level of English language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Do I need to have taught before to be able to take a TEFL course?
No. Courses are designed to include study of the practice of teaching.

What qualifications do I need to get onto a course?
Course providers will have their own entry requirements, but in general it is a good idea to have sufficient educational qualifications to enter higher education at university or equivalent level. That would mean having A levels, a Baccalaureate, High School leaving diploma, or equivalent. You are learning to teach, and setting entry requirements of this level puts TEFL qualifications on a level with other teacher training. If you are in any doubt about whether your qualifications are sufficient, contact your local centre, and they will be able to advise you.

What should I get at the end of a course?
After passing examinations and successfully completing a minimum teaching practice requirement, you should receive a certificate of your qualification. You will need to produce this if you are going to apply for jobs.

Professional Associations

Association of Recognised English Language Services (ARELS)
56 Buckingham Gate, London SW1 6AG
Tel: 020 7802 9200
Website: www.arels.org.uk

British Association of State English Language Teaching (BASELT)
Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education,
Francis Close Hall, Swindon Road, Cheltenham GL50 4AZ
Tel: 01242 227099
Website: www.baselt.org.uk

IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)
3 Kingsdown Chambers, Kingsdown Park, Tankerton, Whitstable, Kent CT5 2FL
Tel: 01227 276528
Website: www.iatefl.org

National Association for the Teaching of English and Other Community Languages to Adults (NATECLA)
National Centre, South Birmingham College
99 – 103 Clifton Road, Birmingham B12 8SR
Tel: 0121 688 8121
Website: www.natecla.org.uk

British Institute of English Language Teaching (BIELT)
PO Box 1109, Headington DO
Oxford OX3 8XR
Tel: 01865 742086
Website: www.bielt.org

Books

Teach English as a Foreign Language: All You Need to Know to Enjoy a Varied and Adventurous Career, Sue Tyson, How to Books 2000

Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Geoffrey Boughton et al., Routledge 1978.

ELT Guide: English Language Teaching Worldwide – the definitive guide, Graeme Ginsberg ed., EFL Ltd. 1998

The EFL Directory, Europa Pages, Summersdale Publishers 2001

An Introduction to English Language Teaching, J Haycraft, Longman 1998

Newspapers

The Guardian. The education section on Tuesdays includes useful articles and job listings.

The Times Educational Supplement and The Times Higher Educational Supplement both contain useful information about the education system in general and again carry job listings.

The Daily Telegraph contains an education section on Wednesdays with news about developments in the sector.

General websites

www.eflweb.com Contains information on courses and qualifying as a TEFL teacher, recruitment services and job listings and resources and support for qualified teachers

searchenglish.britishcouncil.org. Contains news and information about the English teaching community and offers chat rooms and discussion lists for teachers to network

www.teachingenglish.org.uk. Offers resources, ideas and support for the delivery of ELT.

iteslj.org. More resources, classroom tips and articles for TESL and TEFL teachers.

www.canteach.gov.uk. The governments teacher training website which includes full details of the different routes to qualification as a teacher in the UK.

If English is not your first language, or if you have a high level of fluency in a foreign language, you might consider training to teach that language. English language teaching is often seen as a portable career by many DSFA members, but it applies equally to other languages too. A clear distinction should be made between teaching children and teaching adults (post 18), as the training is substantially different. To teach children, you require the same qualifications as any other school teacher in the UK. To teach adults the training is more comparable with training to teach English as a foreign language to adults in terms of course length and content.

SCHOOL TEACHING
Teachers wanting to work with their foreign language in schools in the UK can work with bilingual pupils who need more support in working with their native tongue, or can teach the language outright to non-native speakers. With increasing numbers of schools, particularly in city areas, having groups of bilingual pupils from ethnic minorities, there is greater scope for the former type of teaching support than ever before.

There are a number of entry routes into teaching. If you wish to work in a state school, at primary or secondary level in the UK, you must achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). To do this, you might choose to study an undergraduate teaching degree such as a BEd, or BA or BSc with QTS, or to return to Higher Education having already gained an undergraduate degree and study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Alternatively, if you are already a graduate, you may prefer the more hands-on School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme. If you have taught before, you could refresh yourself with a returner’s course, which will inform you about the latest developments in education. For more information about these options and more, visit the Teacher Training Agency website at www.canteach.gov.uk or telephone their Information Line on 0845 6000 991 (992 for Welsh speakers).

To teach in Further Education (FE) colleges, working with adult learners, you might choose a secondary PGCE or perhaps a specialist Post-compulsory Education and Training PGCE (PCET). However, it is worth noting that while a PGCE would allow you to teach in both school and college environments, the PCET will not give you QTS so you would have less flexibility.

Higher Education (HE) lecturers come from a range of backgrounds. Most will have a PhD and post-doctoral research experience before obtaining a lectureship, but if you have practical vocational experience, for example as a solicitor or journalist, that can be equally valuable.

General Websites
www.dfes.gov.uk - the government’s Department for Education and Skills
www.lsc.gov.uk - the Learning and Skills Council

TEACHING ADULTS
Until September 2001 it was not necessary to have a qualification to teach foreign languages to adults (post 18 years old), but now all teachers on further education courses which lead to a nationally recognised qualification, such as GCSE , AS Level or A Level will be required to have (or work towards and gain within a specified time frame) the right teaching qualification for the job that they are doing. All courses which lead to such qualifications are endorsed and based on standards set by the Further Education National Training Organisation (FENTO).
At present there are three options for study:

1) Diploma and Certificate for Teachers of Foreign Languages to Adults (OCR TFLA offered by the OCR board (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations). To be accepted to study for this qualification you must have competence in English, competence in the target language, and an understanding of the structure of language.
2) Specialist University/College Qualifications, offered by individual institutions and examined by them.
3) Qualifications from the foreign country, offered by universities or central examination bodies, which can only be taken in the foreign country, or by distance learning to a centre in the foreign country.

Richmond Adult Community College
www.racc.ac.uk (then type OCR TFLA in the search box)
Tel: 020 8891 5907
Richmond, Twickenham (Clifden Road)

Oaklands College
www.oaklands.ac.uk (under Course Directory select Part Time courses, then scroll to Training & Teaching in Post-16 Education)
Tel: 01727 737080
St Albans, Borehamwood, Welwyn Garden City

International House Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults (IH CLTA)
(French, German, Italian and Spanish only)
International House
www.ihlondon.com/teacher-training/IH-CLTA.asp
Tel: 020 7518 6949
London (Piccadilly)

Foundation Certificate in Teaching Adults: Languages
Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults
Goldsmiths College, University of London
www.goldsmiths.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7919 7171, London (New Cross)

Japanese Teacher Training Course Stages I and II
Certificate in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCAFL) [the only qualification of its type in the UK]
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
www.soas.ac.uk/languagecentre
Tel: 020 7898 4888
London (King’s Cross, Bloomsbury)

French
To teach French as a foreign language, you need the Diplome d'Aptitude à l'Enseignement du Francais Langue Etrangère (DAEFLE), which can be taken in France, or by distance learning. To take it by distance learning, you should contact the Centre National d’Enseignement à Distance, at www.cned.fr. You will need to take an access test to make sure you are at a high enough standard to take the qualification. If you pass this, the results will are sent directly to the CNED and your lessons will be sent to you by post. The final exam consists of 6 modules which you take one after the other. You can take all examinations for the DAEFLE at Alliance Française in London.
Alliance Française, 1 Dorset Square, London NW1 6PU
www.alliancefrancaise.org.uk
Tel: 020 7723 6439

German
The Goethe-Institut offers a wide range of residential training courses for teachers of German in Germany, including teaching in further and higher education (i.e. teaching adults).
Goethe-Institut, 50 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PH
www.goethe.de/ins/gb/lon/enindex.htm
Tel: 020 7596 4000

For information on other languages, you could contact the teachers in the FCO Language group for information on how they gained their qualifications.

If you wish to work in a state school, at primary or secondary level, you must achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). To do this, you might choose to study an undergraduate teaching degree such as a BEd, or BA or BSc with QTS, or to return to Higher Education and study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Alternatively, if you are already a graduate, you may prefer the more hands-on School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme. If you have taught before, you could refresh yourself with a returner’s course, which will inform you about the latest developments in education. For more information about these options and more, visit the Teacher Training Agency website at http://www.canteach.gov.uk or telephone their Information Line on 0845 6000 991 (992 for Welsh speakers).

To teach in Further Education (FE) colleges, working with adult learners etc. (and perhaps encountering fewer behavioural problems!), you might choose a secondary PGCE or perhaps a specialist Post-compulsory Education and Training PGCE (PCET). However, it is worth noting that while a PGCE would allow you to teach in both school and college environments, the PCET will not give you QTS so you would have less flexibility.

Higher Education (HE) lecturers come from a range of backgrounds. Most will have a PhD and post-doctoral research experience before obtaining a lectureship, but if you have practical vocational experience, for example as a solicitor or journalist, that can be equally valuable.

• Recruitment and Employment Confederation
www.rec.uk.com - choose ‘Find a consultancy’ and search by ‘Education’ and geographical location for a list of recruitment consultancies specialising in education related employment in your area.

• Local authority websites will also have vacancy information for teachers. Access http://www.tagish.co.uk/tagish/links/localgov.htm for a list of local government sites.

There are several professional associations representing this field of employment, including the following:

For a detailed list of education related associations, visit the Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the United Kingdom (HERO) website at http://www.hero.ac.uk. Scroll down until you come to the ‘Reference’ section in the left hand column and choose ‘Resources’. Then choose ‘Groups and organisations’, scroll down and click on ‘Professional Bodies’.

The books listed here primarily offer listings of potential employers, along with further details about individual institutions and/or courses. There are many more publications that will give you an overview of the teaching role in a particular sector.

The London Schools Guide 2002, pub. Mitchell Beazley 2002
This handbook includes all London's state and independent secondary schools. It profiles all 32 boroughs in depth, examines over 400 schools and offers a London-wide review of league tables, facilities, fees and transport routes.

The Good Schools Guide, Lucas Publications 2001
This guide reviews the value of 375 of the UK's top schools, private and state, junior and senior, day and boarding.

The Independent Schools Guide 2003/2004, pub. Kogan Page 2003
Compiled by Gabbitas Educational Consultants, this title provides guidance to parents considering private education in Britain. It includes detailed profiles and a fully comprehensive directory section listing 2200 schools.

Teaching and Learning in Further Education: Diversity and Change, pub. RoutledgeFalmer 2002
This new edition contains fully revised material on FE funding, curriculum, assessment and teacher training to present the most up-to-date picture of further education in the UK

Floodlight 2003, pub. Floodlight 2002
This is the official guide to courses in London, including all part-time and full-time courses run by government-funded colleges, universities and adult education centres in all the London boroughs. This should help you to identify FE colleges in the London area.

Choosing Your Degree Course and University, pub. Trotman 2002
This updated 8th edition provides a quick and easy reference source to all major UK degree courses.

‘The Times’ Good University Guide 2003, pub. Collins 2002
The 11th annual edition of The Times Good University Guide impartially compares Britain's 102 universities and ranks many of the 50,000 different courses available.

This section contains a small selection of the on-line recruitment services available. The author does not seek to recommend any of these sites in particular, simply to list them for your information.

A number of newspapers carry education related vacancies, including the following:

Times. The Times Education Supplement (TES), available on Fridays, carries
guidance and information together with extensive listing of teaching and lecturing
vacancies. All the jobs are linked to the TES schools directory, which provides further
information about the schools and colleges. On-line, visit www.tesjobs.co.uk

Guardian. Tuesday’s Education Guardian provides information about current trends in teaching as well as listing hundreds of job vacancies. The information can also be accessed on-line at education.guardian.co.uk/jobs

Times. The Times Higher Education Supplement, available on Fridays, includes details of jobs, news and books for university and college professionals in teaching and research. The information can also be accessed on-line at www.thes.co.uk

Guardian. The Education Guardian provides information about current issues in HE as well as job vacancy listings. The information can be accessed on-line at education.guardian.co.uk/higher

www.dfes.gov.uk - the government’s Department for Education and Skills
www.lsc.gov.uk - the Learning and Skills Council

www.canteach.gov.uk - the Teacher Training Agency
www.gttr.ac.uk - the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (for teacher training course applications)

Many DSFA members have been able to gain valuable experience while at post working with children with special needs, and want to convert this experience into qualifications they can use in the UK. The teacher training system in the UK is however very rigorously constructed, and many of you will find that you do not have the formal teacher training background required to take some of the courses available in the UK to qualify you to work with children with special needs. However, there are several short courses available, courses for teaching assistants, and many courses are now becoming available by a distance learning mode. You should contact the providers for more details. Also, special needs education is becoming an increasingly portable career, as other countries develop more support for children with special needs.

University College Northampton
www.northampton.ac.uk/ass/educ/cesner/courses/index.htm
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator’s Certificate
Foundation Degree in Learning and Teaching (Schools)
Specialist Teacher Assistants
Certificate in Educational Support (Literacy and Numeracy/Autism/Speech and Language/Multiple learning difficulties/Behaviour Support)

Open University
www3.open.ac.uk/courses
Advanced Diploma in Special Needs in Education
Specialist Teacher Assistant Certificate (includes SEN) for practising teaching assistants

The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf have a useful leaflet on their website about learning to teach hearing-impaired children. Go to: www.batod.org.uk and select Teaching. To train to teach deaf children you first need to be a qualified teacher, and then you need to gain teaching experience before applying for a postgraduate diploma or certificate in Education of the Hearing-Impaired/Deaf.

University of Manchester, Human Communication and Deafness centre
www.hcd.man.ac.uk
Full time, part time and distance learning options in Diploma in Advanced Studies in the Education of Hearing-Impaired Children
Distance learning option of Master of Education (Hearing Impaired)

University of Edinburgh
www.education.ed.ac.uk/courses/index.html
The modular Master’s scheme includes modules relating to deaf education and other special needs areas

The Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) is the nationally recognised body which moderates the qualifications in British Sign Language. Their website gives you more information about the Council and it has a list of their courses: http://www.cacdp.org.uk/training.html.

Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD)
www.royaldeaf.org.uk
CACDP courses in British Sign Language are recommended by the RAD, and the RAD website has a list of centres running the courses in your area. Either go to the site and select Education, or ask the DSFA for the edited list of courses in London, South East, East Anglia and Central areas of the UK.

The Dyslexia Institute
www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk
Helping with Dyslexia and Literacy: Course for Teaching Assistants

The Hornsby International Dyslexia Centre
www.hornsby.co.uk
Hornsby Diploma: Open entry, demonstrates competence and understanding in teaching of dyslexic pupils
Hornsby Fast Track Certificate: for qualified teachers with at least two years experience: content as Hornbsy Diploma; also comes as OCR certificate in Specific Learning Difficulties
Hornsby Study Skills Course: Open entry for parents, teaching assistants etc. wanting to learn how to support children with learning difficulties; does not lead to a formal qualification
Hornsby Foundation Course: Open entry, general overview of dyslexia; does not lead to a formal qualification; does not lead to a formal qualification
Hornsby Dyslexia and Maths Course: Open entry; provides information on supporting dyslexic students studying maths; does not lead to a formal qualification
Hornsby Diploma by Distance Learning: Open entry, though most suited to those with Qualified Teacher Status or accustomed to HE level study

University College Northampton
www.northampton.ac.uk/prospective_schools_education_frame.php
OCR Certificate for Teachers of Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties
OCR Diploma for Teachers of Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties
Certificate in Professional Studies in Education: Severe/Multiple Learning Difficulties
Certificate in Educational Support (Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties)

University College Worcester and the Dyscovery Centre
www.dyscovery.co.uk
Certificate for Professional Studies: Meeting the needs of Pupils with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (Dyspraxia)

University of Birmingham
www.education.bham.ac.uk/programmes/ugrad/default.htm#ucert
University Certificate in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (by on-site or distance learning): suitable for people with current experience of the field rather
Certificate of Higher Education in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (by on-site or distance learning) suitable for people with current experience of the field rather than qualifications

If you are between jobs but would like to use your time in other ways, volunteering is a useful alternative, and it can open up paths into work in the Voluntary and Not-For-Profit sector. If you want to do this, it’s important to have a clear aim in mind, and to view your experience constructively from the outset. This will help convert a worthwhile experience into useful material for your CV.

Know what you achieved from your volunteer experience.
Show that you were not just a volunteer but that you made a substantial contribution to the organisation (e.g. Created and ran projects, started a new programme for the organisation).
Extol rather than apologise for your volunteer experience. Show how you learnt new skills.
In an interview or job application be prepared to show a connection between your work as a volunteer and the responsibilities of the position you are seeking.

Visit the University of London Careers service website which gives a very comprehensive list of information on charities and jobs in the not for profit sector. Go to www.careers.lon.ac.uk/links/l050300

National Council for Voluntary Organisations: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk

Charity Commission: www.charity-commision.gov.uk

National Centre for Volunteering: www.volunteering.org.uk

National Association of Volunteer Bureaux: www.navb.org.uk

Voluntary Services Overseas: www.vso.org.uk

REACH – A UK wide charity that recruits managers and professionals with time to give and places them as part-time, expenses-only volunteers with voluntary organisations needing their career expertise: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP, Tel: 020 7582 6543. www.volwork.org.uk.

forum3 organise an annual recruitment and information fair about the voluntary sector in the UK. The fair runs in September: their site with links is: http://www.forum3.co.uk.
Excellent comprehensive one stop website. Allows you to search a database of NGOs by region and theme (e.g. gender). www.experiencedevelopment.org.uk

National Association of Volunteer Bureaux. Allows you to search for your closest bureau. www.navb.org.uk.
Comprehensive volunteering site. Allows you to search for opportunities by postcode. www.do-it.org.uk

“Working for a Charity” runs a number of training courses particularly aimed at returners to work and new graduates. www.wfac.org.uk/training

Getting into the voluntary sector, Collins, Verite Reily Collins , Trotman 2000.

The Voluntary Agencies Directory 2001, National Council for Voluntary Organisations Publications, www.ncvo-vol.org.uk

The International Directory of Voluntary Work, Vacation Work Books, www.vacationwork.co.uk

Green Volunteering, Vacation Work Books, www.vacationwork.co.uk

The travel market is slowly bouncing back after a rocky post September 11 period of cutbacks and pulling in the reins. Particularly in London and the South East, there are opportunities in a wide variety of areas including tour operations, travel agencies, tourist boards, local government tourist offices, tourist information centres, airlines, airports, travel writing and travel attractions.

On the plus side the sector is fast moving and often puts more emphasis on practical skills gained through work experience than formal qualifications. Although a cliché, it really is a “people” industry and strong interpersonal skills and an ability to network will get you a long way. It is quite normal to start at the bottom of an organisation, prove yourself and work upwards. On the negative side the pay is often low and the perceived glamour can wear off after a while!

As someone who has experienced living overseas you will have specific knowledge and language skills that will make you attractive to many employers. As with all sectors, many jobs are filled before they are even advertised. Consider using contacts, developing new ones and temporary contracts as a way of getting ahead of the crowd.

REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation)
36-38 Mortimer Street, London, W1W 7RG
Tel: 020 7462 3260
Fax: 020 7255 2878
Website: www.rec.integra.co.uk/search/

This organisation represents the recruitment agency sector and has an online search facility that will find suitable agencies for you.

Incoming Tour Operations
British Incoming Tour Operators Association
Vigilant House
120 Wilton Road
London SW1V 1JZ
Tel 020 7931 0601
Website: www.bitoa.co.uk

Tour Operators and Travel Agents
Association of British Travel Agents
68-71 Newman Street
London W1T 3AH
Tel 020 7637 2444
Websites: www.abtanet.com
www.abtanet.com/training.htm

Training part of the website has useful careers advice for different types of jobs

Independent Tour Operators
Association of Independent Tour Operators
133A St Margaret’s Road
Twickenham TW1 1RG
Tel 020 8744 9280
Website: www.aito.co.uk

Tour Guides
Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
The Guild House
52d Borough High Street
London SE1 1XN
Tel: 020 7403 1115
Website: www.blue-badge.org.uk

Has useful information on how to get trained and what the reality of guiding is like!

Getting into Tourism, Trotman and Co 1999
Careers in the Travel Industry, Kogan Page, 1997

Guardian on a Monday (for marketing positions especially) and Wednesday (for public sector positions)

Evening Standard. Has a job supplement on Mondays. Can search online via its website www.thisislondon.co.uk

Travel Trade Gazette
Not available online. Try local library or ULCS (University of London Careers Service) library. (www.careers.lon.ac.uk 020 7554 4500)

www.travelmole.com Masses of information from industry gossip to useful courses.

www.springboarduk.org.uk - useful careers website for careers in leisure, travel, tourism and hospitality. Has a section on adult returners to work, with courses and events aimed specifically at this group.

Intro
There are a variety of entry points into NGOs (non governmental organisations) and charities. If you don’t have experience already this sector looks favourably on volunteering experience, so you could use this as a stepping stone into paid employment. Your local volunteer bureau which would be a good place to start or if you know which organisation you want to work in you could contact them direct.

Temping through an agency can also be a useful way in and will allow you to get a feel for the sector before you commit to a permanent position. Consider honing up your administrative skills as this will make you more attractive to an agency.

The most popular positions (and the most competitive) tend to be policy positions (e.g Policy Adviser) or those which work directly with the field (especially in international organisations such as Save the Children). Finance, IT and HR positions are less competitive. It is common to move from a non NGO/charity background into these positions.

Many organisations advertise their positions on their own websites. If you know who you want to work for this is the easiest way to track down a job

Charity People
www.charitypeople.co.uk.
Well known recruitment agency. Has contracts with charities such as Shelter and the Richmond Fellowship. Runs a recruitment fair every year in September called “Forum 3”.

Charityjob
www.charityjob.co.uk - acts as a one stop shop for a number of other recruitment agencies. Wide range of jobs across the spectrum including HR, Administration, Finance and Fundraising.

The NCVO (National Council of Volunteer Organisations) represents the sector as a whole: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk.
Otherwise each profession within the sector will have its own association, for example the Institute of Fundraising (www.icfm.org.uk).

Voluntary Agencies Directory, NCVO publications – large list of charities with contact details.

Charity Choice, Waterlow Professional Publishing – good for listings of all types of charities.

The International Development Directory, Directory of Social Change – excellent detailed profiles on development NGOs with job seeking advice as well.

Guardian. The jobs page on a Wednesday is an excellent source of jobs for this sector. Some of the jobs are repeated in Saturday’s edition. Fundraising and events positions are advertised on a Monday. Online at www.jobsunlimited.co.uk.

Evening Standard. Mondays and Wednesdays good for jobs with London charities. Can search online via its website www.thisislondon.co.uk

Third Sector – good for background issues. Some jobs, mostly UK based.

The Big Issue – available from street vendors. Good selection of charity jobs.

If you are applying for a position in an occupation such as HR or finance, use a trade magazine (such as People Management for HR or Accountancy Age for Finance) to find vacancies. Large NGOs in particular will advertise in such publications.

www.experiencedevelopment.org.uk. Excellent comprehensive one stop website. Allows you to search a database of NGOs by region and theme (e.g. gender).
www.navb.org.uk. National Association of Volunteer Bureaux. Allows you to search for your closest bureau.
www.do-it.org.uk - comprehensive volunteering site. Allows you to search for opportunities by postcode.
www.wfac.org.uk/training - “Working for a Charity” runs a number of training courses particularly aimed at returners to work and new graduates.