Reflecting on your own experience as a TA, what do you wish someone had told you before you started? I'm starting my first TA post in a primary school this coming term and looking for mistakes not to make and advice that I can take on board. Thanks.

take your own coffee cup

Always ask how much you need to put in the tea kitty.

Sit back and observe, especially in the staffroom as the politics can be interesting.

I expect you already do this one but, always smile and say hello when passing anyone - child or adult - in the corridors and when they come into the classroom. I was surprised when I started at my present school how many don't do this, people/pupils can't resist smiling back, even if they don't say hello.

Enjoy.

ditto I was thinking the same there is NOTHING worse than a newbie getting stared at because she has USED somebodies mug.Yes get the tea/coffee rota/money asked about and if you don't have any then offer to bring in the odd packet of chocolate biscuits and you will be everyones friend.Not much 'healthy eating' goes on at break time in the staff room.Ask where the toilets are.Be pleasant but wary as staffrooms are very funny places sometimes.Take a packed lunch and stay for lunch, even if you are finished, for the first day you will learn a lot in there.Ask if you don't know what to do, NEVER try to fix the Riso, get someone to show you how to use the photocopier, laminator etc.Students have stuffed ours up numerous times.
Good luck

Hi Belle, are you going in to school the day before the kids? Could be useful for finding your way round, where resources are kept etc. Do ask if you want to know something, TAs are usually friendly and helpful!

same as everyone else has said.Make your own mind up about people! I was once "warned"about an unapproachable TA , as it turned out i learnt so much from her.

Who your actual line manager is

Whether you are paid, and expected to work, for your break times

Whether you should speak to the parents or not. Have worked with teachers who hate TAs dealing with queries (however minor) from parents

I always ask new teachers whether or not they are happy for me to let the children go to the toilet and what they expect from me in the classroom. Every teacher is different, one does not like staff sitting on tables, which I do a lot in KS1 as I have a bad back and the chairs are very low, one lets me send children to the toilet, one had a routine with me about who could go and when. Others prefer the don't speak until you are spoken to approach while some like you to join in with carpet discussion. I have never met a teacher who didn't appreciate being asked how they would like me to behave in their classroom.
Good luck.

Who is in charge of resources, is it a whole school thing or year groups in charge?