I just moved back to South Africa after three years in my native England.
My now 7 year old son was at Poole Old Town First School and he wishes he were back there. His class was 25 kids, one fully qualified techer and two TAs each one year short of "qualifying". (I'm not sure of the definition of "qualifying.") That's a one-to-eight ratio! The TAs were very dedicated and motivated. Between them the educators were able to cope with the range of the kids' abilities, giving special attention where and when required. Absolutely brilliant!
I don't know what's going to happen to the UK school system now. Budgets are being cut dramatically and organisations reorganised as I write...
Meanwhile here in beautiful, rural SA, the state school is - umm - rubbish. Among other things, it could be improved by adding TAs.
(Arch-agnostic that I am, have sent my son to a local, small Christian school. Many other expats hereabouts home-school their kids.)
