School assistants play a significant role in everyday school life

The work of a school counsellor requires pedagogical, social and emotional expertise, sensitivity, situational awareness and strong professional ethics. The counsellor acts as a facilitator of learning, a builder of interaction and a calming influence in everyday life. They support pupils individually, but at the same time are part of the whole school community. 

There are approximately 150 school assistants working in Tuusula schools. You can become a school assistant by completing a vocational qualification in education and guidance. Those who have completed training as a practical nurse, childcare worker or youth and leisure instructor can also work as assistants. The duties of school assistants may vary depending on the school and class. They may work in general education classes in primary and secondary schools, in special groups or as personal assistants.  

– With the reform of support services, school assistants now have an even more important role in ensuring that pupils receive the support they need for learning and attending school. The work done in schools is multi-professional cooperation aimed at promoting children’s growth. Schools need the expertise of different professional groups, emphasises Kirsi Lehto, Deputy Headteacher at Rykmentinpuisto School.  

A supervisor’s working day can involve many different situations. It involves supporting pupils while taking their individual needs into account, creating a safe environment and being present, as well as cooperating with other school staff, guardians and pupils. The work requires anticipating situations and reacting quickly. Instructors quickly become close to the students and important adults in their everyday lives. 

“The threshold for pupils to share their personal matters with us counsellors seems to be lower than with teachers,” says Hanne Partonen, who works at Kellokoski School. 

This is also confirmed by the pupils at Perttu School.  

“The instructors help with everything, because otherwise the lesson would be interrupted,” says one fifth-grade pupil.  

“The instructors are comforting, and their presence makes everyone feel better,” adds a third-year student.  

The appreciation of school assistants’ work has increased over the decades, but their work still does not necessarily play as visible a role in everyday life as that of teachers, for example. The role of instructors and the demands of their work may come as a surprise to many. In Tuusula, one of the cost-cutting measures introduced this autumn has been to limit the possibility of hiring a substitute for instructors during short absences.  

“Instructors have been wondering whether their work is valued at all in the municipality if we are not considered necessary enough to have substitutes,” says Viivi Hawksley, an instructor at Perttu School. 

The school day for school assistants often does not end when the pupils’ lessons finish, as many of the assistants go on to supervise afternoon clubs. Depending on the school, there may be more than 50 children in the group.  

“You can imagine what my job is like if you think about organising play dates for 40 seven- to eight-year-olds every weekday,” says Hanne Partonen, head instructor at the Kellokoski after-school club.  

– The work of after-school club supervisors requires tremendous organisational skills and strong social skills. By the end of the day, the children are already tired, but the supervisors still do their best to create a safe and functional environment so that parents can finish their working day with peace of mind, says Laura Aalto, coordinator of afternoon activities.     

Today, we would like to thank all the instructors in Tuusula for their valuable work – you do more every day than many people realise.

This content has been translated using AI