Pap, what qualifications do you already have?
My daughter starts teacher training in September for high school age. She has been a teacher's assistant for several years, and eventually decided it was her vocation so she studied and got a degree at the Open university. The rest was a bit of a breeze, and she is very confident of her abilities honed as an assistant. I just spoke her her a moment ago, and she was in total agreement about the three year period as mentioned earlier to become competent in handling students....First year too soft with them, second year two harsh, third year giving mixed messages to them!
I know I haven't really added anything to the conversation, but am interested in this thread.
PS I've mentioned it before, but as an assistant, she used to oversee some of Sam Gallagher's many detentions when he was about 14!