Have I done the right thing?Can't stop thinking....

[twoluvlykids]

I am a very badly paid TA. Just obtained a Higher Level TA qualification,and been teaching sn kids science.Lots of fun,they loved it,I enjoyed it,but have been offered a derisory extra £1.90 per hour for 28 hours per month - I'm not apparently worth more than that!

So I decided not to do it anymore, and just do my TA work.

Tonight, in the supermarket, I saw the TA who brings these sn kids to the school where I work and explained that I wouldn't be teaching them, and no one else would take it over. And I feel really bad about it.

So much for Every Child Matters!!!

Any one else in a similar position? WWYD?

[twoluvlykids]

anyone care?!?

[CarGirl]

sorry I do't know how it all works! TA is not well paid though is it, the big advantage is having the school holidays off.

[RaggedRobin]

just wanted to say that i'm a teacher and am horrified at the terrible pay given to TAs who are often working with the most vulnerable kids in the school.

did you write to your LEA explaining why you would no longer work with the children? i know of a TA who had quite a long drawn out case to get her extra qualifications recognised by the LEA (we are in scotland) and in the end she was successful. perhaps the lea would reconsider their pay offer in the light of the lack of replacement? would parents be willing to support your pay claims?

[twoluvlykids]

thanks for the comments.

the local authority I work in wants TAs to have these qualifications, and provides funding for the training, but then I'm faced with a Head who thinks I'm there to wash up paint pots and sharpen pencils!

Oh, and I got it wrong last night - a bit stressed - it'd only be 14 x £1.90 extra per month! So by the time the tax & NI is paid, it'd be worthless!

Had a sleepless night, but feel a bit better today - day off, and going all out for a different job!

[BoffinMum]

How insulting is this. After all your hard work as well. What LA is it? Have you thought of training as a teacher and using your obvious talents that way?

[twoluvlykids]

Thank you BoffinMum.

I would like to do a pgce, but can't afford to give up my paltry pay!

[BoffinMum]

Aha, what about doing it in your own workplace??

There's the Registered Teachers' Scheme that allows you to do this.

www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/employmentbased/rtp.aspx

If you have a degree already, you can do the Graduate Teachers' Scheme instead. Same sort of thing.

[twoluvlykids]

Thank you - looked at that link,lots of useful info!

I'd like to teach primary - I work in a secondary & have teens of my own, so get a bit sick of hormonal raging.

I'll have a good look through that site, might ring the people who ran the HLTA course as well, as they were really supportive!

[BoffinMum]

One of the ideas of HLTA was that people would eventually move into QTS at some point anyway, I believe.

You could probably find a primary that would be more than happy to take you on in a training post. Might be a nice change actually, given the hormone thing!

Best of luck. xx

[elkiedee]

Are you in a union? Have you considered joining one? Sounds like there may well be others in your LEA (in other schools) in a similar position if your authority is encouraging staff to pursue further training. I know in lots of LEAs Unison has got TAs quite substantial regradings and re-evaluations of their jobs (although unfortunately some LEAs have then turned round and tried to cut gains elsewhere eg by changing hours/weeks paid for).

Hope you find some solution to this.

[BoffinMum]

NASUWT great on this sort of thing, as I recall.

[twoluvlykids]

not in union,but really must join,esp as i work with vunerable teenagers.

yes, plenty of others have done the HLTA here, and not found any financial incentive to continue.

HLTA is more of a standard than a qualification as such.

I have been so disheartened that I didn't even go to the award ceremony last week!

thanks for all the encouraging comments

[Littlefish]

The trouble is that some schools simply do not have the budget to pay the higher rate which HLTAs are entitled to.

I've worked at a school in the past where the Head teacher was up front about it and said that in order to have TAs in every KS1 class, he could not afford to pay anyone above a Level 2.

It's really hard if you've worked to acheive the standards, but are not being recognised financially for them. Were you told that your pay would increase any more than the amount in your first message if you did the course?

I suppose it's sort of the same as if I went and did my Masters degree in education, on top of my B-ed. I would be more qualified, but I wouldn't be paid any more for it as my contract sets out the terms and conditions under which I was employed.

[twoluvlykids]

You're right, littlefish, it's all about money. I did the HLTA to keep the brain ticking over, as it'd been years since I did my degree. I was "encouraged" into the specialist route by the school, and I did really well

and my work is being used for new incoming candidates as a shining example of "how to achieve HLTA status".

This boosted my confidence, and the school made all the right noises, which is partly why I now feel a bit deflated.

[Littlefish]

I can completely understand that lwoluvlykids. Do you think that the school's financial position will be any different in the new financial year (April)?

Is it worth talking to the Head now and acknowledging that there might not be the budget now, but you would like to be considered for the special science work when there is the budget to pay you a salary which reflects the additional work and responsibility.

I suppose that your only other option is to consider moving to another school where they are specifically looking for HLTAs.

The trouble with schools is that they always want something for nothing! They like applicants for jobs to have additional skills and interests. These skills and interests give one candidates the edge over another, but the school then (not unreasonably) hopes that these skills and talents will be used to support the school.

I'm always aware that when I'm paid as a class teacher, I'm usually doing well over and above the class teacher duties. When I've been a phase or Key Stage Leader, I've been doing the sort of duties an assistant head will be doing. I think it's just part and parcel of school life to be honest. If you are good at your job, and interested in succeeding, you will always be working above your salary level. Does that make sense? It doesn't make it right, but it's what happens in my experience.

[twoluvlykids]

Yes, thanks for putting it so clearly!

It's made clear to us TA's that we are expected to do above and beyond our job description, and often we do, if the kids are kicking off or needing our support, we give it, willingly, because we just do!

But, when you look at the meagre pay, in comparison to some (thankfully few) lazy arsed teachers, it makes me angry!

Also, with the falling birth rate, there's a real possibilty some of us will be made redundant in a few years!

Anyway, gripe over for today!

[twoluvlykids]

oh , meant to add, none of the lovely mn teachers can possibly fall into the category lazy arsed!!!!

No offense meant, mn teachers! Don't send me to time out!

[Littlefish]

I know that I couldn't do my job without the support of the truly exceptional TA in my class.

Please believe me when I say that you really are appreciated. I know that can't make up for the crap money, and having to clear up vomit, but I still think it's worth telling you

[elkiedee]

UNISON and the GMB are the unions which most commonly represent TAs and other school support staff as I understand - I'm biased in UNISON's favour but it's also useful if the union can take up a case for a group of you who are affected.

I know schools have devolved budgets and that's a source of pay problems for support staff, but that's part of the reason why a union and a collective approach comes in, eg the union can negotiate for pay to be improved across the LEA and also press for a claim to be funded properly.