TAs/LSAs in secondary tell me about your day please

[insanityscratching]

Probably more specifically SEN TAs I suppose. I'm trying to work out whether I am unreasonable and demanding or not. So if I give a specific incident can you tell me what you would think I could reasonably expect?

Dd in year 7 has autism and a statement of SEN, she's reasonably bright, rule bound so never misbehaves, conscientious, friendly and sociable. She's also anxious off the scale prone to panic attacks, self harm and fainting when overwhelmed.

She has pretty much full time TA support during lessons,at breaks and lunchtimes she accesses various clubs and activities with different friends. She eschews the Learning Support base probably because at her Primary she was fully included in everything and doesn't see the need to spend time with TAs outside of lessons when she can be with her friends doing more interesting activities which I fully support.

Each morning she has a meet and greet with one of the TAs who supports her this consists of the TA popping into registration to read the liaison book,and sign it. They also top up her lunch card and pass on permission slips as organisation isn't one of dd's strengths.

In the liaison book I write feedback from various comments so acknowledge all the successes and thank them for reminders etc. I'll ask for clarification on homework occasionally if dd isn't clear on what she should be doing and alert the school to anything significantly worrying. Dd's a worrier so never bother them with the little things because reassurance from me is enough.I would say that out of 100s of dd's worries I bother them with one or two over the course of a term.

One evening this week dd had a massive panic attack regarding a French test. Dd is really able at French and the teacher is brilliant with her so I wasn't too worried as I knew that with support she would be fine. I wrote in the book about the panic attack and the reason for it and asked that the teacher was made aware.

Dd came home that day bleeding and vomiting and in a real state. Absolutely nothing was written in the book and it transpires that the TA didn't alert either the teacher or turn up for the lesson (no explanation given) and when I contacted the SENCo she apologised for the lack of note in the book rather than addressing why the French teacher at least hadn't been alerted.

So is it unreasonable to expect that a TA would, after reading the liaison book, alert the teacher at least never mind turning up as expected? (lesson at 2pm and TA with dd for each lesson up until then)

[rotaryairer]

I think that now the teachers and SENCO are aware of the consequences of the lack of communication, then it would be reasonable of you to expect it not to happen again. You say that "she pretty much has full time TA support during lessons" so perhaps they thought she might manage and underestimated what could go wrong. Now that it has happened, they should be more vigilent. Perhaps the TA had a good reason not to be there (sickness, covering another absent TA, scribing for an exam, dealing with another student, etc). I would give them the benefit of the doubt and seek reassurance that measures are put in place to make sure that it cannot happen again. They will be very busy getting to know all the new Year 7s and dealing with other students up and down the school. Hopefully this will enable them to understand your DD a bit more. Your DD should now be flagged up as a student who cannot be without a TA and she should therefore take priority over other students if there is a TA absent. I would definitely try and keep all communications civil and pleasant.

[insanityscratching]

I think I am more annoyed that the TA didn't alert the teacher tbh rather than the TA not turning up.The teacher is far better at supporting dd than the TA is anyway and what should happen is that my notes should be passed on to the relevant teacher.
It's now been agreed that I will email the teachers directly myself rather than rely on the TA to use the email system herself as signing to say she has seen the book is as much as she can reasonably be expected to manage apparently .