Teaching staff

[mallet]

Hi
does anyone know how long year 2 children are meant to have a qualified teacher with them in a week?

[AbbeyA]

I think you need to give some more information. Is it a state school? Are you talking about them being left with a TA?

[mallet]

Yes it is a state school, and should they have a qualified teacher all day every day or can they have whole days with teaching assistants?
thanks

[ratherbesleeping]

Some schools use cover supervisors (TA's with some additional training) to cover classes. The work will have been planned by the teacher but delivered by theTA. However I would be concerned if this was happening on anything other than a v occasional basis eg to cover whilst teacher on a course.

[SqueakyPop]

ISTR that if a teacher absence is known to be more than three days, they should use a supply teacher rather than a HLTA or CS.

[SqueakyPop]

ISTR that if a teacher absence is known to be more than three days, they should use a supply teacher rather than a HLTA or CS.

[pointygravedogger]

in scotland - never

[mallet]

Hi Squeakypop
please excuse my ignorance but what is ISTR HLTA and CS?

[SqueakyPop]

I seem to remember

High level teaching assistant

Cover supervisor

[mallet]

thankyou

[AbbeyA]

I think they should have a qualified teacher all the time, except for odd times of up to 30mins.

[mallet]

I am concerned as my son's teacher only seems to be there 1/2 day Monday, all tuesday,wendesday and thursday and not at all on a friday. Last week as she was ill he only had a qualified teacher for 1 day.I know sickness can't be helped but the general opinion is that the school dosen't have enough money for supply teachers, but is it really true that he should only have a qualified teacher for 3 1/2 days as the norm?

[wheresthehamster]

How do you know the person taking the class wasn't qualified?

[mallet]

I was told by another mother at the school who is also a governor

[CandleQueen]

The work should be planned by teacher and can be delivered by HLTA but I would argue that 30% of the week is unreasonable.
(Five days a week, morning and afternoon sessions, therefore 1/2 day Monday and all day friday = 30%)
Our school can't afford supply, but Head covers classes if teacher out all day, with support from HLTA when he has to go off and do "head teacher type things"

[Littlefish]

AbbeyA - all teachers are entitled to 10% of the week as non-contact time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA time). This can be covered by Teaching Assistants or Higher Level Teaching Assistants. Schools do not have to provide qualified teachers to cover PPA time.

[AbbeyA]

Schools should provide qualified teachers to cover PPA time IMO. I spent 1 yr doing that job throughout a school. Now that I have finished another qualified teacher has taken over.

[AbbeyA]

Some schools are using HLTAs because it is cheaper-that is the only reason.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Well, my ds's teacher's PPA time isn't covered by qualified teachers. It's covered by a language specialist, a dance specialist and a PE specialist. I think it works very well.

[TheFallenMadonna]

They're not TAs, they're instructors.

DD gets a HLTA one afternoon a week. She is in reception. I think is also fine.

[AbbeyA]

I have no problem with the use of specialists. Does the TA plan the work?

[TheFallenMadonna]

No idea

She is vastly experienced and I wouldn't mind if she did actually. She does good stuff with them for sure.

[AbbeyA]

If the teacher is having PPA time they shouldn't be planning the cover lesson-they should leave it all to the teacher.

[AbbeyA]

Sorry-the teacher covering their PPA time.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Then I'm sure that's how it is.

[AbbeyA]

Either it is unfair on the teacher because he/she is having to do the planning for a lesson in his/her absence or it is unfair on the HLTA who is doing a teacher's job without the pay.
Money is the only reason for having unqualified staff covering PPA time-the saving is huge!