Primary Male TA needed - any chances?

[PieintheSky2]

Just that really.

My son in Yr3 really needs a Male TA to help him with his behaviour and emotional outbursts. He has not got any formal diagnosis yet but things have been awful this term. Maybe slight ASD or ADHD. He is academically able but just struggling to engage and can’t bear failure.

School has emergency funding for a one to one TA - and we both think a male would suit him best.

But the wages are so crap. I had no idea how bad they are. That’s my bad.

Am I more likely to fly to the moon than manage to get a male TA for my son?

[famishedpotato]

I'm married to a male TA, and there are at least two others in his school. They're not that unusual.

[joopy79]

They do exist! But why do you think a male ta would be better?

[PieintheSky2]

Thank you! That gives me hope.
Because of his background. He is adopted and too many women have let him down and seemingly rejected him. He just trusts men more easily...

[Bestseller]

I have worked with several male TAs. They are often young and come from a sports coaching background. I'm not sure any job advert could specify it though.

[MsJolly]

We have two and yes they are from sporting/coaching backgrounds

[greenlanes]

Many TA's are not allocated to a particular child, more to support a class (unless clearly stated in EHCP etc). So how will your child cope in the new academic year when this new TA doesnt move up with them? Sorry but it seems a very short term solution that could have distressing future consequences.

[Bestseller]

121 TAs usually are appointed to support a particular child. The child's name will be in the contract and the contract ends when the child leaves the school, so unless another vacancy occurs (which it often does) the TA will leave too

[PiperPublickOccurrences]

There's a male TA in our primary and he's awesome, the kids love him. He's an older guy, must be early 60s. Retired from full time work and 15 hours a week in the school suits him perfectly. There's also a male teacher in the school but they're few and far between at primary level. I don't think it would be legal to state that one sex was preferred in a job advert though.

[stayingaliveisawayoflife]

TAs tend to support the class while LSAs support 1-1 or small group.

[ElizabethMainwaring]

No. TA is the term most often used in primary, and LSA is the term preferred in secondary. How they are deployed is down to the school.

[stayingaliveisawayoflife]

Um every primary I have worked in has had TAs and LSAs. I have been teaching 20 years.

[RiverTam]

DD has a lovely male TA last year, everyone adores him. I hope you can find someone to help your DS.

[ElizabethMainwaring]

Ok, sorry staying, I was misguided in saying that. Apologies.

[OpiningGambit]

Neither of the people saying what the 'LSA' vs 'TA' role is are correct, it depends on the school. I've been to schools where everyone was a TA, everyone was an LSA or there was a mix. It's not a hill worth dying on.

[witchesbroth]

My son is very similar and when a male TA was allocated to him, he pulled him out of a hole and got him back engaged and happy in school. Ds also has trust issues and needs to clear, solid relationship that a male offered. It's very hard to put in to words why it works with men better. The TA left and ds is now out of school because it failed within 3 weeks without him. There aren't any other male TAs around in the schools locally but it isn't impossible.