To think this was really spiteful

I sincerely hope you do not work with children if this is your attitude.

My sister, who is a teacher with a master’s degree, told me something I never forgot. She said, there are certain negative personalities drawn to teaching, the same as to the police. People who want unearned respect and power over others. Kids have to listen to teachers who give lessons and lectures without preparation or planning, etc.

Obviously, there are many, many wonderful teachers who do a great job, work hard and care about the children. But, it’s niave to think every teacher is a saint. Teachers unions and a near monopoly by state education make it difficult for parents to vote with their feet and constrain these bad actors.

I have worked in education for 30 years (adult and primary). My worst experience was working as a TA. I was treated as a second class citizen by SLT and some of the teachers, the children were lovely (though very challenging and lots of deprivation). I only lasted about 18 months as the grief was just not worth the measly wage- it was actually less than my mum paid her cleaner!

Is your school due for an ofsted any time soon?

Report this asshole to the head. What a dick trick

What a mean bitch.

"Of course you get a sticker!" would have been the correct response

Nasty woman.
Poor little girl.

How petty! Anyone being that hopeful about a sticker would have me going to get one of my SPECIAL stickers from my cupboard.

I’d report this to the teacher.

Asking if what you've done is sufficient for the available reward is not begging! How is the kid to know otherwise when its a reward that is given for a wide variety of achievements which will vary child by child?

The answer could have been 'yes, thats great well done' or 'you're nearly there, just do that again/do a bit more... ' both of which would have let her know what was expected and whether she'd achieved her target and what to do if not.

Please define begging?

I read it as asking!

Being unkind to children and not championing their achievements is how children feel unheard.

It’s not 1920, when children were seen and not heard.

No she was right children begging for a sticker because they’ve done something correct is how brats are moulded

I am just so appalled at some of the qualified "teachers" replying here. The OP has clearly seen unprofessional behaviour and is concerned yet some of the teachers here appear to be condoning it from a TA and presumably other fellow teachers. Please do us all a favour and retire from teaching ASAP. It takes a special kind of person who can impart knowledge to young minds and embolden them to question and learn and take their place in the world. It seems many PGCE and TA are not able to do so and I am deeply saddened. I also appreciate the added administration burden that teachers/TAs have nowadays and long hours.

I'm sure many of us remember at least one of our teachers, either because of their encouragement or their abusive behaviour. I thank Mr Hope and Miss Moray for their fairness, enthusiasm and empathy. Who do you remember?

This type of thing is what I would have encountered in the 60s , I thought schools had moved on from this spiteful type of teaching.

Well done OP for sticking out for that little girl, it is nice to know that some people do care.

You must report this behaviour. Theres no need for such a hard line with a child of only 7. This TA needs further training before they can work with small children - kindness is paramount.

Oof, unnecessarily mean! Why would you be horrible to a child so excited and proud?

They will care if it's OFSTED you report it to! This is why so many children are scared of school and why so many adults are getting away with unacceptable behaviour, because witnesses are sitting back and allowing it to happen!

Do the right thing, report it higher: Headteacher, Governors, Local Authority, OFSTED.

Gosh.

Unbelievable. TA teaching a good lesson here, isn’t it. I am in power and you are nothing therefore I will not give you when you deserve…only when I feel like it.

poor kid.

@Stopbeingsomean If the governors are not holding the head to account the only options are to keep your head down, or move schools.

LADO, Ofsted and DfE will do zero. Any complaints will be met with a personal attack on you from the chair of governors.

I had a horrendous experience after making a formal complaint re safeguarding to my son's old school. The mental gymnastics and outright lies that they put in to defend themselves was staggering. But where they lied so much at the panel complaint hearing, the same bullshit was put into statements and repeated as fact for a disability discrimination hearing. Each one contradicted another and they tripped each other up.

But DfE found 'compelling evidence' that they couldn't actually produce to defend them.

"I was also told that a cpoms I had recorded under safeguarding wasn’t (in their opinion) safeguarding. Yet the previous week we had been called to a meeting and had it stressed to us to highlight safeguarding if we feel it is. "

Because the heads goal isn't to safeguard children, it's to make the school look like they can efficiently safeguard e.g pointless meeting about safeguarding.

After a big anti racism week at DSs old primary the head refused to accept a complaint from another parent about the racial bullying her son was the victim of. He had his hands in his pockets and refused to physically touch the envelope. All the racism week was for show and to tick a box to make them look good.

IME any complaints wouldn't be taken seriously. You'll be labelled as a trouble maker.

Thanks for caring about these children OP. There is a helpline run by the NSPCC for professionals working with children. They provide advice, support and reassurance regarding safeguarding issues at work. Apparently, they deal with a wide range of different issues and you can remain anonymous.

learning.nspcc.org.uk/services/nspcc-helpline

Also does all information get shared with all staff?
You mention the shoes and how that should be passed on? How do you know she didn't? I wouldn't be mentioning it to other staff, only the class teacher or filling out a CPOMS which isn't seen by everyone. Unless you were gossiping with the teacher and asked them whether the TA had reported this, you wouldn't necessarily know.