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Original poster

School question

11 replies

Mrspimplepopper · 12/12/2018 16:39

I'm too scared to post aibu

My dd 9 is in year 4. Once a week her teacher isn't in school for the whole day (seems to be every wednesday) and we tells me the teaching assistant takes the class.

When I was at school (20 years ago) I don't remember our teacher ever being 'away' or in meetings all day.

My dd isn't phased by this as she says they tend to 'do art all day' with the TA

would I be that patent to email the head and ask why the teacher is elsewhere once a week with no actual teacher cover?

OP posts:

KateGrey · 12/12/2018 16:40

Might be an ex teacher who is now a TA. We have one in our school that if the teacher is off we have the TA cover. I know teachers have a set time for PPA. Could it be that? Or maybe catch the teacher after school and mention it.

Cantthinkofabloodyname · 12/12/2018 16:41

Our school has teachers that do further training one day per week.

eggofmantumbi · 12/12/2018 16:44

She might be part time. And if the TA is a HLTA it's my understanding it is legal (although not really moral imo) for them to be in charge of the class.

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9 year olds General education Primary education

nuttyknitter · 12/12/2018 16:44

The teacher could be on a course or being released for planning or management time. The school could get a supply teacher to cover, but a good TA who knows the class well is likely to do a much better job than a random teacher.

sakura06 · 12/12/2018 18:02

A teacher in primary should have a morning or afternoon off for PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) or perhaps they're part time?

feral · 12/12/2018 18:04

At my son's school teachers get a half day for admin.

PoptartPoptart · 12/12/2018 18:11

If she is part of SLT (senior management team) she might have her half day PPA time in the morning and then SLT time in the afternoon. That’s how it works in our school.
If an HLTA is in charge of the class for a whole day every week then they should be delivering lessons that the teacher has planned. Doing art all day every week is unacceptable imo. Any HLTA worth their salt would actually prefer to stick to the curriculum and deliver carefully planned lessons.

BringOnTheScience · 12/12/2018 18:17

Is the teacher an NQT? All teachers get 10% PPA time and new teachers get a further 10% so that they can do training, observations, etc. That makes a whole day.

Teachers are NOT supposed to be setting the work that's done during their PPA though!

mortifiedmama · 12/12/2018 18:19

It's likely half a day PPA and half a day for her other responsibilities such as head of department/ SLT. Just happens she gets them on the same day (which is much better for the teacher).

The TA will be appropriately qualified and prepared for what they teach and the teacher will oversee the scheme of work.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 12/12/2018 18:30

Perfectly normal. As said upthread all teachers get PPA and then NQTs or those with additional responsibilities get some more admin time. TAs will be instructed on the days lessons by the teacher.

Witchend · 12/12/2018 21:18

When I was at school 20 years ago, when our teacher was away we were roughly told to get on with work and not bother anyone else.
TAs didn't exist at our school and there were not usually spare staff of any description.

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