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Original poster

Feel fed up when parents don’t say thank you to TA’s at the end of term.

86 replies

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 15/07/2020 16:43

I’ve been in this whole time. Had key worker children and a bubble of my own. We have worked so hard to make this last term fun and as normal as we can, buying ingredients for baking and crafts out of our own money etc and today as 3 of the children finished for the holidays I didn’t even get ‘have a good summer’ never mind ‘thank you’ from the parents.
I don’t expect gifts, just a bit of thought. I’m just having a moan really. TA’s get really good relationships with children, we often have more time than the class teacher. Just feel a bit deflated. Only 4 days left I suppose.

OP posts:
UncleShady · 15/07/2020 21:23

Do you genuinely not know what a primary teaching assistant does?

Our class rep did a class collection last week and got almost £200. Posted a picture of the vouchers, card etc in the class WhatsApp and got a barrage of "great but what did you get the TA?" messages - the joke is that the class rep is actually a working primary teacher in a different school Hmm

isabellerossignol · 15/07/2020 21:30

I don't really know what a teaching assistant does to be honest. They didn't have them when I was at school and the school don't tell us. I'm not in the classroom so I don't know how I actually would know.

Drivingdownthe101 · 15/07/2020 21:32

@isabellerossignol

I don't really know what a teaching assistant does to be honest. They didn't have them when I was at school and the school don't tell us. I'm not in the classroom so I don't know how I actually would know.
Don’t your kids tell you about their day at school? Mine tell me what they’ve done with their TA.

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MaximumDose · 15/07/2020 21:37

We always include TAs in our end of year class collection for presents and cards etc. They are surely part of the teaching of our dcs? Even classes where they are mainly there for a specific reason, maybe attached to specific children for example, we've tended to view them as part of the package. I've repped for a few different classes now and it's always the case.

HalfTermHalfTerm · 15/07/2020 21:47

Our class rep did a class collection last week and got almost £200. Posted a picture of the vouchers, card etc in the class WhatsApp and got a barrage of "great but what did you get the TA?" messages - the joke is that the class rep is actually a working primary teacher in a different school Hmm

I’m (genuinely) a bit confused, sorry. Do you mean that joke is that the class rep obviously didn’t forget the TA because they’re a teacher so they know how hard they work?

I don't really know what a teaching assistant does to be honest. They didn't have them when I was at school and the school don't tell us. I'm not in the classroom so I don't know how I actually would know.

Perhaps I’m being unreasonable and overly sensitive, I don’t know. They generally work very hard supporting the teacher and supporting students, especially those who might be struggling or have SEN. It’s also quite often TAs who provide first aid or intimate care to children who need it. It’s a lovely job but it can also be very hard at times, I remember reading a BBC article describing how a surprising percentage of TAs had been physically assaulted at work. My grandma was a teaching assistant (I think they were called ‘teacher’s assistants’ then) about 50 years ago, so they’re not a completely new thing?

Drivingdownthe101 · 15/07/2020 21:49

My grandma was a teaching assistant (I think they were called ‘teacher’s assistants’ then) about 50 years ago, so they’re not a completely new thing?

DD2’s current TA was my TA (at the same school) 30 years ago, so they can’t be all that new.

shadypines · 15/07/2020 21:53

I don’t expect gifts, just a bit of thought. I think this sums up your post OP, a bit of respect and gratitude goes a long way. A lot of us get paid for doing our job, doesn't mean you can't say thank you to someone that provides a good service and I would say caring for and educating our children is a pretty good service.

I'll say 'thank you' to you (my 2 have long since finished school but I appreciated all the teaching staff) for what it's worth.

OhTheRoses · 15/07/2020 21:57

My DC are in their 20s now but my recollection of the class TA was of a rather rough woman who doubled as a dinner lady and helped occupy the children who needed extra help. Nevertheless someone one had to be utterly charming to otherwise one's children might suffer.

unicornparty · 15/07/2020 21:58

I don't know what a TA does either. I never had one when I was little and my ds has never mentioned one. I thought they came in to listen to children read.

unicornparty · 15/07/2020 21:58

I don't know what a TA does either. I never had one when I was little and my ds has never mentioned one. I thought they came in to listen to children read.

diavlo · 15/07/2020 22:16

@CoronaIsShit

Do you really need a personal thank you for doing your job?
Do you say thank you to the waitress who brings you food? Do you say thank you to the cashier in the bank when you make a transaction? Do you say thank you to your GP at the end of an appointment?

I would hope you do, and teachers/TA’s are no different. It’s good manners, particularly when people are doing important but undervalued and low paid work!!

isabellerossignol · 15/07/2020 22:18

Don’t your kids tell you about their day at school? Mine tell me what they’ve done with their TA.

Neither of mine have ever told me much about school. I used to ask but it was like pulling teeth and ended up with them getting frustrated and upset. My now teenage daughter told me recently that Mrs XYZ had died and it was a shame because she was very young and they all loved her. I had no idea who Mrs XYZ was but she said that she had been their classroom assistant through the whole of P5 and again in P7. It was the first time she ever mentioned her.

JeffVaderneedsatray · 15/07/2020 22:21

unicornparty I'm a TA.
Right now I'm running a bubble of 12 Keyworker children.
Before I got my bubble I was driving round our town delivering work and marking work that had been done.
Pre Covid I

  • Took the register on mornings the CT had an issue to deal with
  • Planned an individualised curriculum for the two boys I am responsible for
  • Taught the two boys
  • Covered for the CT when she was on courses etc
  • Did break duty and morning duty if my CT needed me to
  • Delivered an emotional literacy programme to children in need of emotional support
  • withdrew a child from a different class for support two afternoons a week
  • delivered interventions to other children during assembly and PE
  • Stood in for teachers at a moments notice if they were ill or delayed
  • I have even been known to hear the odd reader and wash up a few paint pots.
earsup · 15/07/2020 22:24

I just left teaching after 27 years.... have to say that in last few years I don't think anyone even ever said thank you...managers... students or parents .!!..well I got a good pay off so will go travel and not think of them while I am on a hot sunny beach..!!

OhTheRoses · 15/07/2020 22:25

Yes of course we thank people who provide a service. But the TA’s provided a service to my DC in their roles as dinner ladies. They did not provide a service in the classroom except on occasion to be rather heavy handedly caustic. They were certainly not role models.

Drivingdownthe101 · 15/07/2020 22:27

@OhTheRoses

Yes of course we thank people who provide a service. But the TA’s provided a service to my DC in their roles as dinner ladies. They did not provide a service in the classroom except on occasion to be rather heavy handedly caustic. They were certainly not role models.
Oh gosh how awful, that’s the polar opposite of all the TA’s I’ve come across. Sounds like an awful school.
HairyToity · 15/07/2020 22:31

Thank you. I love my daughter's teaching assistant.

isabellerossignol · 15/07/2020 22:31

JeffVaderneedsatray if that's what a teaching assistant does, then I don't think my kids school actually has any of those. I just asked my 8 year old and his class has a special needs assistant for one pupil who needs physical help, but she is solely there for that particular pupil, she isn't involved with the other pupils at all. My 13 year old tells me that they had classroom assistants sometimes at primary school and they put the displays up on the walls and supervised in the playground, helped with first aid etc. But they didn't teach, or stand in for a teacher. I'm not in England, maybe it's different here.

PseuDenim · 15/07/2020 22:33

We had a total of £500 from the class parents which was split 3:2 in favour of the teacher, but the TA still got £200 of vouchers. She’s wonderful and much appreciated.

Zisforstripyoss · 15/07/2020 22:38

I always thank the TAs at Christmas and the end of the school year, they do a fantastic job. I don't see why you wouldn't?

Alwaysinpain · 15/07/2020 22:50

This is the card my DC's TA will be getting on Friday :) (stock image, not my child!)

Feel fed up when parents don’t say thank you to TA’s at the end of term.
Alwaysinpain · 15/07/2020 22:55

Yes I realise it spells Teacher not teaching assistant but I felt all the attributes applied to her

FiddlefigOnTheRoof · 15/07/2020 23:00

We have one TA and teacher. And both got a class joint gift of equal value.

Imissmoominmama · 15/07/2020 23:00

@BwanaMakubwa- I wrote to my DD’s Ed Psych to thank him. He changed our lives and I will be forever grateful.

Pipandmum · 15/07/2020 23:02

We don't give anything in senior school - each class has different teachers so I'd be getting 9 gifts plus - there are a few TAs but mostly they are only there for part of the year for training.
In junior school we did a collection at the end of year to get vouchers - which was split proportionally between main teacher and however many TAs there were. In the very youngest years we used to make sweets and give a bag to everyone from teacher to crossing guard!
I appreciated the work all school personnel do but there's a limit and now I let my (teenage) child decide if they want to give any gifts or thank yous out.