Teaching assistants quitting schools for supermarkets because of 'joke wages'

[noblegiraffe]

Finally getting some mainstream press attention:

www.theguardian.com/education/2022/oct/09/teaching-assistants-quitting-schools-for-supermarkets-because-of-joke-wages

The article is very clear that schools cannot afford to pay higher wages for support staff. The DfE comment at the bottom says it is up to schools to improve support staff pay.

The education sector is falling apart. Teacher redundancies mean bigger class sizes. Fewer teaching assistants means zero in-class support unless your child has an EHCP. Recruitment issues mean that even if your child has an EHCP, they might not be able to hire anyone to support them.

The way provision for the most vulnerable students has been eroded over the last decade of school underfunding is devastating.

Judging by the calibre of the "teaching" assistants at DD's old primary, it's not a bad thing if they are quitting.

And, of course, the genius idea that already overstretched budgets must find the (pitiful) pay rise suggested for teaching staff. That’ll help us retain learning mentors and teaching assistants and give them fair pay.

Their pay is beyond abysmal and the government should be ashamed. At a time when children need more support, not less, they should be focused on these areas.

As always, thank you for posting and raising awareness Noble!

Recruitment issues mean that even if your child has an EHCP, they might not be able to hire anyone to support them

This is a huge issue-we have had three TAs resign just since being back in September! Trying to recruit for pupils with EHC Plans has never been more difficult-particularly very high need children who need nappies changing or who have previously hurt members of staff. We can’t offer them more money as the budget simply doesn’t allow it.

In some ways I’m glad. TAs are routinely asked to take on the most challenging kids in the class with few qualifications, little training and shit pay.

It’s a national scandal that education is delivered to the most needy like this and the group that are largely exploited are women looking for term time work to fit in with families. If a class teacher needs an assistant they should be trained and paid at professional levels.

Schools need a radical shake up, thinking volunteers here as TAs. I've worked for a charity organising volunteers . Complete with enhanced CRB checks. Hospitals are using them. Why not schools

We can't get people because we can't pay them enough and your suggestion is that we should get people to work for free instead?

If a class teacher needs an assistant they should be trained and paid at professional levels.

Absolutely agree. What we're actually getting is no one, and the government is saying that's a school problem, not a government one.

But all that will happen is that teachers will be left to cope with a class of 30 AND the high need children alone. I’m not sure that’s anything we should be glad about.

How would you like it if you were replaced by a volunteer instead of being paid a reasonable wage?

Fuck it, why not just get volunteer teachers and midday staff too?

Teachers will be even more overwhelmed and quitting of reducing their days. Loss-loss all round.

Our local Primary schools are going down the route of asking for volunteers to help cover lunchtimes and helping in classes. I assume to save enough costs to have TAs for children with EHCPs

@justasking111

Hospitals do use volunteers, yes. Guessing they don’t use them to fulfil clinical duties though do they?

Think you may want to read around what a TA actually does.

A lot of TAs in primary schools are now being roped into teaching classes, which is another scandal.

The school my kids go to have managed without any classroom TA’s for the last 5 years. They have used this cost saving to hire a relief teacher who provides relief and reading intervention. The staff all prefer it and results have improved.

Let's hope there aren't any kids with SEN in those classes who need more than reading intervention. I'm sure the teachers would prefer it if the school had enough money to have class teaching assistants and supply teachers to cover them when off.

But that's a single person replacing how many TAs? Even in a school with a smaller than average number of special needs, how is that one person providing 1-2-1 support (for more than one pupil) as well as running off to do relief and reading?

How do you think charities run??

They pay people do to the professional running of the charity.

There’s a chronic shortage of supply teachers in our area. Either because there are few supply teachers and/or because they are all tied up covering COVID sickness and any catch up programmes. Removing TAs and using relief teachers won’t be a solution in many areas as they simply aren’t available.

No charity runs entirely on volunteers! (Well maybe a very local library reading group or something of that nature does!) but otherwise they employ people and the volunteers support.

I can't believe that you think there are sufficient people willing to volunteer for every week for the full week without pay in schools. Or maybe you would be happy with a different TA each day or part of a day in your childrens' school? And what is the school supposed to do when these volunteers just don't turn up?

I've had different numbers of volunteers depending on need. Do you think hospitals have a few random volunteers. They're from all walks of life I know ex GPs and nursing staff who volunteer their time and experience. I even know ex teachers.

Because primary schools are routinely using TAs to cover classes either for ad hoc reasons or regular PPA cover. You can’t expect volunteers to be responsible for teaching a class. Lots of TAs have woken up to the fact that they shouldn’t be expected to do it for the amount they’re paid either, so naturally jobs that can offer more hours, more pay and for less responsibility are going to become more attractive.

If we can't pay someone to toilet a y9 boy with a whole host of learning needs, I am unsure that we'll find someone to do it for free.

Volunteers are more reliable than paid staff in my experience. Anyway you just pick up the phone. Relationships are built between volunteers and need. This thread is saying they have zero help at times. To sneer at volunteers is not something that will help