TA contract / usually fixed term only?

[britespark1]

I started my first TA role at the start of Jan and have only just received my contract today. It states the role is fixed term only until end of August but this was never stated in either the job advert or during my interview. Are most TA roles fixed term only? Obviously I will be raising this asap.

We're just moving this to chat at OP's request. Also giving it a little bump - hoping you get some advice soon, OP.

TA (and teachers) contracts are often fixed term initially because
a) it allows the school to see how well the person fits with the role
b) budgets for the following year will not be finalised until April
c) pupil numbers (affecting budgets) can change

Thank you for your reply, appreciate it. I have no problem with it being fixed term really but think it should have been explicit to me from the start.

You're not allowed to use a fixed term contract as a "trial". I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but that can't be the official reason.

TA contracts are often fixed term because they are attached to specific child or funding stream.

Often they'll be renewed, and after 2 years you have the same employment rights as permanent staff in terms of severance pay etc, but it means if e.g. the child you're attached to leaves the school, they can release you without a full restructure of all TAs.

Thank you! Appreciate your reply.

Often. Soometimes it’s for a specific dc and the funding may only be guaranteed a year at a time

Ahh ok, I understand that. Thank you for your reply, appreciated.

It should have been made clear to you in the interview and on the application site. Can you double check back? I would definitely raise this.

I printed off the job advert, description etc at the time so I knew it never mentioned being fixed term at all. I had the chance to ask about it today and was told not to worry, that it definitely didn’t mean I was temporary and my contract would definitely be renewed once budgets etc were sorted as they “never get rid of any precious TA’s”!

That would make me very concerned about the integrity of the school because whilst it's true good TAs are not easy to recruit, they are the first thing cut when there are budget pressures.

The Head just didn’t seem to understand why I was bothered by it. They only need to give me a weeks notice for the first 6 months anyway which nearly takes me to the end of the fixed term period so no stability at all really. This is just one of many issues the first 4 weeks have flagged up for me already so I’m really not sure about it here at all.

It is true that many ta jobs are fixed or temporary and then after a certain amount of time you are more likely to have a chance of getting a permanent contract. But I guess the advert didn’t specify either way what kind of contract it was and it wasn’t mentioned in the interview either?

Have you got the job advert?

Did you get an offer letter?

I'd decline to sign the contract ... which, by the way, you should legally been provided with on yoyr first day of employment.

Yes I still have the job advert. No offer letter but an email which basically just said this is your written offer subject to two references. I haven’t signed my copy of the contract as the start date was also slightly off and I asked for it to be amended.

Nowhere at any point did it say fixed term only until August. Until my contract arrived this week.