To ask not to be assaulted at work

[WearingThin]

Bit of a rant really but also to see what 'common sense' thinks because I am beginning to doubt myself. Have namechanged to try and keep confidential.

I work as a TA in a primary school and since September I have had a child in my class (year 1) with a volatile temper. When she hurts other children I have to remove her from the classroom and she hits and/or kicks me.

How long would you expect a TA to put up with this? Do I have no rights to be safe at work? If this was your child, what would you expect to be done about it?

Senior Management seem to think it's part of the job these days as it's a growing problem and is only expected to get worse.

Have you tried visual strategies? Such as a rota for turn-taking. Or setting up several short activities (say 6) with a group of 6 children, and talking to her before hand to say 'your turn will be first on activity 2'...then praise when she tolerates not being number 1. After doing that for a day or two, you could move on to it being her turn on activity 3, etc. Then introduce being first at random, etc.

You'd have to be ruthlessly fair though, and ensure that if you say it's going to be, it is.

DD1 )also Yr 1) adores cooking and she has had to accept that in her class (of 9) they can't take them all cooking at once, it's far too busy (because of their needs). She is in a group with 4 other children, and she gets to cook every other week. She finds it sad when it isn't her cooking week, but she knows that the next week it will be her turn.

I think if children such as my DD who go to a school for complex needs can grasp it, a child with no cognitive SN should be able to grasp it with lots of preparation and reinforcement.

Really? I an understand that some degree of physical intervention may be required in unexpected situations, but to allow the anticipated use of restraint seems surprising. People have died during restraint. I'm not aware of any cases involving children, but it has certainly happened in police stations and psychiatric hospitals, even with fully trained staff.
Obviously I'm not suggesting that this is going to happen with the OP's pupil, but as a general principle I'm surprised. I work in an area with a number of restraint trained staff. I am not trained, so would never be involved in any form of restraint/physical force beyond that needed for breakaway.

'Restraint' covers a huge range of interventions.I believe that Team Teach advocates the least physical contact possible. Don't forget that 'restraint' can be a simple as a hand blocking progress towards another child and steering the child in question away from their 'target'. It doesn't mean 'pin child down'.

I'm aware of that, but the OP talks about learning a 2 person restraint in the 6 hour training, whih does imply a little more than that.

Op you must refuse to be alone with the child when you remove her, you need to have another person as back up to what is happening.

coco - the head says no. I don't want to be on my own with her but I've been told there is no-one else available and I'm 'covered' by the training. Other staff will offer to assist if they're passing and it looks like I could do with some support. And I can send a runner for another adult if I think it's necessary.

You need to join a union ASAP. Even if there is nobody to help you with TT you should not be on your own with her. It's a child protection issue.

This situation sounds untenable. Not least for the fact that the main person responsible for the day to day implementation of the guidelines (the OP) doesn't have faith in them. Thats not to say that the OP should have faith in them, IYSWIM, but it does need everyone working consistently with this girl, and if people cant see the rationale in a behavioural guideline then consistency is less likely.

I agree with the suggestion about CAMHS.

The head is wrong.

Although technically you are 'covered' in that you can restrain a child legally without any training whatsoever, TT should not be practiced alone- your trainer should have made it crystal clear that there needs to be two people involved in physical interventions at all times.

Has the head done the training?

If you phone the union and join you are covered by them straight away.

Wen- yes, the bound book is to prevent tampering with records.

Is there not an offical record keeping book/forms? if not there should be.

All our forms go to the head and then onto the board.

i always use a book as well, for my own personal use, with dates times etc in it. I usually get a collegue to co sign it.

To answer the op-you should not be attacked at all in your job-ever.
It is no more acceptable than a sales assistant getting slapped, kicked, spat at and called names just because the customer is an angry person.

Join a union immediately.

Speak to the teacher and tell her that from now on you will not be left alone with this child.
What on earth are you going to do when she accuses you of some grave incident towards her? Do you seriously think that the head will support you. Do you think her parents will support you?

She needs a behavioural plan will clear, precise, simple,consistant rules.
Eg if you get through morning work without trying to hurt another human or calling anyone a name then you will get a sticker on your chart. make the chart clearly visable to her at all times. So many stickers earn x reward. However if you try and (insert action that you are trying to prevent), then a cross/unhappy face/whatever will be added onto your chart.
You will have to work with the teacher on the rewards/consequences system.

At the end of each session show the child their progress.
Reiterate the reward on offer/consequence which will happen due to their behaviour.
Always use language which clearly shows the child that they are responsible for their own behaviour ie by doing x they are choosing to forfeit y.

The parents of this child need to be shown the behavioural policy.
Ideally they should follow this through at home so that the child is under no illusion what behaviour is expected at all times-throughout life.

It does sound as if the smt is failing miserably.
Meetings should be held with parents and they should be informed if their child has hit anyone , including you, and a plan in force to stop this unacceptable behaviuor.
The parents have to know that this is unacceptable.

You can refuse to restrain a child, what would the head do then?

As for how the head deals with the child-totally wrong from what you have described. Sending out mixed messages.

What is happening is this.
The child has clearly not been shown the appropriate way in which to deal with feelings. These are feelings which everyone gets, the difference is that we all must learn to recognise and control these feelings.
When she does something unacceptable you try nad instil a consequence eg sent to the head.
The head then reacts by REWARDING the child for acting inappropriately!!!!!!!

Absolutely crazy.

I could go on.
First thing join a union.
Second thing document everything.
Third tell the teacher you are pissed off and for your own safety will not deal single handedly with her if it might involve risk to you, this involves risk of accusations.
Oh and another thing you say that other members of staff are reluctant to help with team teach-I can fully understand why.

OP, a first step and easy one would be for you to request walkie talkies. So IF you are alone with this child you can call for back up immediatly. EG, situation escalates, you remove from the room, help is called. Or both you and teacher and then 2 others have a walkie talkie so teacher can call for help for you as you leave.