To be rampaging about classroom staff changes?

[WelshMaenad]

Dd has just started year 2. She has cerebral palsy, her specific problems include mobility problems, mild speech delay, visual processing issues and problems with continence. She is not currently statemented (though we are considering asking for a statement) and is in mainstream.

When she was in reception, we had numerous issues with the TA at the time, lets call her Mrs A. She had obvious objections to having to meet Dd's additional toileting needs and we had put dd in pull ups for school to try to minimise stress whilst we dealt with the constipation that was causing in continence issues, purely because this TA got so arsey with me every time she needed a change. Shortly before the Easter break I was phoned by the school to come in to change dd because of an 'accident'. I arrived to find the rest if her class in PE but dd sat in the classroom, excluded. She had a little skid mark in her pull-up. Mrs A had refused to change her and as a result she missed PE and was upset and humiliated. I went slightly bonkers with the school, had a meeting with the headmaster, patiently explained how they had breached the Equality Act and required assurance that this would never happen again.

At Easter the TAs switched classes and we got Mrs B who was amazing, super supportive and net DD's needs with nary a blink. She stayed with DD's class through year 1 as well so the prospect of a new teacher AND TA for yr 2 was a bit stressful.

Anyway, it all went well, new TA was Miss C and a half term in, we love her, she's young, enthusiastic, warm, supportive and adores Dd. we were very happy. Until this morning, when we turn up at school to find that with no warning or explanation, TAs have been swapped and we have lost Miss C and back with DD's class is Mrs bloody A.

I am tamping. Though not specifically allocated to her, the TA invariably works more closely with dd than the others, and if all the people to swap our lively one with, the head has paired DD's class with someone who allowed her personal distaste to compromise my child's wellbeing and happiness, and breached the EA. she has made her dislike of my child plain and obviously resents meeting her needs so how can I trust that she will meet them properly when she's failed to do so in the past?

I am waiting for a call back to make an appointment yo see him. AIBU to be angry?

Sorry your little DD is having a hard time, but just want to compliment you on your use of the glorious Welsh slang word "tamping". There is no word in English that quite equates is there?
Feeling a bit homeesick now.

YANBU
My ds had some big issue with constipation which led to major 'soiling' issues. The school has always been supportive, helped my ds showered (yes it was that bad!) and changed.
They never ever raised it as an issue and have stopped ds from taking part in any activities. If they had done so every time there was a 'skid mark' on his pants, he would have been stopped several times a week from participating to different school activities.

In your case, I would go and see the HT and explain remind him of the issues in Year1. I would tell him that this would be detrimental to your dd seeing the history.

Not sure about that one, but I am wondering if it would be possible to add something into your dd's 'admin notes' (?? again not sure how they are called). I know the school added on their own accord 'incontinence' as a disability for ds even though he is not disabled in any way but I suppose that it raises the issue with each teacher each year and avoid any potential issue (ds hasn't had any major accident at school for over a year now)

Does she have a care plan too? X

BTW, either the TA or the teacher has always being happy and willing to help ds with his issue.
I have never been called to 'sort him out'.
The only time the teacher called me was when he first soiled himself badly. They were obviously not expecting that and wanted to be sure I was happy for them to help him having a shower. The fact they could not/would not do it has never been part of the possibilities (but I could have refused and asked to be called as I understand it)

Hi

I think you should pursue a statement too.

From a school/class perspective, it's difficult to have a TA who is 'weighted' towards a particular child. In the nicest possible way, it might work well for your DD, but not for the member of staff or the rest of the class - all of whom need supporting at some point. This TA should not be taking it out on your daughter, but she may well be being pulled every which way by the school and finding it difficult to cope herself.

If your daughter has a statement, she will have a member of staff who is permanently allocated to her. She will develop a relationship with that person who will get to know her needs, who she can trust and who will enable her to progress and blossom even more. Not only that, but if you have a statement, the school cannot 'borrow' the adult (which some schools will try to do) and if your daughter is off school for any reason, the TA must spend that time preparing resources etc, for her. IME, the job will be advertised separately, it won't just be an existing TA who is allocated, and they will know exactly what the job entails.

I would also be asking why they have swapped the TA. The school may well have reasons that meant it couldn't be helped. But that's even more reason to get a statement and your daughter the support she deserves in school. There'll be no swapping then!

Thank you everyone for your input.

Just out of a meeting with the Head, who was fab and acknowledged my concerns. He had forgotten it was mrs b who was involved in the incident with DD. staffing changes have been made for personality reasons, he did sound like he had given things a lot of thought in that regard. Mrs B is usually a yr 2 LSA and it was unusual for her to be in reception with DD's class. Therefore she was less used to the notion of changing children after an accident etc.

He's asked me to give things a chance, which I'm willing to do. He mentioned that external pressures for Mrs B during the time she was with dd may have meant we got off on the wrong foot but he's confident that she and dd will build a good relationship this time so I'm willing to see how that goes. He has asked me to approach him with any concerns.

He agrees a statement would be beneficial and us going to ask the senco to call me to meet up and discuss that.

Cack, mrs a not b, for all the above! I'd make a shit spy!!

"personality reasons" and "external pressures" sounds like a lovely working environment!

I hope things work out for your DD in the short term and she gets the support afforded by a statement in the long term.

Good. Your HT seems to be open and willing to listen. That's great.

Hope it will all go wo a hitch.

TAs are people too

What everyone else say, about the statement, and get the toileting needs written into it.

She may not have been "used to the notion" but it doesn't take a genus to work out that being adaptable is a major skill if you're a TA!

However...at least he's aware of the situation...I hope your DD is alright with her now!

I think people have been a bit unfair on the TA. [awaits flaming]

I wasn't really aware teaching assistants had to deal with 'toileting' and the like? And in a mainstream school it's not something to be expected?

That said, it sounds like your DD needs someone who understands her needs and is willing to cater to them. Poor girl :(

'I wasn't really aware teaching assistants had to deal with 'toileting' and the like? And in a mainstream school it's not something to be expected?'

It is part of the job, especially if you have a child with an intimate care plan.
OP, YWNBU to be angry, but if you and the head are monitoring the situation closely, then it sounds manageable.

Ah right I didn't know that. Thanks

Shouldn't they be a bit more specialised or trained to do that though? I mean as a carer I had to do training before I could help someone with personal care, even something as simple as changing knickers and helping with a quick clean.

Genuine question, I'm interested in this x

I agree with FolkGhoul

ICPs cover what the child is to have help with, and what the child should be encouraged to do independently. The procedures are gone through with a line manager and the TA, including materials used and disposal, and how the whole matter should be dealt with.
So, in-house training for all TAs dealing with soiling incidents.

Toileting is generally expected in a Reception class, and within reason, Years 1 & 2 as accidents happen (I was always grateful for the TA with no sense of smell - worth her weight in gold!).
So TAs can refuse, but I wouldn't expect that one to therefore be employed in FS or KS1.
But if they are in the middle of something, it is hard to suddenly drop everything and sort out the child in the loo.
A statement is a very good idea. Again, a good TA would know when to back off and give your DD the independence she needs. They don't have to be joined at the hip.

Again I didn't know that, thanks woffling

What's the matter mrsdever I was asking a question out of interest.

My DS's 1:1 hasnt had any training in personal care. She changes his twice a day without a murmur.

We are extremely lucky.

No arguments from me, Mrs Devere, to me that is reasonable accommodation for a child's needs.

mrsdevere I think I expressed my ignorance by asking questions about it. I'll not bother next time.