To be a bit shocked and upset about the feedback I've received from a school I did supply at?

[LemonCurdTarts]

I'm a TA who does supply work for an agency. I've been doing it since October last year and generally love it. I move from school to school and every place is different, some schools I like more than others obviously, but
I've always had really good feedback from the places I've visited and on several occasions the schools have actually requested me personally when they've needed someone else.

Last week I was sent to a school that I've not not been to before, I always Google the school beforehand to see where I'm going and what to expect etc and I soon discovered that this school had failed it's inspection late last year and was in special measures. When I arrived I was quickly shoved into the class I'd be working in, it was a very large nursery class, the teacher told me it was her PPA session before buggering off and leaving me alone with two other TA's who were really hostile and unwelcoming and who barely spoke to me.

The TA's took the class that morning and the kids played for bit before watching a video,in the afternoon the teacher returned, she was clearly really disorganised and spent the rest of afternoon sat at table in the corner doing paper work and leaving me and one of the other TA's to mind the class for her. She then asked me to do an activity with a group of children, barely explained it, chucked it at me and wandered off. I could see straight how badly planned it was, it was also muddled up and I had to spend ages putting it in the right order before doing the activity.

Anyway to cut a very long story short my manager at the agency phoned me today and asked how I'd got on at the school. I said it was OK, but I felt the teacher was very disorganised. She then said that school had given feedback saying I stood around doing nothing and that I didn't interact with the children properly. All of which is incorrect and quite frankly rubbish, my manager thankfully said she'd always had positive feedback from my other placements and didn't think it was true but had to raise it with me.

I'm so upset and this has really knocked my confidence. It's not true and I'm also angry that they've slagged me off to my agency. AIBU to feel this way? They are liars, and are blaming me for their own lack of organisation.

I would register with a few agencies. In case one decides to drop you - or if work "dries" up, then you have more options.

I must say I feel much more positive after reading some of these responses. Since I posted this I've already been re-booked by another school for next week so obviously I must have done something right there.

I can't say I'm suprised they are on special measures, and they're not going to come out of it unless they pull their socks off.

but surely a teacher should be taking the class for PPA cover? I've never seen TA's left in charge like that before.

Perfectly normal for TAs or HTLAs to cover for PPA. Many schools do it as it is so obviously cheaper. And at least there were 3 in that class. As they were so disorganised, they could have had just 2.

Goodness, some of these stories about schools are scary.

They're not all bad, honest. Most of mine have been fine, this is the first time I've had a bad experience.

Most of the schools I go into are organised, welcoming and very well-planned. There's just one or to that regularly aren't, and then I choose if I want to go back.
It will all work out for you, just look at things objectively rather than getting upset if you can.

I didn't realize there were agency TAs, but I do know that TAs are used for cover in classes to replace teachers, far more than most parents are aware of; this is a dilution of professionalism. TAs are not paid according to their extra responsibilities, and are used as a cheap option; in many cases the Head is available to do cover but refuses to do so.

Yup Goblin. My headteacher in primary always taught, but you never see heads who teach anymore, they are more like business managers these days and are often appalled at the suggestion they cover a class for a sick member of staff!

I would just chalk it up to experience and don't go back. I have worked for agencies both as a temp and actually as their recruitment staff (not as a teacher) and this does happen sometimes. Sometimes you go in and you're sorting out a backlog or being asked to cover because somebody else has got behind in what they were doing. Often existing staff feel an agency worker is some sort of a threat, particularly if they are not very good at their job. It's a defensive method. If this woman is always telling people that her class are uncontrollable and she can't cope then you come in and make a better job than she does her nose will have been put out of joint.

Also it sounds to me like the teachers and TAs may be slacking off at their jobs and not preparing properly. They're worried that you will pick up on this and get them in trouble. It's a preemptive strike somewhat I think, so that if you did tell the school how badly prepared and organised she was (which you did) she can claim sour grapes.

I think the agency may well have come across this kind of thing before and they know the score. You've always had good feedback before so they know there is something not quite right here.

I work with agencies, although not in teaching. I think if your agency knows you and the quality of your work (as they seem to in your case, repeat bookings and asking for you by name are huge positives), they'll know the score. This school probably already has a reputation amongst those in the know.

One of my agency clients told me 'some people are always looking for the hair in their soup' and they're right! Even though it's hard, you can't take it personally. But the best thing is, you don't have to go back and they're all still stuck there being miserable