AIBU that there’s one teacher and no TA

[Tunsey]

So went to DS parents evening. Teacher really lovely. DS loves reading but was told that DS reading will not be checked regularly as teacher has no TA. There are 26 children in the class. In previous years DS had one teacher and one/two TA/s. AIBU to think that my DS (and other children) are at a distinct disadvantage because teacher has no TA support. I know there are shortages but IMO that doesn’t make this situation right.

A TA would only read with low readers and children who are known not to read at home

So most of the class won't be disadvantaged

The way it's going only HLN children will get support and AN will have to managed

Plenty of classes and schools don't have TAs. The teacher will problably read as often as they can, but what do you expect the school to do? We can barely afford glue!

TAs make little difference to attainment. Don’t worry about it. How old is he?

TAs in every class are quite a recent thing competitively, I was at infant school in the nineties and we definitely didn't have them. Unless your son has SEN YABU

Comparatively

What year?

Our school don’t routinely listen to readers, they do guided reading once a week and then the teacher monitors their reading through daily activities.

Yep, it’s definitely unreasonable but that’s the fault of this government.
They have made ridiculous cuts to education and now parents are starting to notice the detrimental effects.
Not only have they made these cuts, they have lied about the amount of money schools get.
It’s an absolute disgrace and you should write to your MP.

I would like to refute this. Badly managed TAs make little difference. Helpful, cooperatives TAs, if nothing else, free up the teacher's time, organise the classroom and are a great asset for small group work that the teacher would otherwise not have the opportunity to do.

I'm a teacher and I would give my right arm for a TA again. Certainly worth more than 101 shiny new schemes.

We can barely afford glue!

This ^^

It's frustrating that your DS's class doesn't have a TA, and trust me no one will be more frustrated than the teacher. However, even with a TA the reading wouldn't be checked very often, it's those who struggle who need it the most.

Truckit sorry but I completely disagree! For lots of children who don't get support at home or need additional support a ta can make a huge difference.

What Monty said. With bells on!

In my local primary there is only one permanent classroom assistant in year 1 . After that there is only an assistant if a child has special needs and the education board pay for it .
It’s always been that way in NI so I’m surprised that English schools have had a TA in each class for so long .

You can disagree but have a read around the research into TA intervention.

At DC school parents/grandparents go in to listen/ read with the children an hour at a time (about 20min a child), I like going and have had to reread many a childhood classic after listening to an enthusiastic 10yr old ;)
Could you suggest this??

I'm a fab TA! The children read to me every day and if I have time I go through their spellings too. I know we are lucky to have a small class.

You could volunteer to go in and listen to readers, or if you can’t help yourself suggest they ask in the school newsletter for volunteers to come in?

What age group is your son in? Often in the older year groups there are less/no TAs.

If there is no TA, it’s because there is no money for a TA and that is not the fault of the school or the teacher.

The Lamb report, which was published round about 2009, concluded that TAs don’t make sufficient difference, bearing in mind the cost of employing them. I disagree to a certain extent. But TAs need proper training and proper direction. It works best when there is a partnership in the classroom.

It also depends on the age of the child. Early Years need much more regular reading practice at school, but older, more competent readers can read at home, or be read to. It’s a partnership between home and school too.

Most schools only have TA is first two years after that if theres TA it's usually a sen support TA for a specific child - there's no money

And your lucky for a class of 26. Some round here are well in the 30s

My dcs school is incredibly lucky to have at least 1 TA per year group (2 form intake) most have 2. However our school has a lot of sen and pp pupils. So TAs are worth their weight because they teach/help those lower ability pupils who need extra help.
I volunteer to listen to readers one morning a week and the teachers and TAs are grateful because it means they have one less thing to do and can focus on other tasks. Can you offer to listen to readers?

This one Truckit?

"Russell Hobby, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “This research is a pivotal contribution to a critical debate: do the billions invested in teaching assistants make a real difference? The answer according to the EEF is yes, if schools deploy and support them properly.
“This is the reality behind many education interventions. It is not just what you do, but how you do it. Good ideas, poorly implemented, fail. Good teaching assistants, poorly managed, fail to help. Well managed, they are a vital part of our schools.”"

www.theguardian.com/education/2016/feb/26/teaching-assistants-improve-pupils-results-studies-show

TAs do make a difference when used properly. The widescale closure of MLD sen schools since the 90s and the move towards inclusion mean your experiences are not really comparable to current day primary schools.
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/education/2016/feb/26/teaching-assistants-improve-pupils-results-studies-show

Your child has no TA in the class but will benefit from being in a class of only 26. Around here the classes are all the maximum 30 for infants. My eldest is lucky to only be in a class of 28 so far this year, previous years in juniors have always been 32.

In my opinion TAs are worth their weight in gold. DS was diagnosed with severe speech and language delay just before starting reception after waiting 20 months to be assessed with no SALT input. He had a 1 to 1 for the first term under early years funding. In reception they have 1 teacher, 1 TA and a nursery nurse. Other classes have a teacher and a TA and a 1 to 1 for anyone with an EHCP.

DS was finally diagnosed with ASD in Y4. In each class the TA took DS out every morning to do activities that SALT set on her twice trembly visits. They tend to have a group of children who are struggling that they focus on in lessons, prep lessons and help deal with challenging behaviour. They also have target groups for maths, reading and writing for kids who aren’t working at target.

They have been brilliant for DS and are great with DD1 who also struggles. DD2 doesn’t need their input but benefits from having them in class as it frees the teacher to just teach. We also have some parent volunteers who read with kids that don’t read much at home.

I would be gutted if they did away with TAs. DS didn’t pass his SATS but he is confident and has high self esteem. Unfortunately in Y7 there is 1 TA per year and due to government cuts there is no funding for SALT past primary school so although he’s made steady progress throughout primary he is still severely delayed for his age.