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.

Everyone who voted conservatives voted for this.

Love the fact that people are still quoting a nearly 10 year old report about how insignificant TAs are. Makes us feel even more crap apart from being overworked and underpaid. TAs are teaching classes on their own a lot of the time as well as their own job, not bad value at £10k pa I would have thought.

Actually thinking about it (and having worked as a TA) I wonder if the lack of impact of TAs that some report comes from the expectation of them being there to listen to readers and such things when a well utilised (and trained!) TA should be doing so much more in supporting the class and/or individual pupils in their development.

I do not know how my teachers even made it through the day when we went in the 80s!
30 pupils, no TA, just a teacher.

TA’s who are trained and used effectively definitely have a positive effect on children’s progress.
For example, a child who is never read with at home may have a 1:1 reading session with a TA every day, including decoding, phonics and comprehension skills. The teacher simply doesn’t have time to do it so the TA will. How does this not make a difference to a child’s progress?

For the person who said they went to school in the 90s and had no TAs. Well my kids had TAs in the 90s, but that was a selling point for the school.

But then when I went to school in the 70s we had no TAs (no such thing), no parent helpers AND the class teacher heard us all read every week. Of course otherwise the curriculum was a bit limited...

My DS is yr 2. The school is lovely and as I said teacher nice too. I guess I was expecting the same as last year - all children were heard regardless of ability. Also TA would also help out in other ways.

You’re right it is these awful cuts. It’s a vicious circle, children being disadvantaged because lack of resources and funds then impact of this when children are older! So frustrating.

And TAs are most definitely wort their weight in gold!

Is there a more recent report that states otherwise? I’m not aware of it.

I’m not posting to make anyone feel better. What a strange idea.

I was in school in the 70s and 80s. There were no TAs then but we certainly could have done with one to help support the pupils who struggled. Class teacher had 30 pupils to teach and often didn't bother with the bottom groups at all.

My dc's school has at least two TAs for each year group and they are all, without exception, absolutely fantastic and I luffs them. They are so caring and supportive and make such a difference.

YANBU op but there's no point complaining to the school if they can't afford TAs. Maybe volunteer to listen to children read if possible?

Ok, I'm way out of date here, but I qualified in 1990, and was teaching Year 2 in my first 5 years of my career with one (yes, one!) T.A. shared between the whole school.

I divided my class up into 3 groups - the 'good' readers, who I would make sure to hear twice a week (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) who were also choosing an 'own choice' book alongside 3 books from their tier of the reading scheme. Then came the 'middle tier' who I heard three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) who needed a bit more guidance, but were otherwise ok and progressing well. Then there were the ones who needed more support - I tried to hear them every single day (yes, really!) and helped them a lot more in their choice of book within their band of the reading scheme.

I had no break times, and no lunch times to fit all this in - I did try to hear readers during lesson times, but it was hard to do so in the mornings when it was more intensive maths, English, topic etc. But I did it. And now, many of my old students are teachers themselves (and still in touch with me - I don't know if I inspired them or cursed them! ) but the idea of having a T.A. in every class, or even one per Key Stage was but a distant dream back in the early nineties!

(I have to say that now I'm a private tutor teaching my specialist subject at GCSE level at home - the life a teacher these days is really stressful compared to the career I trained for )

From another perspective, where I'm from originally (normal town in US), parents are up in arms if the class size gets up to 18 students. But teachers there are also very much respected by both parents and students so there is a better relationship to begin with. Teachers have time to spend with students and time to chat to parents. If I were a qualified teacher here, I'd definitely consider moving to the US. My hometown recruits from the Phillipines as they are desperate for more teachers as the baby boomers start to retire. When you're only teaching 15 students, you don't need a TA. Seems very unfair to double that number in the UK and not provide backup.

Welcome to the world of school funding cuts. I've been a primary school teacher for 15 years and I've never had such limited support in the classroom. Schools have already saved money in every way possible (we have 15 ancient laptops for teaching ICT to 200+ pupils, we buy our own glue sticks and pencils when the stationery supplies run out). The only feasible way to cut budgets further is to get rid of TAs. We have cut out TA support by about 25% this year. My children's school share a TA between 4 KS2 classes.

And to add we read daily with my DS but the issue is that as he’s not reading at school they can’t see whether he is ready for the next level. I guess that’s just one example. TAs in his other classses used to do group work too leaving time for teacher to help others i.e. sharing the load.

The curriculum in the early 90s was incomparable to today's one. There were no SATS and a totally different approach to inclusion. There are far more SEN pupils in mainstream schools today than back then. I don't think this is a bad thing, but it can only be done properly with adequate support, including TAs who can help to deliver a personalised curriculum.

And to add we read daily with my DS but the issue is that as he’s not reading at school they can’t see whether he is ready for the next level. I guess that’s just one example. TAs in his other classses used to do group work too leaving time for teacher to help others

He'll be doing Guided Reading - that's how she'll check his progress and teach him further skills for reading. A class teacher won't have no method for reviewing progress at all.

If you think he needs to move up a band, ask to try one at home over the half term.

v1.educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/uploads/pdf/TA_Guidance_Report_Interactive.pdf
is an excellent report that explains how teaching assistants SHOULD be used for maximum benefit in the classroom.

The best thing you can do for your child is read with him at home and if you notice him struggling with something bring it to his teacher's attention so that she can evaluate what's happening. If he's not struggling with anything more practice reading will just improve his skills and vocabulary.

My son was language delayed and as a result, really struggled with reading in the first few years of primary school.

I know there are shortages but IMO that doesn’t make this situation right.

There is no magic money tree under this government, at least not for state schools.

School funding is shite. Utter shite. Our primary school is struggling with staff, too ... just not enough money for enough support.

You get what you get with the current government. If you don't like it, vote differently.

As others have said, I would suggest to the school that they ask for volunteers to listen to children read. Might not help them move up a level, but surely useful for practice/confidence. When DD was in Sixth Form (two years ago) they used to bus students to the local primary to hear children (juniors, I think) read, as they didn't have enough adult helpers go into the school. Maybe worth considering? I'm sure some senior schools would welcome it as part of fulfilling the requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme!

I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years and have worked with and without TAs. In my opinion they are worth their weight in gold.

Well I asked how she checks progress and response was that she’s unable to hear them read every week as she’s on her own. If she was assessing through guided reading wouldn’t she have mentioned?

And you’re right, I do ask for him to move up and as parents IMO it’s a partnership. But the teacher will have to hear him read to move him up. Last time I asked it took four weeks.

It’s just such a shame that schools are in this state at the detriment of our DCs

OP - sorry, I didn't see your post about reading daily with him until my comment posted.

Beware I hear you but I could vote for one party but does not mean that party will win.

Misconduct don’t worry! 😊

DDs school has 1 TA for the entire school. She's in a class of 30. However we survived without TAs in the 80s and 90s