To be surprised that so many people look down on being a TA?

[mummypie17]

I recently read a thread on Mumsnet about a lady who was embarrassed about being a TA (Teaching Assistant). This generated many responses. Some were quite negative towards TAs. I was a TA several years ago after I finished university and I absolutely loved my job. It gave me the experience I needed for my current role and was really rewarding. Granted that my job now pays more than twice as much, what I gained being a TA was invaluable.

One of my friends (who is a SAHM) was talking to me about trying to find a job to fit around her children's school hours. I suggested being a TA at her local school and she replied 'I'm looking for something more professional than that' obviously forgetting that I used to be one a long time ago.

AIBU to be surprised that TAs are unjustly viewed as a low skill job?

I don't think an admin assistant could do my TA job.

it' s never a good idea to start comparing things like that. I am sure we can find you admin assistants who could do a better job than you. And we can find crap TA too.

Even the job titles are too vague to mean anything.

It is only worth elevating TA status, if there is measurable evidence that this kind of support adds value

Mrsmuddlepies
I work in a primary school in an extremely disadvantaged area - we have the highest number of PP students and SEN students in the area. As a result we are able to employ a TA for each class, plus 1-1s for the high number of children with EHCPs (although sadly, next year, thanks to the cuts this cannot be sustained)

Across the school we have managed at least +3 points progress for target students in all subjects. This is down to the Interventions run by our fantastic TAs and the effort they put into each child. This week I have watched teachers close to tears speaking to the Governors about needing to keep them, and why.

I am lucky, I see exactly what great TAs bring to a school, and I'm sorry that you haven't had that experience.

Well done YouTheCat, that's something to be proud of!

I don't look down at TAs at all and don't know anyone who does

DD has complex SN and 1:1 TAs have been an integral part of our life since nursery. Some were rubbish but we had a few absolutely brilliant ones who made such a difference for DD. Agree with others, the are totally underpaid.

I am incredibly proud of the children who have worked really hard and realised they can do it after years of just not getting it.

My point about the admin assistant was that someone had said that role was considered more skilled than being a TA. Yes, it could be and, yes, I have known some really bad TAs over the years. However, I don't think they could do my specific job. I have over 20 years of experience doing this and am damn good with reluctant readers and children with processing problems.

Thanks, exLtEveDallas.

I don’t look down but can’t help but notice the job is badly paid undervalued and no career progression and done entirely by former sahm some of whom are extremely professionally qualified (senior solicitor, phd tv producer). Slightly depressing they feel their old careers closed to them due to kids and ta on a fraction of their former salary the best option. Don’t see the same for men.

I am not being difficult but there must be measurable evidence that TAs are effective at raising standards. Secondary schools have generally moved away from classroom TA support.
We had a a woman with a PHD in physics start work as a TA. Within a term, she had been put onto a teach direct type programme to study for a PGCE alongside her TA role. We were not a teaching school but she was exceptional. She stayed for her NQT year before leaving to take on a management position at another school. She was a Head of Science within four years.
I am sure that many TAs enjoy supporting students and it can be a useful stepping stone to becoming a qualified teacher.
We have a local university that offers a two year course leading to qualified teacher status, with the requirement that students do three days in a school perhaps as a TA, eventually taking on some teaching responsibility. They also commit to two days in college. It means they can earn and learn.
All of these exceptional TAs are encouraged to take on courses that give them qualified teacher status. Ultimately, schools want qualified teachers as they are in the best position to ensure children learn.
I have already said that having TA support prescribed as part of an EHC is different.
If qualified teachers and nurses choose to take on a TA role but are happy to accept teaching responsibilities on a TA salary that is up to them.

she wanted to be an admin assistant which in terms of skill, I think is similar to a TA. However, I guess the pay wouldn't be pro rata so maybe she'd earn more.

I guess the opportunity for higher salary and progression without further qualifications might be something?
I took an entry level admin assistant role 2 years ago, at minimum wage because I wanted a career change. After 8 months I applied for basically the same job, but more money due to having some experience. After 10 months there, I did the same again, meaning 2 years on, my job title is now a Sales Administrator, but I'm still basically an admin assistant. But my salary has jumped up a fair bit in those 2 years, which I don't think TAs have scope to do without further training courses etc.

I'm a TA (HLTA).

I feel stuck. Not because I feel my jobs dead end but because a NMW job at 37 hours a week, 52 weeks of the year pays less than I get for 30 hours a week - 45.6 weeks of the year.

And the issue is that people don't recognise skills that come from being an HLTA to me to move into a well paid role.

I'm a TA and don't feel undervalued. I've never been a SAHM but I did switch to TA when a job came up because it fitted better round my children. (I work in a Year 1 and 2 class).

I bloody love it. I do feel a big part of my role is classroom 'manager' - are the pencils sharp enough, washing the paint pots after art, all things to make the classroom run smoothly and free up the teacher to teach. The staff at my school certainly don't look down on that side of it. But I have teaching experience and that is made use of at the school but all that does is make me use my brain and challenge me - if I said no they wouldn't mind. I work a hell of a lot of unpaid overtime. I bring marking home for example (tick box things, like spellings or a maths worksheet etc,) and just make sure the teacher is informed of marks but also patterns in a child's mistakes, or mistakes across a group. I do interventions - speech therapy, maths support, literacy support. But I don't feel that I'm being run into the ground for very little pay. The pay isn't amazing but it fits with my life and I love the children in my class. I'm so proud of their achievements but I'm a little sad at the thought that some of them will move into someone else's class next year. Daft, I know, and I'm looking forward to the next group - I know names but not really personalities yet. But there's kids in my class I've worked really hard with, and they've busted a gut for me, and done so well, and I will miss spending that time with them.

I'm starting to wonder if I'm just a bit thick-skinned because I honestly have never felt looked down on for my job. Although, actually I don't care! Thinking about it, I am so lucky - I spend all day with some fantastic people, they come racing over to tell me something they are proud of, they share their worries with me, we have a giggle but also to have them crawl on to my lap if they need that reassurance and think I can give it to them - that is a real privilege. And it all comes with the bonus of not having to plan (many) lessons or write reports. Win-win! I think if I did meet someone who looked down on me - well, let them. Won't change the fact that I love my work.

Many of the TAs at my ds's school are not highly qualified, highly trained or highly experienced. There are some fantastic TAs, don't get me wrong, but there are and have been some who pretty awful ones.

And yes I know...this is the case in many jobs, but my annoyance comes from the fact that when shiteloads of special schools were closed in the name of 'inclusion', many children who it turned out struggle in a mainstream set up, were and are left to be looked after and pretty much taught by TAs in order to maintain the illusion that they are receiving meaningful support. This leads people to thonk everything is hunky fucking dory.....and it is not.

It's annoying though that there are now 2 threads about this, couldn't it just have stayed on one thread!

Disclaimer -
I do not think being a TA is a job to be embarrassed about
I think TAs are a valuable support in school
Working with children needs to start being seen as the valuable job it truly is.
I think lots of children with additional needs can cope in mainstream and there are many ways (including but NOT exclusively TAs) that this can be enabled.

I am not being difficult but there must be measurable evidence that TAs are effective at raising standards.

The only research I’ve seen into it is the DISS which strongly suggests otherwise.

Yes hazy!!!

I cannot speak for primary schools but a TA is unlikely to be skilled in all subjects at secondary level. I have seen TAs out of their depth in language lessons and get in the way of the teacher interacting with students. There is a lot of research to show the presence of a TA hinders learning in the classroom.
I'm not sure how it works in Primary but there must come a stage when students outgrow a 'Velcro adult' and need to take responsibility for their own learning.

my annoyance comes from the fact that when shiteloads of special schools were closed in the name of 'inclusion', many children who it turned out struggle in a mainstream set up

We should probably start another thread to discuss it, but SEN children left to struggle in mainstream - and the struggle for mainstream kids, some of whom might have struggles in other areas, having to watch their special treatment - is an annoyance for me too.

It's the pay! But teachers don't start on that much either, considering the expectations put upon them.