Colleague emailed teacher about me

[Sugarcainx]

I started in a new school last Monday on long-term cover. As i'm new and the students don't know me, some of them are of course trying it on, but i'm following the behaviour policy and the vast majority of students are completing the work every lesson. There is low-level disruption but i'm working on it as best as I can.
Today I had year 8 and a TA was in my room supporting (seems to be at random, some lessons I have one, some I have nobody)

They were chatty and could have been quieter, I had to tell them to stop a few times, but bar 2 students they all completed the work, and those 2 came back at lunch.
20 minutes after the lesson ended, I had an email from the teacher I am covering. She said that the TA had emailed her saying this class were not very well behaved today and not in their seating plan. She was nice about it, but I don't really understand the TA.

She must have rushed after the lesson to email this teacher given the speed of it. This TA didn't say a word to me about anything, and I really don't think it was her place to do that.
She knows I am new, and the students pretty much all did the work. I just found it a bit odd,unless she was saying it more against the class as opposed to me.
What would you think of this ? I really can't be doing with bitchy colleagues, I left a school at Christmas because of a manager like that !

I have been both a Teacher and a TA, so I can see things from both sides. A good TA is worth their weight in gold so I would always ensure you build a good relationship with them - after all you are all working as a team. I appreciate that you have just started so that's not been a possibility yet. As you have just started, it's good to remember that the TA may have been working at the school with that class for some time and know the way the previous teacher works and expect you to do the same. Obviously, we all work in different ways, but there are probably certain things the school will want you to keep the same for consistency. I don't agree with what the TA did. Personally, I would have spoken to you - as you are the Teacher. As well as being good manners, it's much more friendly and will start the Teacher/TA relationship on a good foot. I think your next move is to talk to the TA. I might butter her up and just try to get as much good information on the class out of her as possible. Make her feel valued and appreciated. I know many people might say that you just don't have time to do that or you shouldn't have to do it, I think it will definitely be your best move. Good luck in the new job.

Teacher turned TA here and I 'never' wish I was the teacher but at the same time I'm very experienced and good at my job. That being said, I don't feel I'm paid enough for what I do so I can see why some may feel resentful. I would have told you if the children were trying it on and try to support supply as much as poss but have had varying experiences where I'm basically told to be quiet as I'm not the teacher to holding the fort while someone comes and makes my weekly wage in a day and does next to nothing. I work in primary and mostly work with very LA children in a group out of the classroom and as much extra work as I do, they are still a long way behind the majority. If they didn't have me with them there would be a more stressed teacher and children just sitting and messing around because they're bored. I'm really struggling with what we ask of our young children at the moment but that's a whole other story.

I would love to give her the benefit of the doubt and maybe she is friends with the other teacher and was just reassuring her that she wasn't being replaced and didn't realise the other teacher would email you?

That's the problem with gossip, it's rarely benign in either content or outcome.

I would ask her how she thought the lessons were going and if there was anything you were missing. If she is forthcoming and honest, great. If she says no then ask her why she felt the need to contact the other teacher and ask her if she was aware she had emailed you and in future could she kindly speak to you directly.

Either way she will be mortified.

I work for the NHS and we have the same issue so I can commiserate and you're right, it's almost always the (insecure, point scoring) women.

Surely if there was a seating plan the TA should have told you that the pupils were not sticking to it and, with your permission, moved those who were in the wrong seats.

Maybe the Teacher asked the TA, possible that the TA didn’t instigate the conversation.

That isn't good behaviour from the TA.

I would however ignore it. Play the game - ask the teacher for tips on how she manages the class!! And that them with a pinch of salt because it sounds like you are doing just fine already.

I had this from 2 middle aged TA's when in my first job. The 2nd one was for a child with severe special needs. She told the Head I 'changed my mind a lot' re what the child should do in lessons which 'she found hard' , when actually I had to adapt her & my goals around twice in the first month,, while getting to know the extent of his brain damage, speech probs & neurological issue ( zero info from infants teacher) She hadn't any other dirt as I was great at my job. Both were highly critical of me tho I had no discipline issues & both would get v sour faced when my class would bring me pictures they'd drawn at home for me etc or beg to do the times tables songs tape I'd bought for the class. Ignore her, she's jealous.

What was the TA doing in the lesson as far as duties? They are there to assist the learning and therefore if you are being provided planned lessons there should be planning for the TA too. Are there SEN with learning plans and therefore they require assistance? EAL?

As far as her reporting 'observations' I would be clear that you are more than happy with your classroom and that if she has any issues she should raise these with you in the first instance. If there was a seating plan it is not set in stone anyway.

I don't think anyone should be emailing anyone whilst a teacher is off sick regarding work and you need to go to the head with this.

Cover teachers have a bloody hard time - everyone knows that unless you have reason to suspect otherwise I think she probably just thought you needed some support and wasn't trying to imply you were useless.

Surely the TA is there to help let you know at the time re seating plans and to help with a not so well behaved class.

I mean what what was she even there for if not to help with these things.

She basically emailed the other teacher confirming her own incompetence and unhelpfullness, silly woman.

Just tell the Head you find her disruptive and could she please no longer help out in your classes and go and bother someone else instead. Or send her off to fetch something far far away.

Imagine that though doing all your Teacher training just for some uppity untrained TA to interfere in your classes, that would drive me nuts.

When I was a teacher trainer some of the biggest issues for the trainees were with managing TAs. Some were great but a number were unhelpful and a hindrance. I always told the trainees to be confident in their own ability and to direct the TA professionally.
I would let this particular TA know I know what they did and ask her to support you with the class e.g ensure pupils are in their correct seats and to implement the behaviour policy alongside yourself. Sounds like she's trying for brownie points with the usual teacher. You also don't need to justify yourself to the absent teacher, you are in charge atm.

Dear ta,
I Would have preferred to have given feedback on my own lesson myself and only when Mrs x returned from sick leave / inset as pet correct procedure
Many thanks

The ta should have helped make sure kids were in correct seating plan

OP I've worked as a TA in a secondary school (hated every second of those 12 months) and I can't think of any scenario where I would have raced off to email a teacher on leave with my opinion on the cover. It's way above her pay scale to be giving a critique of your teaching. She should be embarrassed really.

I was a teacher who never had any TAs and now I am a TA! The TA was totally out of order doing what she did- I would have been furious and would raise it with your Head. If someone is on leave you do not contact them unless it is for something really serious.

I think it's a sign of the times. Women these days don't seem to support one another like they used to when I was young. So sad when you realise how hard it's been for us to get where we are today.

Sneaky, nasty and unkind. And unnecessary.
You have to wonder what she was thinking by emailing this teacher. Perhaps it made her feel important. Pathetic.

I am a TA and some women I work with DO think they could do a better job than the teacher, and seem to be in competition with them. Your TA sounds like she falls into that category.

I am a TA and some women I work with DO think they could do a better job than the teacher, and seem to be in competition with them. Your TA sounds like she falls into that category

Yep - and such a TA should get qualified to be the teacher and take the full responsibility and accountability that goes with it. I'd refuse to have this TA with me again unless strict protocols were agreed with the TA's manager and the HOD.

Maybe TA feels senior to you because she is older ,which is idiotic .I agree with PP who thinks TA may be jealous of you .I think it is hard in Supply as you dont know the class that well,and they need to get used to you too .I dont understand the problem here really, if they have done the work why would it matter ?Maybe Email back and say what you have told us .Maybe she is checking up on you but all seems to be well .

TantricTwist Maybe she should be sent away for a "long Stand"!(No such thing ,but a trick that used to played on young apprentices as a sort of Initation Ceremony )! My Uncle said that this was done to all the young lads (including him apparently)!

I can honestly do without people like that, it's rife in schools

^ this. Never trust a TA is something I've heard several times, some are quick to run to the head.

The dynamic between the teacher you are covering and the TA existed before you came on the scene so, in that respect, their behaviour and interactions with each other isn’t personal to you. However, it will impact you. If this is a cycle that you find repeats itself in the environments you work in then finding a strategy that works for you is important, even if you’re never an instigator in the situation. I think that not viewing it as personal and determining what outcome you want will help you develop an approach that gets you to a more comfortable feeling place for you. Wishing they’d behave differently isn’t going to work, as you can only change your own behaviour. If it’s important to you that the teacher and TA get the message that you feel fine and in control then I would do something like send a new email message (no history from the previous email conversation) to both of them saying something along the lines of “thank you so much for all your support on . Great to know you’ve got my back and willing to give such proactive support as I start at . I was really pleased that even though the class were still settling down to having a new teacher, they all got the work done with only two needing to finish off at lunchtime.
Now I have found my feet, I will let focus on . I look forward to continuing to work with and be supported by , and we’ll be able to have a catch up and natter in the staff room/after class on anything that needs discussing about the class going forward. kind regards,

The problem, in my experience is that these kind of TAs are getting support from senior management. It is m’t just the self saying how did the cover get on (reasonable enough warm to ask) but that when you, as a supply raise an issue regarding the TAs automatically you are hit with a wall of how essential they are, what a great job they do, how you can learn from them, etc. The fact that you are raising unprofessional behaviour goes over their head - they just see everything now as ‘personality clash’ etc . Meanwhile existing teachers say they experience the same things and couldn’t wait to get rid of them (one told me she only communicated by email with her TA for the whole year as she used to twist everything round).

I have worked outside of teaching and this would never be tolerated. Not the deliberate sabotage of lessons, etc that goes on.

It must be about money - supply teachers are the scapegoat for everything. It is incredibly stressful in primary where they expect you to know in precise detail what they were doing yesterday when you were in a different school/class that does things completely differently.

I have never felt such hatred from people and lost respect for teachers and slt who did nothing (they are scared of them).