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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that support staff should not be put in line of fire to save others being in school

33 replies

downwiththatsortof · 22/01/2021 19:35

Hi
Longtime lurker. I work as support staff in a large secondary school, 3 days as a TA and 2 days as cover. Since this lockdown I have been covering key worker children and have been expected to double my days cover, from 2 to 4 whilst others who cover full time are only being put on the rota for 2 days. There are hundreds of staff at school (circa 230) and obviously with live learning, own children and vulnerabilities some people are not in school at all. Aibu to expect with a staff this size and the rest of people only covering one day, that I should not be expected to have to cover double my usual amount?

OP posts:
infinitediamonds · 22/01/2021 19:39

Are other TAs being asked to cover classes? Are you paid at two different rates and if so have they upped your pay for the 4 days cover?

sofakingg00d · 22/01/2021 19:40

What would you be doing if you weren't covering key worker children?

Clackyheels · 22/01/2021 19:43

I dont think anyone on here can answer this. Take it up with management if you feel it is unfair, Express your concerns. Ask for the reason or to change.

Original poster
downwiththatsortof · 22/01/2021 19:44

@infinitediamonds Not many TAs do dual roles and they haven't mentioned the pay differential until I brought it up,

@sofakingg00d If not covering, often remotely attending lessons or occasionally in school for help with vulnerable kids

OP posts:
sofakingg00d · 22/01/2021 19:51

I don't think you have much to complain about here really, it seems you wouldn't really be doing much if you weren't covering key worker children. I've never heard of a TA being on a streamed lesson.

Original poster
downwiththatsortof · 22/01/2021 20:01

@sofakingg00d - yes, that's all fine, but the disparity of a few people being in multiple times of week whilst others are allowed to keep safe at home is one of the issues. I feel it should be shared out fairly in order to avoid one person being exposed to a higher risk.

OP posts:
HarrietSchulenberg · 22/01/2021 20:07

Sofaking00d, all our TAs are supporting in live lessons, using the breakout rooms on Teams where necessary. This is secondary, remember, not primary. TAs have also been used to do welfare phone calls home. It really is quite standard, the tech is there to facilitate and there's no reason for TAs to be in school everyday. Ours come in to support in the vulnerable and keyworker student provision on a rota basis, rest of the time from home.

OP, are you in Unison? Would be useful to call them or at least check their website for guidance.

Coaster20 · 22/01/2021 20:09

You are full time so I imagine you are not doing more than you are paid for and they need you to cover more than they need you to attend a lesson. Attending a lesson is not the best way to deploy you.
If teachers are covering, there will be no one to teach their lessons.

I know that covering must be hard but I actually think it's the best use of your time.

The teaching staff are teaching,

Drinkarsefeck · 22/01/2021 20:10

I agree op, thereshould be a rota so that the workload and exposure is equal for everyone. I can only think some will have refused to work extra?

LickEmbysmiling · 22/01/2021 20:15

Op I agree, absolutely. Are you part of a union? If not I'd join one ASAP. Risk should be shared.

LickEmbysmiling · 22/01/2021 20:17

Dd school tas are doing extra reading with dc and interventions... All stuff that can be done at home.

Original poster
downwiththatsortof · 22/01/2021 20:19

@harrietschulenberg -drinkarsefeck thanks both, yes I will check Unison, but I'm not currently a member.

@coaster20 - it's the inequity that is one of the main issues and the feeling that my exposure to this is less important.

OP posts:
sofakingg00d · 22/01/2021 20:42

@HarrietSchulenberg

I am a secondary teacher.

All our TAs are in school working with children with EHCP or covering key worker children, on a rota with some time to do keyworker contact etc. No TAs are present in live lessons in any of the schools across my large academy trust. So no it isn't standard at all.

SpudsandGravy · 22/01/2021 20:50

[quote downwiththatsortof]@sofakingg00d - yes, that's all fine, but the disparity of a few people being in multiple times of week whilst others are allowed to keep safe at home is one of the issues. I feel it should be shared out fairly in order to avoid one person being exposed to a higher risk.[/quote]

I agree, OP. It doesn't sound fair to me. Can you bring it up with your manager?

Armychefbethebest · 22/01/2021 20:51

I am a TA in a large secondary school , the teachers are currently not in school they have live lessons online in place of their normal lessons , I am in school for 2 days to supervise a 2 year group bubble , I feel we have an important part to play , the teachers need time to plan and deliver lessons if they were also expected in school it could impact the quality of the live lessons further down the line , when I'm not in school I am online supporting my usual year 7 nurture group in their live lessons , we are also tested once a week , it's going as smoothly as it can but it's a team effort I'd sooner be supporting both ways than sat on my bum

HarrietSchulenberg · 22/01/2021 20:57

Sofaking00d, well I've not actually surveyed every UK secondary school but mine is far from groundbreaking, it's generally uber traditional. But our TAs all really got to grips with Teams during the autumn as several of our EHCP kids were isolating so the IT and ability were there already. It's no real substitute for being physically next to a child but it means we can reduce the number of times TAs and kids are in direct contact, and lots of our EHCP children have declined their school places so are at home on Teams themselves. If OP's TA and cover colleagues are working from home it seems unfair that OP should be required to be in when she reasonably can work from elsewhere.

year5teacher · 22/01/2021 21:00

I’m a teacher not a TA but we don’t even have a rota of any kind. It’s crap. My TA is in, full time, working in my classroom and supporting small groups too which requires her to be at closer contact than I am. And she is paid fuck all.

Honestly I don’t see why you would be on a live lesson over being used for cover - it’s a much bette ruse of your time and if you are being paid more to reflect it then it’s not so bad. If you aren’t; then obviously that is shocking. If you’re not happy with it then I guess you need to speak to SLT.

year5teacher · 22/01/2021 21:01

Oh my god, please ignore the spelling and grammar typos.

TierFourTears · 22/01/2021 21:18

I'm feeling royally screwed over by the support staff rotas right now.
BUT, after a final straw this morning, and some hidden tears, I went to see the SLT member dealing with the rotas, and laid bare some of my reasons for being so pissed off - mainly their fucking around adding me onto more and more days at the last minute means they have now put us in a position that my 9 and 11 yr olds are home alone when they put me to work on a previously none working day. Ive said I'll do extra days, in a role totally unrelated to my official role, but we need the previously requested notice to get a place at school for at least the youngest. Im now back only working on my actual days (til the next change!). I haven't mentioned the fact I'm paid 20% less than the role I'm acting up to.
I'm less fussed about the school bubbles, and more bothered about the implications for childcare at home.
If its unreasonable, mention it to someone. It might make a difference.
Flowers, you are doing ace.

toocold54 · 22/01/2021 21:35

I know most schools are getting TAs or lunch staff to watch the children so the teachers can prepare the online resources - unfortunately there’s not a lot anyone can do about that. As teachers can’t really do both.

But I do think that these people deserve extra pay as they are going above and beyond their job role AND putting themselves at risk everyday.

Original poster
downwiththatsortof · 22/01/2021 23:17

Thanks for the messages @tier4tears - I'm glad you managed to sort it but you shouldn't have to take a pay cut -
plus your children come first and @toocold54 - I understand teachers have to do the lessons etc, but they need to share around the duties and not just rely on the same people all the time.
I do think support staff need to start to work together to get better treatment and pay

OP posts:
lanthanum · 22/01/2021 23:35

One reason for the disparity may be that they're trying to help out those members of staff who have children of their own, particularly if those children are of an age where they do not need to take up a key worker place if their parent is working from home, but do otherwise. Demand for key worker places in some primaries is very high, so if other schools are able to help reduce the take-up, that's helpful.

clarepetal · 23/01/2021 16:54

It's not fair if you are doing more than others.
I'm a TA and have to go in and support the keyworker kids/ vulnerable kids in a classroom whilst they sit their live lessons.
I get that the teachers are too busy teaching yo come in and help so there is no one else to do this as the moment. I don't resent the teachers, but they are deffo safer than we are at the moment.
I'm concerned that the classes will get bigger and the risks higher, and am furious that we that we are not on the list to get the vaccine at some point.

The week before Xmas the school was rife with covid, and when kids come back as normal I see it happening again. It's the government I'm angry with,they just don't care.

MyMPwontlisten · 23/01/2021 17:21

Always, always join a union.

Woolff · 23/01/2021 18:29

I understand teachers have to do the lessons etc, but they need to share around the duties and not just rely on the same people all the time.

'Doing' the lessons 'etc.', as in planning, preparing, delivering and providing feedback is actually the teachers' full time roles. They don't need to share anything, just like you don't share their marking or Parents' evening responsibilities!

Yes it would be nice if you could WFH - ordinarily, when all children are at school, teachers don't have this option either, but there's nothing about the cover and supervision you're paid to do that is compatible with not being physically present.