To think Teaching Assistants are vastly underpaid for their role?

[altoran]

When the role of Teaching Assistant was created, the idea was that they would help with basic tasks like photocopying, wall displays, etc. It was a very basic role with no real responsibility.
Now Teaching Assistants have a lot of responsibility and are very involved in children's education, although under the supervision of a teacher. But they receive very little over minimim wage for this.
AIBU to think they are vastly underpaid?

Sweak

Yes I think you are right but I think regardless you and I have the same idea of what constitutes line management.

Supply and demand unfortunately. Even at low wages, there is high demand for relatively interesting jobs that are limited to school hours.

There are 100's of jobs that are min wage... for some of these you even need qualifications. The majority is full time, 48 weeks/ year.

At least as a TA you don't have to fork out for holiday care.
I think wage in this country is a big issue, but as it has been said upthread as long as people accept the pay, nothing will change.

Well, £18k isn’t just over minimum wage is it? Minimum wage is about £13k I think. Granted it’s low, but I think it’s a bit disingenuous to imply they make basically minimum wage.

My wage pre pro rata and holidays is 17k yes, however the hourly rate works out about 9 odd - whatever the living wage is as the local council bump it - so yes, just over minimum wage. I work 25 hours a week basically all the hours the kids are in with absolutely no prep or tidying time, I organise all the work for the child I work 1:1 with sometimes buying things out of my own pocket and take home around £800 a month after deductions.

sweak I was not being sarky. You have just tried to explain my own knowledge and job to me. I'm not sure how much clearer I can make this. Myself and the subject head line-manage them together. We both attend performance management meetings and reviews.

Frankly your attitude smaks of teaching staff who think any member of staff who doesn't have a teaching qualification is beneath them.

Witchcraft you've said you aren't a teacher, yet you line manage teachers, and you get paid less. It's unusual! I was just asking about it. I've never heard of spilt line management like this. It's not standard practice.

And I do not have that attitude towards support staff. You actually sound like you've got a huge chip on your shoulder tbh.

Witchcraft you've said you aren't a teacher, yet you line manage teachers, and you get paid less. It's unusual! I was just asking about it. I've never heard of spilt line management like this. It's not standard practice.

Not unusual in my LA. We have a business manager who takes care of a lot of the staff management. Usually the first port of call rather than the HT

A business manager is actually the only example like this I've heard of before cocoloco987

And business managers aren't badly paid either. Many earn more than teachers, particularly inexperienced ones

Definitely underpaid. I have a friend who is often alone with a class. She is actually a qualified teacher and has a PhD in a relevant subject but chose to be a TA because of child-care issues and because she loves the work.

I completely agree. My DD had lot of TA support when she first started school. They were incredible and basically taught her to read. Absolutely worth their weight in gold. Teachers also deserve more pay for the amount of work they do. My DD's teachers have been amazing too.

@Thecazelets - yes, it is the same with nurses

@Sweak

And business managers aren't badly paid either. Many earn more than teachers, particularly inexperienced ones

They earn waaaaaay more than standard classroom teachers

sweak and I've said now countless times that yes I line manage, yes I'm involved in the performance reviews, appraisals etc and yet you're still questioning. It may be unusual but it happens.

@Witchcraftandhokum

sweak and I've said now countless times that yes I line manage, yes I'm involved in the performance reviews, appraisals etc and yet you're still questioning. It may be unusual but it happens.

You sound a delight to work with 🙄

A TA with no teaching responsibilities that assists with day to day basic responsibilities for kids with no additional needs and is paid £9 an hour is fine.

Using the cheapest labour to teach kids on the SEN register, delivering 'interventions' or acting as 1:1 is not. Schools are using TAs to say they can meet the Local Offer. Special schools with specialists teachers and the D.C. that need them are the real losers.

And secondary schools are even worse. They assume that any D.C. that requires classroom support must be of below average achievement. TAs only support the 'bottom' classes. My DS needed an LSA not a TA. Despite a f/t ECHP he couldn't have one. This is why the LA gave a bespoke package and I had to become an unpaid LSA. Because attaining his potential was not supported in m/s school.

I think this thread is too focused on TAs and uncritically accepts that the expansion of expectations (without qualifications and therefore no need to pay) is to the detriment of SEN children. What is the point of having OT, SALT, autism outreach advice that is supposed to be delivered by a TA but they don't because eg they don't really understand what proprioception is so don't provide a wobble cushion. So they over ride expert advice on the basis of ignorance. It's not even cost. I bought OT recommended equipment but it was not used because of lack of understanding.

Witchcraft - do you also manage and train the head teacher and other members of the senior management team when it comes to issues concerning pastoral work and safeguarding.

Witchcraft my last post didn't question. I was explaining why I questioned before, as you accused me of thinking support staff are beneath me. I was trying to understand your role. You are very sensitive about this.

Fwiw I just checked my LA payscale and the business support manager pay scale is 19-21k teacher is 27-41.5k. Lots of progression possible with early years with a entry level 3 qualified early years practitioner 22-26k then early years officer 26.5- 31k and a senior early years officer 31.5-37.5k. The teaching assistants are on the same as the cleaners at 16-18k (we do a massive amount of training once employed both compulsory and for our own development which massively benefits the setting)

@cocoloco987 I've seen business manager jobs for 45k.

27k as a starting point for teachers? I assume you are in the South East?

27k as a starting point for teachers? I assume you are in the South East?

No, Scotland!

@cocoloco987 oh I know nothing about pay scales in Scotland. In England I think it's roughly £25k but more in London. Interesting business managers get paid so much more in England though!

I guess the job description/responsibilities of a business manager will vary depending on local authority. Mine is my line manager though. Just had a quick check and it doesn't vary between LA's in Scotland nor between primary and secondary. Start of the scale is 27,498 and top is 41,412

singsingbluesilver When I have done whole school training the Head and other members of the SLT have attended yes.

Sweak I am not sensitive about this. As I said most of the staff are supportive of the way their line management works, but there have been a couple who find it beneath them to be managed by me, they were incredulous that someone without a PGCE could possibly manage them. They had any questions also.

MrsUndercracker I'm not really sure why you have decided to have a go. But I'm sure if someone tried to explain your job to you then you would also have an issue.

I was on 23k as a TA didn't have much of a payrise when I became a teacher. 5 years on I am on more than a TA though it goes up quickly.