....to think my daughter's class has a right to a qualified teacher?

[pokemeinthemorning]

So we had a message tonight on the system to explain what is happening in my daughter's year 5 class. Apparently, their teacher will now be teaching another class because one teacher left two weeks ago and they have said they have 'dispensed of any supply staff'. Basically the TA will be teaching the class for the foreseeable future.
I know there are many dedicated and wonderful TA's who could make great teachers BUT we are not qualified to teach classes on a regular basis.
On questioning my daughter I found out that from the start of this year she has her teacher in class 2 days a week and the rest is taken on by the TA. We were not told about this.
As a TA myself, I know that they often cover classes but this is on a regular basis for a prolonged period of time.

I feel that this is very unfair and they should at least be employing supply teachers in the meantime.

What this thread is making abundantly clear is that the general public simply has NO IDEA what is going on in schools right now.

If the classes all had a teacher in September, the school had budgeted for the teachers. Worth writing to the Head and Chair of Governors, explaining your concern and asking what steps have been taken to recruit a teacher to start as soon as possible. Then you'll have the info.

@Soontobe60 - agreed. Back in the dark ages when I was a child, the head stepped in to cover when people were off. At my DC’s school, the head never does this. They use TAs to cover and it’s just wrong. They even have a TA for half the week in reception. It’s a joke. Soon it’ll be robots spitting out the curriculum, the way things are going. A good teacher can change lives. It’s a skilled job, a profession. Not someone anyone off the street can do with a few worksheets and following someone else’s lesson guides.

*something

I'm a TA too and I'd be furious. Partly because children should be taught by a teacher and partly because you can almost guarantee the poor TA will not be being paid to teach. TA's do far far more than we are paid to as it is. Id definitely be questioning it with school.

I think you need to find out how many fte teachers there are. What year group has your childs teacher been moved to? Usually if someone leaves that class would be covered by a mixture of TA/ head teacher/some time with other class teachers. They often have less qualified teacher time until someone is employed. To leave one class with 5 days of only TA isn’t usual. It’s also not usual to shift a teacher away from the class they’ve been allocated full time. I’d check that’s correct. Sometimes when a school has a recruitment problem and teachers leaving a month or two in to the school year it’s because it’s not a great employer. Barring exceptional circumstances I think teachers generally try pretty hard to leave at the end of the school year when it will have the least impact on students

@pokemeinthemorning

So we had a message tonight on the system to explain what is happening in my daughter's year 5 class. Apparently, their teacher will now be teaching another class because one teacher left two weeks ago and they have said they have 'dispensed of any supply staff'. Basically the TA will be teaching the class for the foreseeable future. I know there are many dedicated and wonderful TA's who could make great teachers BUT we are not qualified to teach classes on a regular basis. On questioning my daughter I found out that from the start of this year she has her teacher in class 2 days a week and the rest is taken on by the TA. We were not told about this. As a TA myself, I know that they often cover classes but this is on a regular basis for a prolonged period of time.

I feel that this is very unfair and they should at least be employing supply teachers in the meantime.

I suggest you write to your MP asking why schools are not being properly funded.

I agree with you op but the school may have already tried to recruit but been unsuccessful. There is such a shortage of teachers at the moment. A TA shouldn't be covering the class long term but if she/ he is I hope they are paying then correctly. A TA that knows the children is quite often better than lots of different teachers covering.

If the classes all had a teacher in September, the school had budgeted for the teachers

Except ins chops there’s no hands face space and a lot of teachers have been off with covid or off with children with covid

The budget has been spent.

There’s no more money for basics let alone teachers.

And to the PP above who talks absolute rot about ‘non-teaching management’ being a ‘luxury’?! How the hell do you think the place works without managers being able to manage? Nonsense.

Our management have been teaching at least part of the week since August. Never seen a supply teacher - no idea if they just aren't available or if our budget doesn't stretch but 2-3 times a week there's a note on the board saying all management teaching or as of last week management having to take on a 1:1 child as their TA was off (violent child who can't just be given to anyone). A fully qualified teacher had to take on my 1:1 duties the other week (was asked to come in she's normally part time) as no other TA's available to have him. The place is running, I mean I'm sure some balls are being dropped but everyone is doing the best they can in difficult circumstances

I’m a qualified HLTA and I agree with you. I cover PPA and occasional sickness but I don’t think it’s right to be used long term.
This is a big problem as Ofsted and stupid government demands are driving teachers away but there is no budget for supply due to long term underfunding.
Don’t vote Tory.

Never mind the Primary School Teachers who voiced opinion above their remit, knowledge and pay grade - another story.

Scrubbing the slate clean, I propose a new hypothesis for the 'teacher shortage':

Their heads are filled with so much non-teaching 'social shit' that they think 'parenting' is way easier than it is. So by 5 years in, they have their own baby - works great til the baby hits 'Nursery age', then the juggle starts.

Drawn in by the full pay and great ML conditions the Teacher might even go for Baby2 - at the end of this ML the reality shit starts to hit the fan - the Big Juggle - parent/school/childcare/children.

Parenting looked so easy from the few years as a Primary School Teacher, all those Judgements made. And now the Teacher finds out it's not so easy after all.

And gives up Teaching within 5 years of starting.

@missingvowelround

I'm a TA too and I'd be furious. Partly because children should be taught by a teacher and partly because you can almost guarantee the poor TA will not be being paid to teach. TA's do far far more than we are paid to as it is. Id definitely be questioning it with school.

And then that risks the overloaded TA leaving so it goes around in circles.

There are a number of teachers off with children with covid as so many kids are isolating, so potentially that is playing a part and the staff problems are temporary?

It’s not fair for the children.
It’s also not fair for the TA who will still be paid like a TA despite taking in the teacher’s work….

Yes yes there are shortages etc… but instead if accepting the shortages, maybe we need to start asking WHY there are shortages in the first place.
Cue: the treatment of teachers, their pay and the amount of work they are asked to do.

You are not being unreasonable, the school should cut its budget elsewhere

Which is nearly always in additional support staff.

School are massively underfunded! SEND provision is at breaking point. Huge teacher shortage!

Did you know that Ofsted are now not making any allowance for Covid/lockdown learning in their inspections? Children are supportive to have caught up.

Supposed not supportive

If the school have to cut its budget elsewhere they will end up with no general TAs and possibly no books.

@CallmeHendricks What this thread is making abundantly clear is that the general public simply has NO IDEA what is going on in schools right now indeed. Or how hard TAs and teachers are working to paper over the cracks left by chronic underfunding of schools and recruitment and retention issues. Though lots of Mumsnet think teachers have an easy job...

Is it possible the ta has the higher qualification that they can take which allows them to teach?

I do know someone who worked as a ta however was a qualified teacher in another country so had to resit some qualifications here whilst working as a ta.

If they have no money to employ a teacher and have tried all other avenues, I’d expect the Deputy and Headteacher to teach the class!

Not possible in all schools though. We're part of a three school Federation. One executive head, no deputy. We've no spare bodies.

If they had QTS I’m sure the school would make it clear to parents.

TA not paid or qualified to teach (even if they are awesome at their job) and that is exploitation
It seems pointless sending a child to school if they don’t have a teacher surely. I cannot quite believe what a shit show England is these days.
Poor kids. And poor TA