Keyworker/TA

[stressssedout]

Does anybody know whether there is a difference between these titles on an ehcp? (Ks1 primary age)

Is a keyworker another name for TA, or is a keyworker somebody who works more closely with a specific child/specific small group of children?

A key worker is assigned responsibility of a child or several children. They would work one to one or small group typically.

A ta is the classroom assistant and is not usually assigned to a specific child although they may do some work with specific children as part of role.

I'd take them as interchangeable. Certainly a key worker has responsibility for a particular child or group of children but you also get 1-1 TAs who are solely there to support one child. I would ask the school as that's the only way to find out.

So if my child's ehcp states 'keyworker' as the person who should carry out certain interventions then a specific person should be assigned to do this?

They don't need a 1-1 throughout the whole day, but they do need to be worked with very closely to enable them to understand the work, and they also need elements of personal care.

I can't seem to get a straight answer out of the Senco about how support will be in year 1 after the last year in reception, but I feel like I'm being prepared for far less 1-1 interventions and no specific person.

I am getting the impression there will be one class TA and a teacher. And the TA will be expected to do keyworker tasks aswell as support the class in general. And that worries me.

I keep getting fobbed off when I try to find out more about the classroom set up next year and who will be responsible for supporting children with SEN.

Not all classes have a TA. Given that you state your child doesn't need consistent 1:1 support, it's perfectly normal to expect one TA to carry out the statutory obligations on your child's EHCP as well as support the rest of the class.

Yes it could be that the class ta is expected to support your child with their needs as well as their other duties. Do you know how much funding (if any) they receive as part of their ehcp? Could you get more information from the teacher for next year?

I should also add there are at least 5 children with an ehcp in my child's class.

In the reception class there is an Sen keyworker, a class TA and a teacher.

I guess it worries me that the children who need close 1-1 interventions may no longer get the support they need or far less of it.

School should not always assign the same person to a child, it's better practice for children to work with different people. Obviously not too many but sometimes the teacher lights work with your child, sometimes the TA or maybe another LSA. Some of the 1:1 work might be done in SALT sessions or other intervention.

I'm sure you realise that the funding attached to an EHCP is nothing like as much as a TA/LSA salary so schools have to do the best they can with what they have.

The ehcp says band 4 funding but on looking online that seems to be around £6k. I could be wrong though, it was just on a government page I found about Sen funding.

The class TA could also be designated as your child's keyworker.

Because of the elements of personal care my children needs (sensory issues, toileting and still using pull ups) it is important that they have someone familliar to build a relationship with and trust them.

Learning wise and around the classroom they will be fine with anybody once they get to know the staff but some things aren't that simple with autism.

In our school keyworker purely relates to the person allocated to a child when they start nursery. TA is an interchangeable term, some work as a 1-1 and some are classroom TA's. Our 1-1s are allocated specifically to a child and stay with them for the duration unless there are specific reasons.

Unless your child has an EHCP that states he has X amount of hours of 1:1 support you do not have any legal basis to expect a set amount of support. The ta could be designated to work with your dc and others in the whole class environment. They could also be asked to do your child's personal care. The reason you are being fobbed off is that they probably do not yet know how it will be organised.

I'm surprised that there are 5 or more children in one class with an EHCP, that's a disproportionate balance, wow.

I have been doing some research today and it seems that section F is missing from the ehcp.

It jumps from E to G.

I believe is this is where the provision, support required and how much/ hours should be detailed in this section.

Is this usual?

5 children with an EHCP in one class sounds TOUGH! If there's only a class teacher and one lsa it will likely be a challenging year. Perhaps there's extra support from lsas who aren't assigned to a specific class but work with certain children at various points in the week. Have you had a meeting with the Senco recently. It's not unreasonable for you to ask about the support in place but I would also echo that many schools are incredibly tight on funds and if they say this is the best we can offer, you will likely have to accept that or consider moving schools if you think there's better provision else where. Like someone else mentioned 6k gets you nothing salary wise and that's actually very generous funding compared to many with ehcps.

The ehcp should definitely detail the support provided and the hours or support entitled to.

Sounds awful and unfair to have 5 EHCP in one class

Our TA's are also key workers for SEN children.

I don't know if anyone is moving on to special schools, or there will be a switch around of children, but through talking to other parents over the last year it's definitely that there are a high number of children with an ehcp.

Not scheduled to see the SENCO until the end of term in July but obviously am starting to have questions and worries, and ultimately whatever the funding situation my priority is making sure what my child is still getting the support we were told they needed to thrive.

Just double checked and the ehcp has no section F at all it's been completely removed.

Is it a draft EHCP? . Sometimes the sections are not in order just the make it easier to read.

Yes definitely the final version, signed

Section F is the legal bit schools have to follow. It's the provision to meet section E. If it's missing where does the phrasing key worker come from?

I thought that from September funding is changing, so that the child gets a certain number of hours support rather than specifying anything particular.