Page 5 | To think if you get the teacher an Xmas gift..

twohomesneeded · 2022-12-01T21:31:42+00:00

... that you don't forget the TA? It doesn't have to be another gift, just a card from your child (or you) saying how much their support is appreciated. Being a TA can sometimes be a thankless (and occasionally challenging) task and this one small thing could just make your child's TA smile and count themselves lucky to have great kids and parents at their school.

Pumperthepumper · 04/12/2022 10:42

thingumybob · 03/12/2022 21:59

Trust me, nobody is a TA for the money. The money is shit. I'm on a pretty good rate for a TA and I'll make around £13k this year. I could definitely earn more elsewhere but I actually love working with children. 25 years ago I was earning more than twice as much in a different job but I didn't enjoy it at all.

I'm not really bothered about presents but it is nice to be appreciated. It can be very hard work and feels rather thankless at times.

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The money and the holidays are the draw for TA positions. So you might earn more money elsewhere but you wouldn’t get school holidays without taking a significant pay cut. And I think you’ve misunderstood my point - we should pay TAs more. I’m taking against this idea that they should be grateful for a smile or a card or other such nonsense - the best way to show appreciation is to lobby for higher pay.

Original poster

twohomesneeded · 04/12/2022 11:41

You can lobby for higher pay AND show some appreciation, they're not exclusive.

I never thought showing appreciation would be so controversial.

I'm starting to wonder if others arguing against it have never experienced that warm feeling that appreciation gives.

And again, an email would be more than enough (or a card). No one needs to buy a present to show appreciation.

OP posts:

Pumperthepumper · 04/12/2022 11:52

twohomesneeded · 04/12/2022 11:41

You can lobby for higher pay AND show some appreciation, they're not exclusive.

I never thought showing appreciation would be so controversial.

I'm starting to wonder if others arguing against it have never experienced that warm feeling that appreciation gives.

And again, an email would be more than enough (or a card). No one needs to buy a present to show appreciation.

And are you lobbying for higher pay? Or are you just on here saying things like ‘TAs work for the love of children, we should make them a card’?

Original poster

twohomesneeded · 04/12/2022 12:02

I absolutely am!

But again you're missing the point.

How do you personally show appreciation to others for the work they do? Or perhaps you don't?

OP posts:

Pumperthepumper · 04/12/2022 12:04

twohomesneeded · 04/12/2022 12:02

I absolutely am!

But again you're missing the point.

How do you personally show appreciation to others for the work they do? Or perhaps you don't?

What are you doing to lobby for better pay?

I say ‘thank you’ to people, and know that that warm feeling of appreciation will help them pay rising energy costs, food and mortgage increases. Oh no, hang on a minute! I guess they’ll just have to starve while they’re working for the love of children.

napody · 04/12/2022 12:06

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 01/12/2022 22:30

Definitely depends on the use of the TA in the classroom. A TA who is working as a whole class assistant, covering the class at times, hearing all the kids read - absolutely. But a TA who is a 1:1 assistant for a child who isn't mine? I'm not buying a gift. Ditto if they work consistently with lower ability children - they'd never have done anything with mine so a Xmas gift for me would not be appropriate.

Prize for the stealthiest stealth boast ever!
And very unlikely that a classroom TA (not 1:1) would work 'exclusively with lower ability children'... they are often absolutely indispensable to the whole class.
OP I agree- and don't start counting the minutes that directly benefit your child, just get the poor underpaid TA something or write them a card at least.

Original poster

twohomesneeded · 04/12/2022 12:14

I guess in life @Pumperthepumper I've found that the small things help whilst waiting for the life changing stuff. One does not replace the other. Even at the lowest point in my life, through loss and existing on very little that I faced homelessness, the kindness from others meant a lot because I felt supported.

OP posts:

Pumperthepumper · 04/12/2022 12:17

twohomesneeded · 04/12/2022 12:14

I guess in life @Pumperthepumper I've found that the small things help whilst waiting for the life changing stuff. One does not replace the other. Even at the lowest point in my life, through loss and existing on very little that I faced homelessness, the kindness from others meant a lot because I felt supported.

Sure, you still haven’t said how you’re lobbying for better pay though.

Managinggenzoclock · 04/12/2022 12:18

napody · 04/12/2022 12:06

Prize for the stealthiest stealth boast ever!
And very unlikely that a classroom TA (not 1:1) would work 'exclusively with lower ability children'... they are often absolutely indispensable to the whole class.
OP I agree- and don't start counting the minutes that directly benefit your child, just get the poor underpaid TA something or write them a card at least.

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This is ridiculous. Even a totally exclusive 1:1 TA (very rare!) help your child by ensuring the SEN child gets the support they need to enable your child to learn.

napody · 05/12/2022 11:15

Managinggenzoclock · 04/12/2022 12:18

This is ridiculous. Even a totally exclusive 1:1 TA (very rare!) help your child by ensuring the SEN child gets the support they need to enable your child to learn.

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The original post I quoted is ridiculous, or my reply?
My mention of 1:1 was to acknowledge that there are cases where a TA might never work with your child. I completely agree that their work indirectly benefits every child (I would have spelt that out but thought my post was long enough!). But my conclusion stands: don't try and count up minutes, get the TA a gift or card!