To think buying a teacher gift but not a TA one is a dick move?

[Wannakisstheteacher]

Last day of school today. Standing waiting for the gates to open and see lots of children holding gift bags etc. One child showing the other children all the things she has for the teacher but doesn’t mention the TA. Another parent says she’s bought in chocolates for the teacher but again nothing for the TA - seems like the common theme from general chat.

AIBU to think it’s really low to bring in something for the teacher but nothing for the TA? They are so incredibly badly paid and have to do so much more than ever before so to bring in a full bag of stuff for the teacher but not even a small box of chocolates for the TA just seems like a dick move.

I don't think people realise just how much is expected of LSAs/TAs these days.
I used to work as an LSA in an Ofsted rated 'Outstanding' school and any extra work or expectations on the teachers just trickled down onto us, too - only our salary didn't reflect this.

I had to teach Phonics every morning (teachers didn't, only us LSAs did, every morning), I had to take one or two groups for English and Maths every day and mark the books of the children I worked with. Afternoons were spent with children on IEPs, those who have EAL and needed extra support to deepen their understanding, or other booster groups, which we had to plan and execute ourselves. We got one hour's PPA a week to plan a full five day week's worth of afternoon sessions. I rarely got to finish on time as I had so much marking and planning to do. I was on £13K a year. Buy the TAs a gift, too.

I run a café and do various charity events over the year. Most of my raffle prizes are donated by my teacher friends, and are chocolates, wine and bits and bobs they’ve been given by students. It would be better to just divide the class presents up between the staff, or just to not bother giving presents at all, particularly in this climate.

I get something small for everyone, all equal. TA’s do so much to support the kids.

Most schools here don’t have TAs anymore, they just have SNAs (people attached to just one child with SEN only). Some may work with groups of children with SEN.

Personally I only get gifts for those working with my child. A 1:1 good SNA for my child I’d certainly get a personal and generous gift, but not someone who just happened to be in the room

I actually gave my child's teacher and ta an equal present this year. I also gave one to the PE teacher as he has been amazing and probably helped my child more than anyone else in that school. I then discovered a range of other people who seem to be involved but where do you stop!

I always buy the same present for TAs and the class teacher, or get a joint sharing present like a nice box of biscuits, and make it very clear that it's for everyone. I write each TA and teacher a card thanking them!

My DD is very able and doesn't need academic support, but her TA still is supportive, encouraging, helps with the odd friendship drama, finds lost things, does first aid when she falls over etc. There are so many ways the TA's in her class are important people to her, despite her not needing their help academically.

My DS is being assessed for ASD and would not be in mainstream without his marvellous TAs. His teacher is wonderful and does a great job with him, but the TAs give him reminders, explain things repeatedly, support him with his visual timetable, help him to navigate things socially. He wouldn't cope nearly as well without his support, they are essential to his success.

I'm just so grateful for them all!

The TA in my kids classes only work with one or two children with special educational needs. There is not a general class TA. I do get equal gifts for the teacher / TA regardless but I don't think that the TAs impact my children's learning as much as the teachers do. I'm not even sure why that is remotely controversial unless you are looking to take offence. The TAs obviously have a massive impact on the children that they work closely with.

My daughters TA is simply wonderful. She tucked her in goodnight and all of the other girls at their year 6 residential. My DD will never forget that. She was the one who encouraged my daughter to do the rock climbing etc etc. She has helped my DD no end. She is a class TA.

It wouldn't enter my head to get the TA a present. I would if the TA was particularly involved with my child.

I’m a TA and I’m not upset in the least about presents. I was more made up about a lovely handwritten card to be honest.

I just send a couple of tins of shortbread for staff room. Seems to go down well.

I'm a TA and some children bring equal gifts for both me and the teacher, some give me a smaller gift than the teacher and some just bring a gift for the teacher.

If the class decide to do a collection instead of gift they usually split it unevenly so the teacher gets double what I get.

Little do parents know, that often, as a very experienced TA and ex teacher myself I have literally carried the teacher! Covered up their laziness in front of senior management to save their ass, planned intervention sessions myself when the teacher fails to provide planning as they should, warned them that what they've taught is factually incorrect before it's picked up in the kids books by ofsted, been on a residential trip for a week doing exactly the same job as the teacher for less half their pay etc.

I don't think many parents realise what the role of a TA is and how school literally can't function without us. All the TAs in my school do an amazing job!

Absolutely well said.

To the poster who said t the TA has no impact for your child, take a closer look.

Completely agree op - even a small £2 box of chocolates (a carton of roses bought when on offer etc) makes all the difference. Personally I buy them the same gift but if not possible at least buy the TA something

Depends on the set up with the TA. My Y6 DD gets support from the TA as she has ASD. The TA is shared between quite a few but she definitely has a role with DD. I bought her a present and wrote a nice card. My Y4 DD's TA, well I don't even know who it is and she doesn't have contact with her AFAIK, so I haven't acknowledged her this year.

There are all sorts of staff at the school who support my DC and I can't give presents to all of them. It's fair enough to just focus on the teacher, who is the main adult responsible and usually the main one who matters to the kids.

I always bought for the TAs. It might not have been exactly the same gift as the teacher got, as I tried to get things I knew they'd like, but I wouldn't have dreamed of buying for one and not the other.

If you have a class TA I can guarantee they do have an impact on your child's schooling. Whether it's helping your child out whilst the teacher is busy or dealing with children with higher needs so the teacher doesn't have to etc., they're not there for ornamental purposes!

I do disagree that TAs are worse paid than teachers. Having been both, I earnt more per hour as a TA.

I do disagree that anyone needs to give both the teacher and the TA a gift - no gift to any school staff should be automatic - I don't like getting gifts really, and I would rather parents didn't, but it should only happen at all in cases where there is a particular relationship, not just generically

For example, I got a gift at the end of the year from a student I had gone above and beyond for, repeatedly, not just taught him in lessons. I appreciated the sentiment behind the gift, and also that it was a small token only, which is by far my preference

I think gifts to individual staff should be banned - a box of biscuits for the staff room, a thoughtful thank you note- these are lovely - but it shouldn't go any further

I have been in schools where taking a gift off the premises was banned, so edible gifts were eaten there, and non edible gifts donated to the summer fayre

Our class does a monetary collection instead of individual gifts and this is split equally between the teacher and the TA - as it should be.

Dick move. My DC class had really generous contributions this year for a whole class gift, and it was split 50/50 between the TA and teacher.

This giving gifts to teachers seems a new phenomenon, like Christmas Eve boxes and Elves on shelves.
It certainly never happened when I was a child (1950s) or when my DSs were young (1970/80s) nor when DH was a teacher and certainly not when he was a headteacher nor was it expected.
Some posts here suggest or involve ridiculous expenditure.

YANBU

But the poster who said "try being a midday assistant" is BU..... 🤣

What do you imagine would happen to your child's learning if that TA didn't exist to look after the other kids the teacher is there for?

I'm a TA, and echo PP's to say that our role is significantly bigger/more complex than most parents believe.

I'm in at least 30m before I'm scheduled to start each morning, and stay at least 30m after I'm supposed to finish so I can plan/mark my interventions. I run after school sport clubs twice a week, I run speech and language sessions, take a phonics group every morning, support the less able learners in every lesson (usually groups of 8-10, all of whom need differing levels of support), run handwriting boosters, run maths intervention groups three times a week and literacy interventions twice a week during assemblies, I'm on duty every break time and every lunchtime, administer first aid, am our class pastoral support... the list goes on. This is all in addition to the reading books/homework/photocopying/displays etc that people seem to think make up the whole of our job.

I don't expect presents, though those I receive are always much appreciated. I do, however, find posts insisting that TAs have no impact on children, or aren't important, incredibly demoralising.

This year, a boy in my class drew me a picture of Santa, with a message to say: "To Mrs Callisto, you help me a lot and give the best cuddles. I love you lots. From Name". That meant more to me than any amount of chocolates or wine!

TAs don't just help children who struggle academically. If the teacher is using their TA correctly then they will also be used to further challenge the most able. TAs also support the whole class by supporting the teacher- getting resources ready for lessons, taking groups out for baking and art/DT activities, supervising the whole class to allow the teacher to focus on a particular group of children without interruption, listening to children read, undertaking reading assessments, marking test papers, putting up classrooms dispalys- (these are for every child to use)

The re isn't a single child in my that doesn't benefit from TA support