To think the general public don't understand the job role of a Teaching Assistant?

[notyourmummy]

This might turn into an "I'm a TA, ask me anything" and that's fine.
Having been speaking to both my family and parents at my children's school, I've realised that there's still a common misconception that TAs only make displays, mix paint and wipe snotty noses... what do you think a TA does at your child's school, how much do you think they're paid and what hours do they work?!!

I think part of what makes it so difficult for people to know the role is because schools utilise them so differently.

In some of the schools I worked in they did a lot of admin, a lot of displays and general “helping out”. More akin to a class assistant.

Whereas in other schools they lead intervention groups, dealt with children’s medical conditions.

And in others they were repeatedly used as low paid teachers.

The only thing a TA role has in common everywhere that I can see is that they are on the whole underpaid and their good nature exploited.

You don't see why parents might be interested in the reality of the education that their children are receiving once they wave them through the school doors?

For example, I know for sure that the parents of the vulnerable child I had 1:1 responsibility for in my very first TA post did not have a clue that the person delivering almost all their child's education, interventions, managing behaviour etc was a completely unqualified, inexperienced and overwhelmed agency worker with not one single minute of training.

I'd be extremely interested as an engaged parent to learn that this is the state of education today.

The TA's at the school my DD goes to are used as teachers most of the time!

I like to know what the TA’s are used as in my children’s schools.

in my experience you can tell a lot about a school and it’s SLT based on how they treat their TAs

But don't you see that it's not really about the TA or the teacher? Sadly you're right that lots of people simply don't care about anyone outside their own family circle, such is society now, but it's about the impact that this has on your children. People may not care whether the TA has fair pay and working conditions, but surely they care about the way this impacts their children's educational provision?

Ime a lot of my friends who are qualified teachers end up being TA's as it's more doable with a young family.

This. Accurate in the schools I have worked in.

Some MSAs are now doing what the ta's traditionally have done in the past, whilst the ta's are taking on more central teaching tasks --not just first aid, but 1:1 support for pupils with SNs during breaktimes, and often an entire afternoon if support staff are short. All provided at an even lower hourly rate than ta's. At least they're getting more hours, but.the exploitation is disgraceful.

what do you think a TA does at your child's school, how much do you think they're paid and what hours do they work?!!

teach the children, it’s a cheap way of having a teacher ( often without a degree, but many will have) and saving money

just like Health Care Workers on hospital wards are cheap nurses

Scottish Teacher here. We don't have any TAs at all. There are pupil support assistants and early childhood practitioners for nursery/Primary 1.

From my perspective, TAs seemed to be an exploited teaching workforce.

The problem is ‘TA’ isn’t a clearly defined role, and school culture or demands dictate the role hugely. So does budget.

You still will find places with some acting as traditional teachers’ helps, washing fruit and mixing paints etc. At the other end of the scale are HLTAs (and exploited TAs) regularly teaching whole classes without support. Other schools may use the same term for those offering 1:1 SEN support. Others will solely teach intervention groups and be very well trained in a specific area, such as phonics, Makaton, reading recovery, maths catch-up.

Whatever is happening in your LA or school tells us very little. I know schools operating with no TAs at all, just SNA for those with 1:1 needs and nursery nurses in reception/ nursery classes. Others I know still have a TA attached to classes. It’s like trying to explain how long a piece of string is, trying to pin down the role of a TA nationwide.

All the TAs I have encountered have been nothing short of amazing. They are there to nurture the child, administer first aid if they have a fall. They help sort out playground drama. I think they are worth their weight in gold. We have teachers and TAs who need more recognition in this country because the demands and bureaucracy nowadays is absurd. And I would also argue SLT earn too much and their pay should be distributed amongst the workers....

This. It's literally never crossed my mind. I couldn't even tell you their names tbh, we left primary many years ago. I'm sure like all walks of life some are fantastic and some not so much.

Teaching assistants are being used as cheap teachers now. Same as support workers in hospitals are being used as cheap nurses.

in both cases, hospital wards and classrooms it’s female dominated workers who are being trampled all over & piss poor wages for it

but then I read posts on her with people say, they need to be grateful and where’s the money going to come from. If we raise there wages then people won’t need to aspire to work harder and do better

the mind boggles then, who do they want to raise those children “to do better” and when they are sick who looks after them ?

My friend is a TA and basically teaches classes as well as so much more. They didn't have money to pay cleaners the other day and made her to it!

She has so much responsibility and works so hard for absolute shit pay. I always say to her I don't know why she bothers

It is the T.As that need to strike for more pay. If they did strike, Teachers would realise how impoosible their jobs would be without the T.As

How low is the teaching assistance pay?

what is the rate per hour? I understand there are different grades- what is the lowest and highest?

my local holiday in is advertising for chamber personal at £11.50 per hour, school hours but not term time only

That's the thing I don't know - what's a TA's pay?

Scrolll down to payscales

scay pay 12 is earning the same an hour as the chamber personal in holiday inn, no offence to chamber people - but they don’t have the same skill set

I’m staggered by how little TA’s get paid. Are TA’s also striking alongside the teacher strike?

In 1 trust, HLTAs are getting about £13 an hour---but bear in mind most HLTAs have been called upon to step in as supply teachers during many instances.

Regular tas or learning support assistants are around a pound less an hour (so, £12/hour).

Middays are on £10.50/ hour.

Although if you want to target your displeasure in a certain direction, the trust CEO is on a salary just shy of 6 figures...

It's not though, is it? Not to diminish he work of TAs but half the shit of being a teacher is seemingly endless lesson planning.

The bottom of the pay scale is £10.42 an hour for most of our TAs . They are generally a band 3. Some are specifying graduates on this band. (Surrey). The local pupil referral unit does band 4. The top of this is 12.13 an hour. The hourly rate can look more as sometimes the pro rata statutory holiday pay is given as an uplift if the hourly rate if that makes sense.

No! They are getting made redundant or having their hours cut as school budgets are so tight and the teachers pay rises arent funded. So the remsining few have more and more expectations on them.