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?!!

Well, yes. This.

The school I'm in is lovely, children aged 3 to 9, I work in the same classroom each day as its only a small school, due to this I have a great working relationship with my class teacher and we are very much a duo who support one another to do what is best for the children. We have a high proportion of children with SEND but that's because we have a good reputation for working with these children in a nursing and inclusive environment. Only one child in school is projw to lashing out however they have a 1:1 LSA and she is very good at reading their cues, she can usually get them away and back into a regulated state before they reach the lashing out point.

The pay is shit but I stay because I'm passionate about my work. I genuinely care about every child who comes through that door, I want them to do well, I want them to find their space in the world and to know that they're good enough to occupy it. I love all their little successes and achievements, hearing their stories, sharing their ideas. Its very fulfilling, even on days when I wish they'd just leave me alone for five minutes, and it does help with the shittier parts of the job.

At many schools, the SEN children are taught separately in small groups by TAs. I take reading, and social skills intervention groups

Are you teaching or supporting? Because as a TA it should be the latter. A pp accused me of snobbery but I believe the teaching should be done by those with QTS who are appropriately trained and paid. It's only fair on the staff and pupils. So the teachers should be planning for all abilities, assessing, marking etc. and they certainly shouldn't be fobbing off groups of SEN children onto TAs who may not have the skills or training to meet their needs.

TAs shouldn't feel obliged to get in early, plan, make resources in their spare time, stay late, do behaviour management. And they certainly shouldn't be teaching whole classes.

If that makes me a snob ...

It is astonishing how little we pay those who work with vulnerable people. Whether that’s TAs or carers. My teenage daughter works in a central London clothes shop. She folds clothes and attends the changing rooms (no till duties). She gets £10 an hour. The fact that a TA is getting similar to that is just wrong.

I work for a charity. I get paid a hell of a lot less than my friends in corporate roles do.
No one really cares or understands what I do either.
We are not Unionised. I don't get school holidays.
But... I love my job, I work with nice people and I'm doing good in the communities we work in.

I agree TAs should be paid more. But the answer IMO lies in a change of government.

Agreed.

@EdiePotts you are right about the fact that teachers *ought to be the ones who support children identified with SEND but as a TA in secondary I often found I was genuinely better able to support children in Maths and English because I knew more about the primary curriculum and strategies that would be useful than the teachers. Some TAs have real expertise (some are crap!).

It is very much the case though that theoretically TAs should be the most qualified people in the school because they will inevitably pick up children who struggle to learn, despite what the EEF best practice guides say 🤷🏻‍♀️

I did this - as far as mainstream goes teaching is NOT necessarily the natural progression from being a TA that people think it is. They are functionally very different jobs with different skill sets. For me, teaching in mainstream felt like the opposite of being a TA. Now I teach specifically in SEND which I like and which feels a lot more like it builds on what I did as a TA. However, there’s not many of those jobs going (relatively speaking) and the other ‘option’ of being a SENCo is different again - and I’ve met plenty of SENCos who are disillusioned by their job.

Until very recently round my way TA was paid at just over £10 an hour. Schools pay for the minimum number of hours they can get away with, usually at most 25, which results in an annual pay of about £12k.

It has started to go up because around here they ask for graduate TAs who will take a subject or age group responsibility - EYFS is bad for this - and expect you to plan. Much of which is done OOH. They also expect TAs to run clubs and ho on trips, often OoH. Unsurprisingly people who have any choice in the matter are getting out, especially when you add in either bullying and smug teachers or stressed-out teachers creating shit environments on top. It’s going up to just over £12 an hour and I’ve noticed contracts are offering 30 or more hours pay, so that’s about £15k. For planning an education for your kids.

Truck drivers get £13 an hour, I’ve just seen bus driver for £15 and cleaners get paid about the same, for comparison.

And of course it is important to have some sort of justice and fairness in a society, or its rulers will quickly lose all and any legitimacy and resentment will boil over. Which in case you’ve not noticed, is beginning to happen.

A good TA is worth their weight in gold. They do all the gross jobs of dealing with sickie children, changing nappies, listening to the most horrific disclosures (as usually TA is available while class teacher is teaching). In addition to this they are teaching small groups, maybe planning for these too, if needed, marking that work, supporting children with extra needs (even ones that might actually need a 1:1 but there isn’t the money for it) and generally supporting the class during inputs and lessons. If you are very lucky they will also keep the classroom tidy and organised, and take some of the bonkers admin off you. Why are they are not paid so much more? When I started my current teaching job 5 yrs ago there was a class TA for every class, now we are lucky to have one per yr group and these are usually being used as 1:1 for children that need extra support and I can tell how much harder it is now to do everything.

@4thonthe4th

It was a class of 18. There were 7 with EHCPs, the rest just completely behavioural and disengaged. It’s a massive comp! The kids with the EHCPs were easier to deal with by a mile and I feel sorry for them having to be with the other lot.

I’d think this too, and I think most people would, except maybe the last line. But I think some TAs can cover a class? (not that they should).

An hlta can cover the class, as per last point. A standard ta shouldn’t but often does.

Contractually, our TAs are allowed to cover short periods such as PPA time or provide "emergency cover", eg should I have to go home sick in the middle of the day. The trouble is many schools take the p* and will use standard TAs for extended sick cover or covering pre-booked leave (eg hospital appointments). They don't want to rock the boat by refusing although I have said they should.

My eldest boy, who has special needs, had an amazing TA in primary school. She had worked originally in the school office, before she was asked to be his 1-1 (she had wanted to be TA anyway). She went on courses to understand his disabilities and training courses too etc. Amongst other things, she went on school trips with him and went out at playtime with him. A wonderful, wonderful lady.

Yep, literally on around £14k, that's BEFORE pension and taxes. I work 30 hours a week, also have extra training every other Friday, and an extra evening around 7 times a year maybe more. We are constantly being trained for disabilities and health conditions, so not sure where it came from when someone else said LSAs and TAs have no training lol. I would say at least 70% of our LSA pool I'm in is educated to degree level with various amounts of experience. We have a massive turnover because the pay is so poor though.

SEN Ta here. I work 121 with a child. I get sworn at, hit, punched, things thrown at me on a daily basis, I spend my days wondering around the school and school grounds come rain shine or snow, after the child as they like to run.. i do SALT, meet with SSSEN, work with behaviour support, report safeguarding issues, I buy snacks and fruit for my 121 weekly as they are often hungry but isn’t able to bring in snacks from home, our lessons are bespoke to the child’s ability- way below their age. I sit and plan with the teacher our lesson plans.

I get just over minimum wage.

I do it because through all the above there is a primary aged child who just needs consistency, boundaries and someone to show they care.

I didn’t assume, I read the posts that said TA worked 35 hour weeks.

Also, I didn’t include the unpaid overtime - I included average hours. Our sector companies rarely have set hours for salary paid staff less that 55-60 hours.

Because we have groups of children that we teach. Could be maths, phonics, life skills, anything - we have to plan, deliver and review.

The child was removed to the Deputy Head's office where they enjoyed crisps, chocolate and a Pop Tart, whilst watching cartoons on an iPad...no, I'm not joking!!

Really surprised by that
I thought the low pay was because you only 'assisted' without having to actually cone up with content.

So did I before I got into the job...in our setting the teacher plans the same amount as the assistants, but we get no credit for our planning (which is done in our own time, not school time)

Why on earth do you stay in this job?!

in our setting the teacher plans the same amount as the assistants

That isn’t the case in schools I’ve taught in-our TAs generally work 8.45-12 or 8.45-3.15 and do a lunch duty. They work with groups/individuals in the classroom following the activity the class teacher plans-they don’t have to plan anything themselves.