Teaching Assistants excluded from class Christmas present

[LyricalBoudicca]

Class representative organised the traditional Christmas whip-round to buy vouchers for the teacher with a % given to the rest of the school staff community to save teachers/staff being inundated with lots of gifts. This year they have announced that the 2 TAs in the class will not be included in the voucher gifting because they only work with 2 SEN children and not the rest of the class. AIBU in thinking this is a bit mean? Nobody has to take part of course but I feel rather uncomfortable about the whole situation.

That's really shitty, especially bearing in mind how little TAs get paid.

That is absolutely horrible!!!! My TA is a GODSEND, and regardless of where parents perceive their efforts are mostly put towards, they will work bloody hard and deserve recognition as well! Either presents for all, or presents for no one. Picking and choosing is awful!

Wouldn't the parents of the children they work directly with get them a present?

out of 30 they only engage with two children?

perhaps a box of chocolates or something but certainly not remotely same as other TAs and Teachers. i’d hope the parents of the SEN children would get them something

are they there permanently if only for 2 SEN children? are they 1-2-1?

In all my years as a 1:1 ta I've never just worked with the 1:1 child!

The other children the TAs don’t actually help are still benefitting from the TA though, if they weren’t there the teacher would be spread much thinner and the children the TA don’t interact with would have much less of the teachers time and attention.

I think that is mean, they should be included and acknowledged and they probably do help the others inadvertently

I expect it's the same parents who think it's acceptable to leave the kids with SEN out of the class party.

That's really tight.

i’d hope the parents of the SEN children would get them something

Maybe. But families with children who have SEND are far more likely to be living in poverty than those without, so they might not be able to afford it.

If you're being excluded, they should be doing something specifically for you. Contributing to SEN children's education is just as important.

🎁🎁

op - would i be correct in thinking one of the SEN children is your child?

given on another thread you say both your children have 1-2-1 TA SEN support

Petty and pathetic

At my dc's school all the money is pooled equally between the staff and then people can give individual gifts if they wish, which seems fairer.

I can see the viewpoint that if you are only gifting those who support your dc it doesn't particularly make sense to gift another dc's one to one. But ultimately it seems a bit mean.

That’s pretty rubbish! My TA is dedicated to one child but she’s brilliant and often works with small groups and the whole class, depending on the lesson.

Have you suggested that some of the money could be spent on a box of chocolates for them?

My daughter has a 1-1 and she is solely for her, so I buy her present otherwise she wouldn’t be included. I however do not contribute to the class pool because of this.

That’s tight.

I don’t believe that these one to ones only interact with the child that they are assigned to.

Even if they did, their work helps keep the classroom calmer for everyone so should be thanked as much as a whole class TA who also won’t be interacting with everyone equally.

@BoohooWoohoo it depends on the situation. My DDs 1-1 interacts as in talks to them especially at playtime’s as she helps DD participate with them and play. But she does not help them in anyway / do group sessions or apart of anyone else’s school day other than DD. So the parents don’t really know her.

I’m a 1:1 TA for a child with additional needs. In the last week I’ve heard at least 10 children read, patched up several grazed knees, helped sew Christmas stockings, sorted out disagreements and completed concern forms for pupils that aren’t ‘mine’. I don’t know a single 1:1 TA that only works with one specific child.

This is a difficult one. I can see why parents don’t feel the need to contribute towards a present for a staff member that doesn’t work with their child, especially at an already expensive time. Gifts for school staff are usually given in appreciation of the work someone has put in to your own child’s care and education so there’s not much point in being thankful to staff who don’t work with them.

TA’s and 1-1s are paid a pittance, but 1-1s usually get the SEN bonus in their wage so at least they are already being paid more. Although it might not feel very nice not to be included, I think presents for 1-1 staff should come from the family of the child they are supporting.

There is definitely an underlying attitude there that I would raise my eyebrows at.

Would put money on the TAs being used for the rest of the class even when they're not supposed to.

Anyone who thinks that 1:1 support work solely with that child is completely wrong.

Yes

They don't wear blinkers like a horse