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.

1-1s don't require SEN experience. Now I've never heard of them receiving a SEN bonus but maybe some do.

It's usually not much more than min wage but a lot of responsibility.

This is why I send in my own gifts rather than contribute to a collection. Each person knows how much I have valued their support.

My sons 1-1 is also used as a whole class TA when he's doing independent work or group work with another member of staff.

In some LAs they actually get a lower grade because they don't take responsibility for groups of children at a time. It's a shockingly underpaid job.

On the face of it, it seems really mean but I think it depends on whether the TA's being left out are 1:1 with dedicated children or are SEN TA's for the whole class (ie they work mostly with the children who have SEN but serve as a TA's for the whole class)

Sadly most TA's seem to have had "SEN" added to their job title and have to continue to look after the whole class as well as carving out a way to serve the kids with SEN. At least this seems to be the case at my school and I'd object loudly and wholeheartedly if it was ever suggested the TA was to be left out of any my kids class collections.

It's fucking diabolical how much TA's are expected to do and how little they are paid. Every class should have a TA, a trained SEN TA and 1:1's as required. Many SEN TA's aren't even properly trained.

I have never ever known a TA to get an SEND bonus! But I do know 1:1s who really work only with the child they're attached to funding wise. The TA in my classroom doesn't hear readers or similar and is very often not even in the classroom. Having said that, I'd rather she was included in any presents!

@Lougle also I believe that sometimes when a SEN child leaves, the job is over for that TA. It was the case for one of our TAs unfortunately.

So not great job security either.

I think these people are really mean spirited and creating an unnecessary division.

Yeah, it's awful. As others have said, even a 1-2-1 TA works with others kids when needed. Also, being there to support one child does mean that other TAs and the teacher have slightly less on their plate and they can spend more time with the other kids, so they do benefit indirectly.

I think it's mean. When my DDs were at school the money was split between the teacher and TAs including any who were 121.

You have now, I am one of them.

Really mean spirited to do this IMO. My DS’s class has some 1-2-1’s but realistically they are involved with the class as a whole.

I gave them all a gift, they are just as deserving as the “main” teacher and get paid a pittance.

Just awful. What horrible people. Everyone knows just how little TAs get paid. And also that the schools take advantage of the 1:1 funding to have an extra class TA which ultimately benefits the whole class.

Ta's at least in my area are rarely ever 1 on 1 even if on paper more like up to 14 + their main one on one plus anyone that has struggles and EAL and usually any other emotional / social issues that arise with the whole class. On the flip side I buy my kids LSA's their own gifts.

Same has happened this year at my kids school. Previous the TA has been included though a smaller cut of the pot. This year however it’s been decided (not by me) it’s all going to the teacher as the TA now only works with one child. I can see both sides. Not saying she doesn’t work hard but if I were buying gifts purely from myself I’d just get one from the teacher. The TA doesn’t even interact with my child ever. But if it were my decision I’d probably split the money 80/20 so she got something

The TAs only work with the 2 SEN children, as if

TAs are there primarily to work with the SEN children but if there's a child (any child) struggling in any way (for whatever reason, upset cos relative/pet has died, best friend fallen out with them, victim of bullying etc etc) you can bet it's the TA that is most likely dealing with it. Think of a class full of children and how often that happens (daily).

(TA here)

I think that's really nasty, DS has TAs in his class that are 1:1s for other children but he still gets them a little present (a kinder egg every year...) because they're an important part of the classroom. It's a way of not only excluding the TAs but also othering the parents of the children who require TA support imo :(

My ds had 1:1 TAs at school - normally a different TA in the morning and afternoon. They often worked with other children in the class and provided group interventions which included my ds but weren't solely for him. Yes they were there for ds but they weren't glued to him (in fact it was important they weren't to allow him to develop more independence). We bought them gifts but they were always included in class gifts and were seen as much part of the class staff as other TAs teachers. It's really horrible to exclude them from the class gifts and it makes you wonder what the hell is wrong with some people.

Those who do give TA gifts, thank you, its really appreciated

That’s awful . TAs working with SEN children allow the teacher to devote more time to the other children in the class. I hate the fact that TAs are treated as second class citizens in general. Many of them are fantastic and some are even better than the class teacher - yes I’ve witnessed it first hand!

Wow.
Some parents astound me.

Happy fucking meanie Christmas.

As a teacher I’d be embarrassed to receive a gift from the class while a TA I worked with got nothing. In fact that did happen one year (and she wasn’t even a 1:1 TA!!) - one class she supported didn’t even get her a card. I felt really awkward. I offered to share my gift voucher with her but she wasn’t bothered by the money (though I know she’s not well off by any stretch), it was the fact not one parent had noticed she existed or valued her contribution. I know she was gutted. The other class got her a present she would never use (wine when she doesn’t drink) but she didn’t care because it was the sentiment that mattered.

I agree it's unkind. Everyone benefits from these pupils having a 1:1 TA

Hardly in the spirit of the season... do these people never stop to consider how these TAs will feel? Horrible.

Yeah that’s really mean and disrespectful.

Sadly I suspect they do which is why they do it, they also must know it'll make the parents of the children with TAs feel shitty.