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.

No! That's not how it works. 1:1 is to enable the child to be part of the class- to support them within class, to enable the teacher to support others, and to foster the child's independence but be there when support is needed. 1:1 is not someone who is glued to a child the entire day, refusing to speak to the rest of the class. SEN children often need help to be interactive with the other children. How can you do that without engaging the other children? Do you think when I am sat around a table of 5 year olds to support a child that I ignore the rest of the table and don't help if they are struggling, or remind them to concentrate, or sharpen their pencils, remind them of their task, or have a conversation about their work, their weekend, praise their good efforts, tell them off if they are messing around, comfort those that might get upset over something etc. etc. Do you you not think the SEN child might be in need of interactive games involving others, and that that benefits all those playing? And the list could go on!

It's awful TA's are brilliant,

My son's 121 is like you, although I have no issues people knowing she's ours and we don't mind sharing. I don't know obviously what she gets but I'd like to think it's the same. Kids have had her in class since Reception, now Year 4. There will be a bloody riot is she moves class before the kids have for high school 😂 we love her. They're all only getting a box of chocs, but they all get the same box.. she'll never be"just" anything apart from ours

That's just nasty. I bet those TAs have helped out each and every child there. A one to one also helps children like my DS who didn't have an ehcp but required a lot of support. They are assigned to a single child by budget allocation but that's not all they do.

Do those parents have any idea how hard it would be for their child if the child with additional needs didn’t have a 1:1?
I’ve taught in classes where the 1:1 was absent and the child was present, and it’s a lot tougher for everyone. Yes, the TA might be for a specific child, but everyone benefits.

Small minded and nasty, no need.

I am a 1 to 1 and I definitely don’t get any extra pay for it and neither does anyone else I know. I work in a mainstream school with a v volatile child. I am sure I have read the SEN allowance is more commonly given in a special school than mainstream. However, although my 1 to 1 is my priority, I daily help a wide range of children in that class and others. The teacher would devote far far less time to the others if I wasn’t there. I don’t know any 1 to 1 who is solely with 1 child 100%

Having a 121 on an EHCP is quite rare. Out of all the EHCP we have I can think of only 1 child where it is stipulated. Our EHCPs stipulate a lot of interventions that need TA support some of which can and are managed with other children but they don’t stipulate 121 support alone for the sake of it part time let alone full time. Other parents won’t know what is on any EHCP or IEP because it is nothing to do with them so I’m intrigued to know how they appear to be so informed of the set up as regards TA provision. TAs do a multitude of things from taking groups, doing IEP and EHCP interventions, supporting whole class activities, preparation, play and lunch time duties, first aid, admin, behaviour support( so teachers can focus on the whole class)….

So glad our school doesn’t do collective presents like that It must put pressure on parents. Christmas presents for teachers and TAs are nice but not necessary.

I have never, in the years I've worked in a school, only ever 'just' looked after my allocated SEN kids. Regardless of whether I've been 1-1 or 3-1 I have always helped out with the other children in the class. We all muck in where we can and support one another. Having 3 SEN kids is far more challenging that being a general TA of a class of 27 😆🤣.

This is a shitty way of basically saying you're not important to us, take some sick and I'm sure they will see how incredibly import your role is.

I think that's awful. The whole class is benefiting from those TAs being in the class. Small group work, resolving issues, being a trusted safe adult to the other children, preparing resources, photocopying, popping to other classes when things are needed, helping whole class activities etc The list goes on.

I bet the receiving teacher would be really embarrassed and feel very awkward. Shocking IMO

What 1:1 bonus? They are generally paid less than T. A’s. Must be an urban myth amongst parents. Senco’s get an allowance, not support staff.

Support staff in school will get between 43-45 weeks pay over 12 months. They work extra hours for nothing. T. A’s lead in the class when teachers are on courses, meetings or planning. Nativity Performances in the evening, not paid. Preparation for Ofsted, not paid.coming in early for school trips not paid.
Parents give lavish gifts to well paid teachers and the Head( who they never see).
Support staff in class know your child better than teaching staff.

What did you give with the % given to the rest of the school staff community? If it was a combined gift for all staff then the TA would have been included in this?

DC have multiple staff in their school who are involved in their care plus subject specialist teachers so their class collection is usually a voucher for class teacher plus breakfast/lunch delivered to school for all staff on last week. This ensures all staff are included in the larger share of collection and something extra for the main teacher. If the 1:1 TAs have been similarly included, I don’t see this as a big deal but if excluded entirely, it’s definitely not fair

I totally agree it's not the norm. I just wanted to state that it does actually happen as a lot of people are saying that it never does.

It’s also a bit crap if there’s a TA for the rest of the class, and the SEND parents have put in to the gifts that get shared between the teacher and class TA, but then have to buy a separate gift for the 1:1 who otherwise would get nothing.

Agreed. There are some children who don't have targets of integrating with the rest of the class because it would simply be impossible. They have targets that are relevant to their specific needs. As special school places become fewer and fewer, whilst this might not be the norm it is also far from unheard of.

I'm pleased to say this isn't the case where I work and do think there has been something of a change of mindset to unpaid extra hours over the past decade, which I hope spreads to all schools. Our TAs work their hours. Only an HLTA would cover a class, as is part of their job role, and this is very rare (once every 12 weeks say). Teacher courses are next to non-existent now anyway. Our TAs are paid on residential and don't come to evening performances. They would certainly be working for less than minimum wage if they did and it's a practice that should be discouraged.

I am a 1-1 TA BUT if my child is settled I go around the other children helping them
At break time I do duties with all children
At lunch time I help all children
I look for missing kit for all children
I offer a shoulder to cry on or a hug to all children
I listen to all parents who want to ask questions at drop off
We are part of the team
I'm in Year 6

Ps I don't get paid any more than the class TA either !

This isn’t really true, maybes in some authorities, but my LA abolished the SEN allowance, then our new HT dropped our grade so we are now lower than the class TA! However, the majority of us work as a class TA with the extra responsibilities of a 1:1.

I’ve been with my current class for 3 years now and a lot of the children turn to me for help. I take group interventions, I work with the whole table that my 1:1 sits on and once that table has finished and my 1:1 has everything they need I then go round the class helping the rest of the children.

I’ve been a 1:1 since I started this career and only ever gotten gifts off my current 1:1 and one other. Other parents have been kind enough to think of me at Christmas etc. Although I don’t do the job for the gifts, it’s still very disheartening when I witness other staff get lots of gifts and I get nothing when I’ve worked my arse off sometimes more than the class TAs that are receiving the gifts.

TAs whether 1:1 or Class TAs are invaluable to the Teacher. I’ve been told that without me, my class teachers school day is a lot harder. TAs are not respected or valued enough. We are all paid a pittance. I love my job, but unfortunately in the next few years I’ll have to move on as the wage just isn’t good enough.

That’s a really shorty thing to do. She sounds like the kind of person who would leave out any SEN child too.

How does she think the teacher would mange without the TAs? How does she think the children would be impacted without the TAs

As a teacher I'm in a luxurious position of having a class TA and. 1-1 for a specific child.

However within our class community there is very little difference between them.

They both hear readers of all abilities. They both work with groups of children (the 1-1 obviously has her child in her group).

They both tell me things they've noticed about how children have come in in the morning if they think I missed it.

They both do break/lunch duties

They both run small groups in the afternoons (again the 1-1 focuses on her child but others can benefit from similar work).

The 1-1 also recognises the need for a bit of independence. That it's exhausting having an adult with you all day making sure you listen and complete the work. If you think of a child who doesn't work with a 1-1 they will have little chats while doing their learning about other things. A child with an adult next to them doesn't get that brain break.
If not left to do some things Independently, they will never develop that skill.

Both my TA and 1-1 have stepped in and done whole class teaching across our whole year group (we have 4 classes) when the teacher hasn't been able to.

They are a godsend and not paid nearly enough for everything they do.

I would feel mortified if they were excluded in this situation.

It's absolute bollocks all of it. Of course they don't just work with 2 children. As a one to one yes these children will be their main focus but of course the other children don't realise you are a 1 to 1 TA do they and still ask you for help with things, distract you from things etc. Also many 1 to 1's will still be doing group interventions with the other children including their 1 to 1. There is really no need for all the teacher gifts it all gets a bit ridiculous.
Think about the lunchtime staff who are in every day supporting and supervising children who are also involved in helping children learn, managing behaviour, comforting when their hurt, providing first aid etc, often a thankless task. There are so many staff in school as well as teachers that help and support the children. As someone who has worked as a TA, 1 to 1 and dinner lady cards and pictures from the children is more than enough for me. I don't expect any presents and I don't think teachers do either. I think there is a lot of misconceptions out there.

I always bought for every member of staff in my daughters class because in one way or another they helped her, I started my journey as a- TA last year as a 1-1. Not only do I help with him I also help out with the whole class. The class TA went on sick last year and the supply took on the role as 1-1 and I switched to class TA as the class knew my face. This year I’m still 1-1 with the child but still do reading etc with the rest of class and stick things in books and wall displays b4 the children come in, so u might see someone as just a 1-1 but you don’t realise how valuable they are.

Anyone who thinks a 1 to 1 NEVER just works with one child is wrong. We have several children where I work for whom the 1 to 1 has to be totally dedicated to them. Not all, of course. (Mainstream school but renowned for SEN provision, admittedly).

As a parent I often didn't contribute to the class gift if there was one, or bought my own as well, because my children wanted to buy gifts for particular staff. I don't think anyone should feel obligated to buy or to contribute if they don't want to.

A box of cheap chocolates won't compensate for a low salary - which TAs have CHOSEN to have - that is patronising. Plus I work with several qualified teachers who have chosen to work as TAs due to the stress (for them) of the teaching role.

A card or letter saying thank you is much more personal anyway. As for the organiser of the collection- speak up if you feel they have left staff out unfairly. It's your money so you should have a say.

I have just experienced this. Self appointed ‘collections manager’ shot me down when I asked if the other TA (who is not a 1-2-1 but currently has happened to be assigned mainly to two additional needs children) would be included, and she came back on the group chat and declared that it would only be for the teacher and the main TA. I declined to take part in the main collection and ended up spending more than double so she would not be left out. It makes me so angry and sad. 30 x £10 (roughly), for the teacher and one TA, and you can’t divide some up for another valued member of staff who also massively benefits your own children?