HLTA (qualified teacher) being used as cover

[LorlieS]

Posted in Education but no traffic...

AIBU to feel miffed about this?

I'm a qualified teacher with 20 years' experience but stepped down from class teaching about five years ago as workload was ridiculous and I wasn't having any time with my own children. I'm now working as an HLTA, specialising in supporting children with EHCPs. Love it. Hard work for appalling pay but it's my "thing." I take responsibility of interventions (both 1:1 and group) and ensuring work on EHCP targets is undertaken. Feels great to have autonomy whilst (hopefully) making a difference and I really get to know the children I work with.

However, it's a huge primary I work in and I find I am being pulled away from my job more and more to cover classes for staff absences. Very rarely with a TA and full class of 30. High SEN needs in all classes.

I used to get paid my teacher rate for such cover but now with budgets being what they are I dont; I am just paid my normal HLTA rate.

School loathe to get supply in as expensive.

I was a HLTA for a few years, this was normal.

@TinyYellow Have you gone back to teaching now?

Already posted on other thread. If doing the teacher role but without the pay then time to resign as an HLTA and go back into teaching so you are actually paid in line with the role you are doing.

YANBU but this is so common at the moment. In my school we have two HLTA’s (two form entry Primary) and they are constantly teaching to cover absence/training. It’s unfair that you don’t get paid a better rate for it.

In schools I've worked in it has always been the norm for HLTA's to cover classes for their normal rate. That's not to say I think it's fair, but I certainly don't think its unusual.

What does your contract say re rates of pay when acting as a cover teacher for a class?

Have you discussed with your union rep?

This is what HLTAs are used for in every school I’ve worked in since the Conservatives have been in power. It’s terrible but if you agree to do it, it will continue.

There is no way in hell I would be teaching a class unless I was being paid as a teacher.

I'm a secondary school science HLTA and I have my own class of year 7s and also cover up to year 9

Staff shortages are a nightmare

Say no OP. They are using you as they know you are well qualified and they should be paying you teacher rates.
I know in some schools HLTAs are used to 'cover' classes but this is not the same as teaching as work should be set etc and they are there in a supervisory capacity.
If you are teaching you should be paid for teaching.

@Redlocks28 I think my issue is I'm a qualified teacher? If they got me in as supply I'd be paid a much better rate. Can't go supply though as income not guaranteed and I need to be able to pay my rent!

You bring a qualified teacher isn’t really relevant @LorlieS. In my experience this is part of the role of HLTA, a role you have chosen to do. Yes, the school is lucky you have more experience but they aren’t giving you the cover on that basis.

@DewHopper They're arguing that because the work is planned (loosely) it's HLTA rate. I used to get paid my teacher rate for it but been told no money in budget now for that.
I really don't want to sound like I'm blowing my own trumpet here, but I do feel like the classes do benefit from the fact that I'm qualified with 20 years' experience and certainly teach fully comprehensive lessons of all core subjects. My other HLTA colleagues do nowhere near as much cover at nowhere near the same level.

When you are covering is it pre set work? If it is and it's only odd days then you should get supply rate. If you are taking on the planning and marking then you should get full teacher rate.

Think you might need to chat to business manager/ head about it.

Yep, it’s crap and I wouldn’t do it. Either teach or go and do something else completely different-working as support staff in school is terrible currently, they are used as cover and paid peanuts.

@Redlocks28 I can't teach due to the working hours and having a toddler. No idea what else I can do whilst still paying the rent?

Yes, many schools can’t afford supply so are getting cover wherever they can at the lowest cost they can. We have TAs covering v classes-they aren’t HLTAs or qualified teachers but our budget is such that we have a ban on supply but need to cover illness somehow. The deputy and head are already in class. If they could afford to pay for supply/qualified teachers at their rate, they would.

@Redlocks28 I didn't know TAs were allowed to cover classes? Thought you had to be an HLTA. Wowser.

What would happen if you said no?

@Hmindr68 I imagine that would be breach of contract?

Is there a sweeper in your contract about “reasonable requests” for other work etc.

Do you think they’d actually let you go? Or would it be the catalyst for them to address it differently?

@Hmindr68 Union have advised that yes, HLTAs can be used to cover classes. They can ask me to do this on HLTA psy even though I'm a qualified teacher.

No I’m not a teacher. The school was happy to let someone unqualified teach alone. My longest stint was three weeks and as it’s part of the hlta contract to cover when needed it didn’t come with extra money.

I'm pretty sure you don't need any sort of qualification to be a cover supervisor (I'm in secondary- they are basically in house supply)

@TinyYellow I understand so think you've missed my point? Of course you won't get paid any more if you are not a qualified teacher.

@GreyhpundGirl I'm pretty sure in primary you need to have a HLTA qualification as a minimum in order to cover classes.