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.

Thats not strictly true as it would be possible to pay someone at unqualified teacher rate.

Its irrelevant that you’re a qualified teacher when you’re doing the job of an HLTA.

Capability and experience doesn’t really make much difference. Good TAs who are worth their weight in gold and useless TAs who need to be guided and instructed through their job get paid the same.

YANBU, at all. It’s all about eroding the rates of pay for trained professionals

Doctors are also finally waking up to this issue with the advent of Physician Associates.

Well, that's your answer, I guess

I think the fact you are a qualified teacher may be a bit of a red herring. Key point is you shouldn't be doing more than your current HLTA role. So, if a normal HLTA wouldn't do eg class planning, then you shouldn't be expected to do it either

You don’t need to be HLTA to cover classes. I was doing it long before I did the hlta course.

@TinyYellow The simple reality is I do above and beyond what an HLTA does and can do. This isn't putting down anyone who isn't qualified, but I do.

Heads can use TAs. They can also call anyone an HLTA if they want to, there’s no national accreditation that they have to have done. If the head thinks they can do cover, they can use them.

@Redlocks28 They are not permitted to call anyone an HLTA, I'm certain of that.

This is from The Key:-

What happens to the children with EHC plans when you are removed from assisting them 1 to 1 them to teach classes?

Surely with the way schools are you would be pretty much guaranteed work as a supply teacher? In my school, there are many supply teachers that are very longterm and they often have their own class for a couple of years. Many more covering regularlyvand occasionally. Our supplies pick and choose where and when they work. Re: HLTA'S, we have 2 who have their own classes. I thought the higher pay rate was to cover the extra resoinbilites. All of the HLTA'S i have worked with over thr years were fantastic teachers, better in some instances than some of the fully qualified teachers.

@Bbq1 A lot of schools are no longer using supply as using TAs is far, far cheaper. I can't risk not working, even for a week really.

It's my understanding level 3 can cover with pre-planned work.
In my primary, HLTA's are first point of call for cover, some also take (and plan!) a lesson on a regular basis, whilst covering PPA. So planning and marking on HLTA pay.
I'm not sure what you do specifically, but based on your original OP you sound lucky to be receiving HLTA pay for your day to day role - that description of role is again, undertaken by level 3 staff in my school. Level 2 if it's only with one year group. All parties seemingly happy 🤷🏼‍♀️

I get your point but maybe it is at the stage now where you need to decide if it would be better to go back to teaching and be paid for it. If you need to get childcare, factor it into your decision. Your school is not doing anything wrong by allocating a HLTA to classes.

Also are you sure that you could earn more as a supply teacher? When I did it through an agency I found the rate per day quite low.

@Alicehatter They plan interventions, individual lessons and carry out assessments with no teacher input? Seriously?
HLTAs should not be expected to mark nor plan.

I've been a supply teacher for years now and it's a whole different ball game now.

Everything is awful.

I'm going in to classes on day to day where there is no teacher because they resigned and they can't get proper cover. No work because nobody is responsible for that class.

Endless classes being covered by TAs. Like you say, often with no support.

Your school are using you, but this is the same for so many HLTAs and it's becoming increasingly more common.

Yep, always been the case! It annoys me too that this happens, because it's the teachers responsibility to teach - I absolutely do not want to be a teacher and therefore should never be asked to plan anything, mark, assess or record keep in my opinion (seems you have the same opinion) but it absolutely happens. Not sure what the answer is, when you've got staff that will outright refuse but others that will do it.

Something tells me if you were a male teacher they wouldn’t pull this shit.

Please stand up for yourself.

Either demand the teacher rate or go back to being a teacher on a teacher’s salary.

@Coolhwip I put in a claim for teacher rate but they just refused it.

Is what they’re doing illegal? Are you part of a union.

You need to be in a teaching union, presumably you are still fully GTC registered and keep you PU upto date. If not then the school has no business to be using you to teach. Contact your union or a teaching union who will advise. Make sure you are also in a general workers union for your other work and ask them to advise for future situations. This would not happen where I work in the UK but I am not in England.

@PTSDBarbiegirl No longer any GTC. What they are doing is perfectly legal unfortunately.

I work in Special Education as a TA. The Ta's are generally very experienced, with lots of expertise. However, a TA is never left in charge of a class. There HAS to be a teacher present. It's a bugbear because often there will be a teacher who just sits there watching the Ta's do everything. Having said that my school is currently using supply Ta's and Teachers. I would say it's about 65% employed staff and 35% suppy atm, possibly more. Would you be interested in working in Special Education?

Did you see my post from The Key? There’s no longer a National Accreditation and heads can decide for themselves who is an HLTA. There is guidance as to what they ‘may’ look for but can choose who they like and call them an HLTA. My last school had two that had no TA qualifications and only a handful of GCSEs between them.

@Redlocks28 Well how worrying is that if such people are being put in charge of teaching classes independently?
No wonder education is in such a complete mess.

I feel so angry on your behalf! What a ridiculous system. So unfair. I saw this a lot in England, it doesn't happen in Scotland. It shouldn't happen anywhere!