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.

My TA was a qualified teacher but as she was a TA not a HLTA she didn't cover classes, that's why she became a TA rather than a HLTA.

Part of a HLTAs role now is to cover classes, and that's what it is, covering. It's not fair but if they paid HLTAs teacher pay for covering, all teachers would decide to become HLTAs because it's less responsibility. I might even be tempted to go back into education if they did that!

@DyslexicPoster That would be on the shoulders of the poor class teacher - she is expected to provide different work for them in every lesson so they can (sort of) access something.

What % of TAs / HLTAs are women I wonder? Sounds like more exploitation of women.

@Coolhwip I have only met one male TA in my entire 20 year career.

if they paid HLTAs teacher pay for covering, all teachers would decide to become HLTAs because it's less responsibility. I might even be tempted to go back into education if they did that!

Absolutely! Delivering lessons is probably about 30-40% of the job and the nicest part of it at that! I’d be full time HLTA on a teacher wage if I could just teach and mark! Even with planning!

This is not an uncommon problem. I was in the same position op.

The problem is that the hlta job description and responsibilities are wooly. It doesn't specify how much time you should teach or what constitutes planning and assessment alongside the teacher rather than for. I remember this from my last role. I was used for two terms as class teacher I'm the sats. Had to do all the assessments, collaborators with other schools twilight's etc on an hlta rate.
When they went for a third term (September so I'd be likely stuck as class's teacher for a year) I said they'd need to pay me my band. They refused so I said no, just regular PPA over then.

Of course they then offered the MALE teachers rate for taking that class and he was on a HIGHER BAND than me. I contacted my union and they were useless (money well spent).

So sympathy but I think realistically you can only keep repeating what you willing do and quibbling about what your role is, but since the law is wooly and unions don't back you, what can you do?

Of course they then offered the MALE teachers rate for taking that class and he was on a HIGHER BAND than me. I contacted my union and they were useless (money well spent).

Bastards.

Not surprising.

I refuse to do HLTA teacher cover for TA rates. I am a qualified teacher. I would state that you want teacher rates for teaching. Leave if they refuse.

@BringMeTea But is there a difference now between the roles of HLTA and TA?

In my secondary school the HLTA do not cover teacher absences, the cover supervisors and supply teachers do that job.
Would you consider swapping to secondary?

@Caterpillargirl23 I'm not comfortable with teaching in secondary, having taught in primary all of my working life. What do your HLTAs do if they don't cover?

Have just asked a friend and they don’t have any HLTAs in her secondary-it’s just CS for cover and some TAs who support 1:1 or run interventions.

I am a qualified teacher who used to work as a TA/HLTA. When just carrying out TA duties in the mornings I was paid one rate (minimum wage), then HLTA rate (11.40 something) in the afternoons during which time I covered PPA.

I wasn't doing a teacher's full job, hence not getting a teacher's full wage.

@LorlieS
They support in lessons with a teacher, plus they have a few small timetabled classes-low ability year 7s generally.
One of our HTLAs is a qualified teacher, the others started as TAs in the school.
It's better pay than the cover supervisors but not as good as the teacher's pay.
We have one in Maths, English and Science.

I was just a regular TA and often covered class.
I gave it up.

@LyricalGangsta What do you do now?

Work in the office

The school office

Sadly in some cases, noone. The government has cut school funding to the bone and these are the consequences.

Agree.

The LEA aren’t meeting their legal obligation of finalising EHCPs within 20 weeks either. Everything is falling apart.

@LorlieS I do supply but only want to do TA supply. Sometimes they ask me to do cover supervisor role for the TA pay but I just say no. I appreciate you are working in the school full time so it's different. I fundamentally disagree with TAs delivering lessons so won't go along with it. I am VERY lucky that I don't need full time hours so can take or leave what the agency offer.
If I were you I would certainly be stating my case and leaving if they don't pay you teacher rate. Plus, it's not what you enjoy!

Thanks all. I've seen a mat cover teaching job advertised - two days a week. I imagine they'll be after a newly qualified, but worth a look?

1 or 2 lessons - OK as HTLA
Full days, repeatedly - should be paid at teacher rate

School have set a precedent for this, which makes it harder to withdraw.
Talk to your union rep and make a formal issue of it as early as possible this term.

Alternatively you could leave and do agency work as it suits you - probably 3 days/week would equal your HLTA salary and you'd just deliver cover provided.

That sounds interesting-good luck.

ECTs aren’t quite so popular with schools now as they require a really heavy mentoring load and lots of release time. That doesn’t mean the job will pay you much above M1 though, sadly.