To think most people have no idea how little HLTAs/Teaching Assistants earn?

[LorlieS]

Anybody want to hazard a guess at the average monthly income of a ft HLTA/TA?

It really is quite shocking!

No, not at all.

They don’t just stand and dumb down my content for me. They are far more valuable than that.

They usually work under my direction; but some (who I have known for a while) self direct too.

They bring a completely different role to the classroom. They might be supporting a child who has a physical disability (for example, I had one who scribed for a boy with cerebral palsy who could understand everything; but writing was difficult) - they might be there to facilitate with making a classroom accessible (eg moving desks, holding doors, even assisting with toileting/changing)
They may be there to assist with behaviour management.
They may be there to help kids who have additional support needs like dyslexia - so they may scribe some of the child’s answers.
They might be there to help with a child who has ADHD and may need additional prompts.
They might be there to help with a child with autism who could be a flight risk.

They might even just help me hand things out/tidy up; but that is a minor part of their job and not an expectation on my part!

Well, of course. That's second nature to us. But we're still not the ones planning the lesson content, marking exercise books, etc.

Honestly though, it depends on the teacher. Only the very best tend to bother differentiating Otherwise they just leave it to us.

I'm SLT in school (mental health) and our TAs (called something else) earn £19000.

That's actually not too bad. I wonder why the vast differences in wages/school budgets.

If all the looked down at jobs with shitty wages were left by their staff for better paid work, everything would crumble in society. The answer is better pay and conditions in all this work. Championed by the very rich that don't do much - as evidenced on another thread about highly paid people.

Yup, I'd support that idea for sure. And it would give us something to aim for, as there is an absolute absence of career progression in the role.

I was once told by a pupil that I’m the only one of their teachers who gives them resources on Google classroom. Which is IMO the bare minimum level of differentiation.
Differentiation shouldn’t even be extra work for the teacher if it’s done right.

It would also be fairer on the well-qualified among us.

@0rangeCrush

Agreed. And differentiation for a dyslexic pupil, for example, can benefit the whole class!

@0rangeCrush

"they don't just stand there and dumb down my content for me".

Can I ask whether you have a background in sen?
A child with dyslexia will need a lot more support than merely writing down answers.
A child with adhd or autism will need far more support to access work than physical help.

To be honest I can't imagine anything more valuable than an experienced ta with sen training changing your work into a format the child understands!

What an interesting discussion, by the way. Thank you everyone. It's also nice to have our voices heard!

I do all those things as a class teacher.

Yes, I have extensive work as an ASN teacher (communication unit, special needs base in mainstream school, and a specialist school for a particular kind of SEN)

There are plenty of jobs where the pay doesn't reflect the work 🤷‍♀️

It's a choice for you as a person - you either do it or find something else.

If enough people leave then they'll up the wages - but it's the opposite, lots want the job because of the holidays.

You could always temp in the school holidays if money is an issue?

Look at all the holiday they get!!!
they get paid for 52 weeks of the year, yet have 15/16 weeks off!!!

So temp in the holidays?

At the end of the day most choose these jobs FOR the holidays, it either suits with family life or they're happy to have the time off.

To support children with dyslexia I discuss each children’s particular needs and then tailor their resources, for example (from one of my classes)
child 1: comic sans size 12 double spaced printed notes, all resources posted on Google classroom
child 2: Chromebook available; doesn’t write any notes down but is given electronic copies. No change in font.
child 3: trebuchet ms, normal font size and spacing, blue paper, doesn’t like to use a computer, 25% extra time for assessments
child 4: only extra time. Frequent jotter checks so I pick up any obvious errors but mostly copes well.

My PowerPoints are all dyslexia friendly (blue background, not overcrowded, trebuchet 24 point double spaced)

They don't get 15 -16 weeks holiday paid @Bertiesmum3 . That is the whole point . They get paid for term time only plus holidays pro rata.

The hours are good for parents - mothers of course. But it is appalling pay for important work. And little to no career progression or recognition. I wonder if the rubbish pay and conditions is somehow linked to the fact that women have generally worked as TAs. 🤔
Hats off to all school staff. Whatever they pay you , it is not enough. Thanks for all you do💐

😂😂😂😂

Wrong love, I only get paid for 44 weeks , which is a pretty good deal from what I've heard.

It's only in primary that tas cover ppa at all and usually that would be an hlta as normal tas can't cover.
In secondary there is a role called cover supervisor which is sort of in between paid 22 to 27k ish. They basically babysit classes either delivering teacher set work or behaviour management while the kids do the worksheet / google classroom. Obviously should be able to help with the resources there as top is gcse, a level classes don't get covered just set work to do independently.

I don't know any PSAs who don't go above and beyond, every single day. I do. I work these days with some very challenging, vulnerable teens. Police involvement, criminal activity, social work involvement, drugs, alcohol, etc.
The other day, one of our boys was kicking off because the barber (not his usual!) had completely messed up his hair. He had his hood up and was refusing to go to class, as his mates would take the piss. Granted, it was a real hatchet job. It was all I could do not to laugh when I saw his crooked fringe
A quick phone call from me to his usual barber, and he was fitted in for after school. For free, because mum wouldn't give him any more money. He was back in class the next day, crisis averted, everyone happy.
It is very much a case of in loco parentis, nowadays anyway.
I genuinely care so much. Although all jobs are valuable and supermarket workers are wonderful, I doubt they're paid to care that much.

The other thing is, I work 8.10 - 3.30 each day. This is classed as a part-time role. In a school! I mean, what else would I need to do for it to be full-time?! There are no other options.

Fucking hell, read the full thread why don't you

Well done for getting in, (unfortunately) there will be so much work once you are qualified as mental health is so bad across all the ages for so many.

Be careful with a counselling qualification-I know several teachers who have left to do this. It’s a long and expensive route to being qualified, as you need so many paid hours of supervision yourself. When qualified, the overheads required to make it an ongoing business concern are high and, unless you have an office space, it can be extremely expensive. It’s fine as an ‘interesting thing to do’ (with a well-earning spouse behind you) but in the people I know, it has not proved to be a lucrative alternative to teaching.

Hopefully you’ve looked into this, @LorlieS. There are some good posts on here if you do some searches, about people (especially teachers!) that have trained to do counselling-it isn’t something that’s ever going to make too much money.

I'm a HLTA and take home £1400 a month.

Yes they do get holiday pay! Just not 13 weeks of it, they aren't teachers.

@orangecrush

Hats off to you because I've seen classes with a ta and teacher and they still haven't been able to effectively teach the children how they need to be taught due to their needs.

Most primary schools don't have hltas - we are grade 4 and can cover classes and weekly ppa!