New job - feeling overwhelmed

[littleredcaravan]

Looking for some tough love, constructive advice and hopefully someone with experience of this.

I've started a new job as a level 3 ta. Straight from college and only placement as experience. I've worked 1 week before half term, and 1 week this week just gone.

My class teacher is very experienced, 30+ years, and has very high, specific expectations.

I've had minimal training from school in relation to their policies/procedure/behaviour mgt. Had some basic phonics training to work 1-1, told to refer to files and plan my own interventions for those on individual targets and be prepared to cover classes at short notice.

So that was that I've been set off teaching phonics to those who need intensive support, trying to figure out the best way to support SEND children on an individualised curriculum and just learn as I go.

After my first week I felt quite tearful towards the end of the last day, I felt rushed and incompetent , never enough time to get a job done and feel as though I'm being timed to do things like reading book changes or marking homework sheets. If I don't quite do it in the time slot allocated I'm reminded that I need to be back in class for X Time or I will miss the input.

I guess I just feel like I could have been eased in more. Given the chance to shadow a TA and had better training to help me to do my job better.

I'm tough, and I have no intention of leaving or going crying to the teacher. I just need some tips on how to handle myself professionally.

I was completely honest in the interview, straight out of college this month, no employed experience, but they said I was the strongest candidate and they loved my personal statement. So I am confident I can do this as long as I am supported properly and feel less restricted by time while I am figuring things out.

They coped without a TA for a month before I started due to someone walking out and not giving notice, so I suppose I feel bombarded rather than gently easing me in and not trying to scare me off!

Has anyone else felt like this when new to a school? What did you/would you do?

Anyone?

I’ve never worked in education, but this sounds awful.
You need to say something, they know you had no experience, and absolutely cannot expect you to be working with children with complex needs so quickly with this lack of support.
They’re at risk of you walking out with no notice or going off sick - I wouldn’t blame you for doing either!
Good luck.

Thank you for your supportive words.

It feels really tricky because my teacher is in SLT so also my line manager and will be responsible for monitoring my performance etc and overseeing my probation period. So I want to be really careful not to come across incompetent or weak, but just wanting to have the time to learn how to do the job well

I would say it's quite normal to feel completely out of depth in new roles OP, so go easy on yourself. If you'd like to shadow someone else ask, and see if they'll arrange even for a day. Your formidable teacher has probably long since forgotten what it's like to be new, so respectfully ask them for guidance when you're unsure of what to do or how to do it.

Also remember teaching staff are gold at the moment. You're in a more powerful position than it may feel.

Learning as you go really is best tbh, you'll be uncertain and a bit shit for a while and then it'll click x

Thank you for your kind words x

How are you doing now, OP?

Hi OP I was a TA 10 years ago who joined straight after studying. I had a wonderful teacher but did just have to learn by observing colleagues and getting on with it. At times I felt completely out my depth, unable to manage the young kids in my teaching circles etc.
I loved it by the end and got so much more confident. Don’t be hard on yourself, just by being engaged with the kids and asking lots of questions/paying attention you’ll be doing great - you sound very conscientious. Keep going and don’t be afraid to ask for help in areas you need. Hope it gets better for you soon

Thanks for checking in with me, I forgot about this post!

I am ok, still in the job 😅

I was allocated a different teacher and class from Sept so things have been different. This teacher is very patient, concise, clear, and far less rigid with timetables so it has been easier to get to grips with the role in that sense.

My new class however comes with a child with high SEMH needs, they have daily physical outbursts and can be quite aggressive and violent. Absolutely not their fault, but they are not being safely and adequately supported in my opinion. I am the class TA with a range of responsibilities, not their 1:1.

I am expected this cover the class for sessions, half days and sometimes full days on my own while the teacher is sent on training or has PPA and the cover supervisor is otherwise engaged. That in itself is a challenge considering I am not a teacher and am a newly qualified TA, but with this child it is almost impossible to do anything of any quality for the other children

Speak to the SENDco about your concerns. Do they have an EHCP? What’s entailed on there? If no, have they started the process for an EHCP, have they made reasonable adjustments?
It’s very difficult to manage a classroom setting with a SEND/SMEH child, let alone one whose needs aren’t being met.
Glad things have changed with the teacher for you though, it makes a world of difference!

They do have an EHCP (only awarded in Sept despite years of this behaviour) but as usual it isn't worth the paper it's written on and doesn't come with anything specific.

Just "access" to resources etc when needed, and no 1:1 time to speak of.

It can be horrendous. They throw anything they can get their hands on including chairs and ram tables about so we have to evacuate the class when that starts.

They will shove and push past anything in their way when they are angry.

They have injured themself on occasions.

SLT can be hit and miss. They arrive, have a chat and take them outside to regulate (play football) make them tidy up when they are calm then crack on with their day.

Of course I can, and do, all that if I am not covering the class or on my lunch break but if it is someone working alone they can't.

It's just a case of get on with it and don't let the other kids get hurt.

Gosh that sounds so hard, an EHCP can be reviewed early if needed and if it’s a case of ‘don’t let the other kids get hurt’ then I’d be pushing for that because clearly they need a 1:1.
I am so sorry though, I truly do understand the struggle, we have a student that is unable to access any lesson and is a danger to both themselves and other students, but the LA can’t find another provision willing to take him so even though he clearly shouldn’t be in mainstream, and it’s incredibly unfair to expect him to be, he’s got no choice.
We've had to create a whole bespoke timetable where he is constantly supervised and not with other students which is unfair on everyone but is the only way to keep everyone safe.