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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

TA VS TEACHER

2 replies

Beesandtrees1234 · 12/11/2025 21:55

So, first off as a TA let me say I fully recognise how hard the job is of a teacher.

At my school I cover lunch time duties everyday and twice weekly break duties, what I find insulting is we are continually asked to cover teachers duties so they can have a chat and be on their phones for 15 minutes, while we are desperate for the loo and would like a drink ourselves, then expected to go straight into lesson after.

I say this because myself and other TA'S have witnessed this for the last 3 months, and most of last year and heard about it in previous years when we worked in other year groups that "this is what they do".

I did get annoyed today when I was asked to cover again and said "oh I'll go out then because you know" and gestured at the teacher, I had to pop round to class during break and I can confirm they were doing exactly that and then to make matters worse when I did finally get to go to the loo there was a "uhhh" from said class teacher waiting for the loo, who had plenty of time to go but was more interested in checking her instagram.

OP posts:
themerchentofvenus · 12/11/2025 22:00

Is this primary school? At secondary school TAs get paid to cover lunch duties.

You shouldn't be asked to cover break duty unless they are paying you.

You will need to be assertive and say no sorry, I can't, I have things to do.

LayLadyLayLayAcross · 13/11/2025 08:12

Just go to the loo after your break duty, and come into the lesson a couple of minutes after it’s started. The kids will only just be taking their coats off/ settling down whilst the teacher gets ready to begin the lesson. Teachers really do need the break to decompress and get their head around what they’re teaching next - if they want to check Instagram during their break, that’s up to them. It’s full on holding the day’s schedule and teaching points in your head all day.

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