On the edge of quitting my job today.

[Sonolanona]

I've worked in special ed for over 20 years.
Change of management means that we are thrown into different classes constantly (as never enough staff), which apart from being really bad for the children who need stability, means you never know where you will be, and as an older experienced TA I often get sent to the 'difficult' classes.
Thanks to years of managing challenging behaviour I now have a bad back.. lateral cervical stenosis to be accurate. I've adapted how I do things with my usual (early years) class.. I squat not bend to change pads, we hoist non mobile cildren etc..it's fine. BUT if my head is yanked back to the floor by a hair puller or I have to help with a large child who is attacking, I can't any more..and this is the class I keep being sent to.
In the holidays I emailed and politely requested that I wasn't put in a particular class where the risk of very challenging behaviour is very high.(and I did get a reply 'thanks for letting us know' Guess where they have put me today and tomorrow?
I'm already job hunting, but I think when I arrive in half an hour and they haven't changed it... I'm going home. It would be a sad end to a long career and I really don't want to be jobless (I can only work part time due to other caring duties) but I feel like they really do not give a toss as long as the numbers are covered :(
AIBU?

Could you do private contracts? Not sure it's an option

Second the OH referral. They have a duty of care to both you and the children. Ask for a risk assessment (see HSE website for more information). This is possibly an occupational injury which entitles you to more support. Don’t just leave.

This 100% rings bells from a special school I worked in years ago, and I’m sorry things have not improved. As others have said definitely do NOT give up your job. Knowing what I know now : 1. Email ( rather than verbal) trail explaining the difficulty/ potential worsening/ serious injury to your health 2. Go home if they put you in there today - they cannot prove you aren’t sick and you as a TA are not responsible for sorting out their staff shortages( even though no doubt you worry about the children) 3. Job hunt - TAs with your expertise are worth gold dust and agencies/ other schools will snap you up ( and yes you can still be part time). 4. If things don’t change get a union or governors involved plus a doctors note and use the ( all schools) free helpline for some legal advice as this treatment is tantamount to constructive dismissal, and they are breaking health and safety laws. Good luck.

I am a supply TA. I get a lot of work and can afford to be a bit picky, in that if I really don't like going somewhere I just decline it and get offered something else instead. If a certain amount of money isn't a major issue, it's less stressful, knowing that you're not committed to a contract and are basically in control. As a supply, they usually do not want you to do the most challenging jobs but I generally feel valued and get to know people still as I am asked back to the same schools a lot.

It's certainly not an employers market in the NHS! To be fair I don't know if education is the same.

Don’t resign. Utilise your sick pay first to recover and get your back looked at properly as they may say it’s an industrial injury which could mean that you can retire with ill health and get your pension early. But you need to get proper advice on this.

Sounds like the management team are useless. Good luck.

You needto speak with the person. In charge and ask them why they are ignoring your request.

Use your expertise to set up as a one to one private tutor either face to face or online

Just to update (as it bugs me when others don't :D ) I have decided to leave...and I finish next week.
I am at peace with my decision because I can clearly see that the place I have worked and loved for 20 years is simply no longer a place I want to be. I'll miss the kids and my colleagues but not the new management!
I am hoping to become self employed and am giving myself a year to try and get things off the ground, and if that fails I'll find something somehow.
I'd like to tell the Academy Trust exactly why I'm going but I might need a reference one day😆
I'm going to take a few weeks to rest and reset myself and then, onwards!

good for you - very best of luck i hope all goes well.

All the very best to you. Sounds like the very best thing to do. Life's too short as they say !