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Original poster

Is it fair to give TA less than teacher

138 replies

cheeriobye · 12/12/2021 09:09

I've read that some TA's don't get given a gift when the teacher does and I've also read that sometimes TA will get a gift but of a lower value compared to teacher.

Is this fair?

In my case it is the teacher that has made a large difference to my child's education and I know they spend a great deal of time outside the classroom on working too. Therefore that's what I want to acknowledge at Christmas.

The TA in my case would get a token gift.

Is this fair and ok? Also appreciate responses from TA's

OP posts:
Idolovetrees · 12/12/2021 10:58

Honestly just a card sometimes can go along way.

Ivchangedmynameforthis · 12/12/2021 10:58

TA in a special school here. What I see and do in a day you wouldn't believe. Absolutely buy the same for the TA and the teacher.

Exhausteddog · 12/12/2021 10:58

I've often contributed to a class collection and the class reps always gave a smaller amount to the TA which I disagreed with (although I acknowledge its their discretion)
If I arranged my own present I gave the same.

CovidFreeChristmas · 12/12/2021 11:07

@chillichoclove

Can I then sense check - I've donated to the class fund for teacher and TA's but my son has a 1-1 all day. If he brings her an additional token gift is that OK?
That's what I do. Everyone puts into the class pot, but as the TA spends the majority of time with my child, I give a little something extra to show we appreciate it.
HariboMaroon · 12/12/2021 11:07

It’s totally fair and I speak as a TA. They do not work as hard as the teacher.

Frankie4me · 12/12/2021 11:13

@chillichoclove

Can I then sense check - I've donated to the class fund for teacher and TA's but my son has a 1-1 all day. If he brings her an additional token gift is that OK?
Is the parent organising including the 1:1 ta in the gift? Some would, some would expect you to organise it. If they are included, I think an additional small gift is okay given the enhanced support - but not essential.
mafted · 12/12/2021 11:20

I always give them the same value item. If someone has done something really special I highlight that in a card.

For me the gifts for the staff are tokens from the child and they are about teaching my children to appreciate those who help them, which is why I never give to class donations not that there have been many.

I have often bought one off gifts for TA's too like the time I picked DS3 up after being sick in yr1 and the TA had him asleep in her lap, she was covered in vomit and trying her best not to heave 🤢

caramac04 · 12/12/2021 11:22

Firstly, gifts are not essential.
If you want to gift to staff then it’s up to you what you spend but I would make it if equal value.
Gifts are often most appreciated if they are things that won’t clutter the recipients home. Many teachers end up with tens of mugs for example. Also chocolates, may be lovely but 15 boxes is a bit much. It’s very tricky because you don’t usually know staff likes, dislikes, allergies etc but nice bubble bath, face mask, fluffy socks, a tie or wine often goes down well.

danni0509 · 12/12/2021 11:31

Ds has always had 1-1 and often 2-1 support so it’s the teaching assistants doing the bulk of it, mostly he wouldn’t enter the classroom at all so had very little to do with the teacher throughout the school day, he’s in a special school now and still has 1-1 but the teacher steps in and 1-1’s him for a share of the day too so they share his care amongst the class team. I’ve bought them all (4 members of staff in his class) the same gift each this year (chocolates, nothing extravagant, don’t have much money this year)

I’ve always given the same gifts to all in previous years, but one year I did get the Ta a gift voucher on top and give that to her separately as she was so lovely to ds.

Valaris · 12/12/2021 11:32

Teachers work longer hours after the children go home to do planning... Because they're planning for the group abilities of the children. Highers, middles and lowers. They're not spending extra time on your child.

Your TA is the one on the floor, sat next to your child giving them support. Giving them a cuddle when they fall. Cleaning up their sick and explaining the things they don't understand. They're the ones writing all the SS reports because they're the ones the children confide in. They're the ones that wipe the tears when the children cry and help the little ones to the toilet. The TA is their substitute mum. The TA is in charge of giving their medicine and making sure the children are drinking enough water. They're teaching the phonics and planning after-school clubs. And yes, they do planning of their own when they take their invervention groups. They're playing with your child on breakduty and helping them with their reading. The TA is the one who helps apply suncream on eczema cream.

And the job dosn't finish when the bell rings. The TA will go home and think of everyone of their children and worry about them in holidays. The TA will be the first one the children tell all their holiday stories too when they come back.

TA gifts should be better than teacher gifts IMO.

danni0509 · 12/12/2021 11:32

He also has a taxi driver and a 1-1 aid in the back so that’s another 2 gifts on top, it gets pricey when you have (6 in my case this year) to buy for.

greyinganddecaying · 12/12/2021 11:33

I find this really difficult. There's a collection for the teacher and "main" TA. But my DC also has input from another TA & some time 1:1 with a SEN TA.

We contributed to the general collection & bought them each a token gift. No clue if that's the right thing or not.

Iamkmackered1979 · 12/12/2021 11:34

I haven’t really given the ta a gift before as I’ve not known them/haven’t worked with my kids. However my youngest is going through a very difficult time (asd) and the sla (Scotland) has been amazing and my son really likes her. The teacher also is fab so I will get them equal gifts voucher and chocs (teacher leaving) and they’ve both made transition back to school much better for my son it’s hard to put into words but I’m just really grateful to them for helping him and I know they get paid but I do think both have gone above and beyond.

liveforsummer · 12/12/2021 11:36

I'm a TA. I think it's fair - I'm not the one spending hours planning lessons, doing all
The paper work, holding all the responsibility, working in to the night. As a pp said my job starts and ends with the school day unless I choose for it not to. Tbh there are certain children who's lives in making more of a difference to. I'm more likely to notice a child struggling emotionally for instance and have more time to help them. If your child is hurt or sick it will be me comforting them but this isn't something that parents see and not something I'd ever expect reward for anyway, it's just my job and unlike teaching doesn't require qualifications to be skilled in. It's definitely nice to be shown appreciation but I don't think any TA thinks they deserve more than their teacher

JMK73 · 12/12/2021 11:57

Nothing is expected and everything is appreciated. If unsure, give them exactly the same because no one would bat an eyelid and the any gesture of thanks would be welcomed.
They do entirely different jobs and so many work very hard with different responsibilities. To be honest, I think many teachers would just appreciate a few straightforward personal ‘thank yous’ throughout the year much more than a gift at Christmas. On top of the ‘day job’, I ran two residentials this term (twice a day I was lateral flow testing large numbers of pupils who were close contacts of confirmed cases, because these were the first residentials of the Covid era) with 120 children (teachers and TAs give up their own family time to make these possible and they are hard, hard work). Just two parents said thank you to me when they picked up their children, and those families live long in the memory.

Teachers work incredibly hard, with far more hours and far greater pressure than many people realise. Looking at some of the other comments, I’ve never worked in a school where teachers don’t do break duties. TAs are often recruited and contracted to include a 30 min lunch duty because lunch supervisors are hard to recruit for one hour in the middle of the day. Teachers are held accountable for all progress for every child in every lesson and everything is subject to scrutiny. Many wonderful TAs are dedicated and hard working above and beyond the call of duty. Pay is different because the roles differ enormously.

Coronachristmas21 · 12/12/2021 12:07

It's opposite for me. Teachers are great but I really admire the ta's too as my son has sen. The ta's know him far more than the teachers ever have! I tend to buy the same for all! One year Ds had an amazing ta who went above and beyond so I did get her a little extra something to say thank you!

Nevertime · 12/12/2021 12:10

Anything more than a token for either of them is uncomfortable and embarrassing IMO.

lazylinguist · 12/12/2021 12:28

I'm a teacher and also have school age children. It is fine to give presents to whichever school staff you wish to, or to none.

But imo if you are choosing which staff to give presents to (rather than, for example, giving a big box of chocolates etc for all staff to share), then it should be on the basis of how much you appreciate that particular staff member being lovely to or doing a great job of teaching/helping your own child, not on the basis of what their working hours, pay or conditions are like. Presents to teachers or TAs do not make their job less hard so they aren't a recompense. They are a personal expression of appreciation, and a heartfelt card does that just as well if not better than a mug or a bottle of wine imo.

lazylinguist · 12/12/2021 12:30

Sorry, that didn't entirely answer your question Grin. My conclusion was that if you appreciate the TA's efforts with your child as much as the teacher's, then the same level of gift would be fair.

Glitterazzi · 12/12/2021 12:39

Glad I just stumbled across this thread, I have now just bought the TA the same present as the teacher's!

FlickyCrumble · 12/12/2021 12:43

My friend is a classroom assistant and she definitely doesn’t do half of what a teacher does. Even in the classroom there is a lot stepping back to the hierarchy of the teacher that said she takes on a very valuable nurturing role as well as cutting and pasting! That said she claimed she was teaching maths to year 6 last week which I’m really struggling to get my head around as Maths is not her strongest area shall we say!

lightisnotwhite · 12/12/2021 12:43

I’m not keen on any gifts.
Thanks you are more appreciated. Also it’s good to have positive feedback during the year as then you know what’s making a difference.

I ‘ve had parents calling them “ teachers gifts” as a noun. It doesn’t need to be a thing.

PurpleHydrangea1 · 12/12/2021 12:50

When my son was in nursery, they ALL got the same (vouchers). My son has autism and they were brilliant with him. The TAs worked 1-2-1 with him and he adored them so wasn't a question for me.
He's now in a specialist school and I've given some nice chocolates. Can give much more as there's too many to afford unfortunately.

stopringingme · 12/12/2021 12:51

When my DD was in mainstream with a dedicated 1:1 I bought her a better gift as she was with my DD all day every day and went above what was required of her.

But I also bought a gift for the class teacher and the TA which were of equal value.

I also bought a tin of sweets/biscuits for the staffroom and a box of chocolates for the school secretary and caretaker as they all were so kind and caring to my Disabled DD.

Now she is in a Special School I buy a present for the 6 staff in her class, and tins of sweets/biscuits to be put in the staffroom for the other staff.

Everyone gets a card.

TA's work very hard for little reward, I think most parents would be surprised how much they do, and I for one am very grateful.

Piggyk2 · 12/12/2021 13:19

@FlickyCrumble

My friend is a classroom assistant and she definitely doesn’t do half of what a teacher does. Even in the classroom there is a lot stepping back to the hierarchy of the teacher that said she takes on a very valuable nurturing role as well as cutting and pasting! That said she claimed she was teaching maths to year 6 last week which I’m really struggling to get my head around as Maths is not her strongest area shall we say!
What a bitchy comment.

Most people have a weaker/stronger subject 🙄 you sound like a lovely friend!