Back to school plans for TAs lack of teachers?

[feelinghappy]

So we had our back to school plan shared with TAs today and I've seen the letter sent to parents.
There will be 6 bubbles (two for each year group due back). There are only 4 teachers leading bubbles - we have 9 teachers in school. There are 9 TAs out of 11 in these bubbles (two adults per bubble). One of the teachers is shielding but there was no mention of the others (I'm guessing they're part of a union and refusing to take part in plans?) It feels like an awful lot of responsibility is being put on our shoulders - we will be in charge of keeping 15 households safe & teaching plus we've been given the bubbles least likely to socially distance - y1 & Yr. The behaviour policy is being amended to take into account the changes to the school and we've been told social distancing "is an expectation". Cleaning staff are cleaning twice a day in full PPE we've been told that TAs will be responsible for the rest of the cleaning. I've asked whether we will be responsible for explaining all these changes to the pupils. Am I being unreasonable to expect that if there are teachers employed by the school they should lead the bubble with a TA supporting? After all they are qualified teachers?

NB TAs being in charge of bubbles was not mentioned in the letter to parents

That is just rubbish op.
I too am a TA looking to be in a bubble, but our head has said she wants 2 adults per bubble teacher/TA (it could also be 2 TA's) nothing has been ruled out as of yet. (Lots still changing daily)
However we are only welcoming yr6 june 1st.
You need to speak up and clarify...speak to your union if what your head says is not clear or acceptable.
Good Luck

I agree with you op.

My head (quite rightly) has said tas are not to lead or take 'bubbles' apart from to cover for ppa (within the bubble they are supporting). As fantastic as tas are they are not trained teachers and are not paid as such.

Are you in a union? Might be worth contacting for advice and considering whether you want to continue working in such an environment.

Thank you it will be two TAs so we won't be on our own (thank goodness!) I just think we should have been given at least one of the y6 bubbles to lead - its going to be so hard to socially distance in y1 & yr plus it makes me cross that this hasn't been made clear to parents - if their children are in our bubble they are going to be taught for a whole term by TAs despite there being spare teachers??

& I add we are not the class' usual TAs - although they will know who we are as it's a small school

But you are guessing. You don't know why some staff are not going to be in. You have no knowledge and no right to know about other people's health issues.

Feel free to ask your SLT why the teachers aren't working, but deciding that they should be, because they are qualified, is unreasonable.

I do understand your concern - but that is a separate matter.

I'm not part of a union - I think it'd be too late to join now as it's an issue which has already occurred so they can't support. I am ok with going back just feel the responsibility has been put on the lowest paid and least qualified staff (although I must say all the TAs at my school are amazing!) & the information hasn't been shared with parents!

Are you familiar and confident enough with the year 6 curriculum?

Is there really much of the Y6 curriculum left this late in the year? Surely it will be more social learning about big school etc.

Blessyourcottonsocks I see what you're saying and you're right their health is their business I'm sure there are more than valid reasons but feel parents should be aware that there are only 4 teachers teaching the 6 groups the other two (the least able to socially distance) will be taught and the responsibility of TAs for a whole term.

I'd much rather be responsible for Y6!

I've worked in all year groups as has the other TA I'm with

I agree with you. I'm a teacher and feel it is right that in our school almost all bubbles are being led by teachers (one out of 12 is two tas, but that is because we don't have enough teachers for medical reasons).

In terms of social distancing being an expectation, I think it's important that er are realistic. It must be an expectation that adults socially distance. For children, you can only encourage. Your school needs to be clear in what sanctions there will be in place for children not social distancing (ours will be normal while school behaviour system, with sending home if children either refuse to follow or don't understand).

We've been told that yr will have limited social distancing but it is an expectation for y1. They will be at their own desk 2m apart within the classroom - which is manageable 😞 but on the playground this seems impossible. They are not allowed to use playground equipment either but stay 2m apart - what are they going to do???

The wording is definitely "social distancing is an expectation"

Is it not that the other teachers are still planning work from home and doing remote learning/support to pupils in yr 2/3/4/5

I didn't think of that! That makes sense - although we are only setting home learning once a week via Purple Mash which I suppose needs marking ...

I feel a bit better about it - it's good to get other people's input - it's difficult to see the other side when you're in the middle of it 🙂 My only remaining niggle as I think parents should be made aware that their children will be taught by TAs for a term (not their usual TA too) and senior leaders should be on the playground to help supervise social distancing during unstructured times.

If teacher's aren't in, it won't be because of their unions. I am not aware of any of the teaching unions issuing that advice.

I don't know why it is like that at your school. I suggest asking SLT.

Sorry. Stray autocorrect apostrophe (pet hate)

Maybe it is because the other teachers are needed for setting home learning - which we TAs can't do - I suppose as a parent I'd want to know. I would not be happy with my children being taught by a TA for a whole term especially if they're not even usually in their class.

Haha I hate that when that happens too (autocorrect)

It is crap but the problem you have is that we have accepting that teaching is no longer something only teachers can do in the last few months with the emphasis being on parents to provide it. So while previously I may have expressed concern re a ta teaching without a teacher input now I just think “can you be worse than me!”

I think it something that therefore needs raising re the school (particularly the year one v year six point) I don’t think parents have the same “but my child should be taught by a teacher” as before.

Do you not have any key worker children in, because they would be another bubble(s).

All the gov guidance says you can use a TA to lead a bubble once a teacher is setting work. It's extraordinary times...

We have a small group of key workers children who have said they will be in ("a handful") who will be one bubble looked after on rota by the other staff (so the other 4 teachers & 2 TAs on rota) they will not be taught - it will be childcare for this group