Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Teaching Assistants- unsung heroes

2 replies

HedgeSparrows · 01/04/2021 15:05

First I will say that NHS workers are of course the ultimate in heroism. Also all the other key workers- police, prison officers etc
BUT
I felt so uplifted to see this article today. It's been so demoralising to constantly have people morning and complaining about schools and rubbishing TA's experiences and fears of working through this pandemic.
When I saw this article I was just so happy to actually have a bit of recognition.
I am a TA, late 40s and unvaccinated. I have felt scared going in throughout the pandemic, as conditions in schools I personally don't feel are safe (one high up window that opens a crack), and as a TA, I obviously have a lot of physical contact with the students (and their bodily fluids!!).
I have worked in the school building throughout the pandemic.
In the last lockdown, the teachers were (quite rightly) doing all the online work, and as a TA I was supervising class of about 24 students. Most of these were vulnerable children and there was a LOT of challenging behaviour. It was very difficult.
I felt angry with the government with their manipulation of statistics eg saying rates were comparable to others, but they got these figures by looking at COVID rates in school staff over a period of 9 months between March and December - 6 months of which schools were closed for most children. Other statistics declaring everything was hunky-dory, included taking a snapshot from those in school on one day in December - meaning all those off with COVID or isolating as contacts were not included.
I felt upset when I saw so many other countries prioritised teachers but not the UK.
So therefore I am feeling better after seeing this today. Smile

That is all.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/apr/01/teaching-assistants-unsung-heroes-of-pandemic-study-shows?CMP=ShareAndroidAppp_Other

OP posts:
taeglas · 01/04/2021 17:32

Lovely to be acknowledged. Thanks for sharing.

Chillychangchoo · 01/04/2021 18:12

I don’t think people have rubbished TAs opinions about working throughout the pandemic, I think people have just stated it wasn’t just the school environment that feels unsafe. I have worked as a TA and a support worker in social care throughout the whole of this pandemic. I’ve felt more at risk in social care than my school experience tbh.

Having said that I have been able to have the vaccine where as school staff haven’t. Although in very close contact to kids in my TA role, it was no comparison to my current role now in terms of personal care and getting very close to people. (And multiple people on a single shift alone).

Glad you liked the article though.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.