Our TAs are absolutely vital. They go on training courses, cascade their specialist skills to others (including some teachers), form the backbone of the school in many ways. They have meetings to share skills, support the class teachers, and take small groups as needed.
They are held in high esteem by everyone from parents to teachers, through Governors and, obviously, the kids they look after.
If Michael Gove could see the reality at work in our school, he would eat his words again