HLTA (qualified teacher) being used as cover

[LorlieS]

AIBU to feel miffed about this?

I'm a qualified teacher with 20 years' experience but stepped down from class teaching about five years ago as workload was ridiculous and I wasn't having any time with my own children. I'm now working as an HLTA, specialising in supporting children with EHCPs. Love it. Hard work for appalling pay but it's my "thing." I take responsibility of interventions (both 1:1 and group) and ensuring work on EHCP targets is undertaken. Feels great to have autonomy whilst (hopefully) making a difference and I really get to know the children I work with.

However, it's a huge primary I work in and I find I am being pulled away from my job more and more to cover classes for staff absences. Very rarely with a TA and full class of 30. High SEN needs in all classes.

I used to get paid my teacher rate for such cover but now with budgets being what they are I dont; I am just paid my normal HLTA rate.

School loathe to get supply in as expensive.

In that case I would suspect its time to leave as HLTA and go back into teaching and at least get paid properly for the job you are doing.

@Spirallingdownwards I have a toddler now (3) as well as two older kids and just can't do the expected 7.30-5pm and evenings/weekends working.

There are ways to do this as in childcare options. It does come down to a choice of what you are prepared to put up with. Where is the children's father in all this. Presumably working full time without sharing any of the mental load and childcare. Time for a family discussion.

I say this from a history of a job where I was frequently working into evenings and at weekends (law) but where my partner pulled his weight.

@Spirallingdownwards Hubby is exceptional but we rely on my mum for childcare and she won't have toddler teaching hours. She goes mad at me if I'm after 4.30!!
I also know teaching ft would also massively damage my relationship with husband as no time and impact again on my MH.

@Spirallingdownwards Bet you earned a decent wage in law? Not the case in teaching!

Not initially no. But it seems you actually don't want advice so I am unsure why you are posting. I'll bow out now and leave you to it.

@Spirallingdownwards I do want advice, but don't want to go back into teaching. Sorry if that's an issue?

No a teacher myself but want happens if you say no to being the cover teacher?
Do they then have to get cover in?
Is it in your contract to be the sole adult in the class?

@Lavender2021 They'd say it is in my role as an HLTA.

@Spirallingdownwards OP does not want to be a teacher but her school is making her carry out the duties of a teacher but on a much lower salary. It's fairly straightforward.

But it's not your role, have you checked your contract? You need to stand firm and refuse to cover classses, it's not your fault supply is expensive.

HLTAs have been expected to cover classes in any school I’ve worked in.

@Whinge I have an HLTA contract.

As is the fact that TAs often cover for absent teaching staff. Indeed even unqualified employees are used as cover. My point was that if being used more often than not as cover at least consider going back into teaching so you are paid what you are worth for the job you are doing. If that means sorting proper childcare then so be it. But fully accept that OP doesn't want to do that. But with 20 years teaching experience it can't be a surprise that non qualified staff are used although perhaps she didn't realise they weren't paid higher rates when they did

@Principessary Exactly that.

My friend is a HLTA, working with SEN and interventions etc, sounds very very similar to you OP, but she has no teaching quals.

She often teaches a whole class for a day, when the teacher is on PPA or sick or whatever. At least 2 days a week.

I don't think it's ideal, I was certainly never in a class taught solely by a TA when I was at school, but I do think it's a normal situation for a HLTA regardless of the fact you have teaching quals. Sorry.

Agree it is not your role and I'd clear that up first thing when you go back so that it is sorted before you're asked again. Are TAs allowed to cover classes in the UK or is it only because you're also a qualified teacher? I'm in Ireland and we have SNAs, no TAs and I know there is a difference. SNAs are not evenly allowed cover a class if the teacher needs to run to the loo, say!

Separately, teaching in the UK sounds awful going by MN. It's very different over here if you feel like change of scene!

Edited to add: Apologies, I see it is a very different situation so it is an understood part of your role. Perhaps you can query if that is being shared fairly among the TAs? Only you know what your principal will say to that suggestion. With us, if support teachers are called on for cover, it is done in a rota so one person is not being leaned too heavily on (or their base class is not suffering unfairly).

https://neu.org.uk/advice/member-groups/support-staff/hltas-and-cover-supervisors

I would be at least pushing for more pay when in charge of the class.

I think it is standard for HLTAs to be used as cover. They deliver lessons that have been planned and prepared by a teacher. I think if you were to ask to be moved to a L2 then you would not have to do cover, at least that is how it works in our trust.

You could teach part time, you could get a job outside of teaching and pay for some childcare around what your mum will do.

Having three children and a well paid job with no childcare was never going to be easy (I say that as someone with 2+ children!).

You should be delivering learning activities as cover. Not planning and not 'teaching'. What is the situation with you?

@mikado1 I know in UK HLTA'S can cover classes; you need no teaching qualifications.

I'm also law and salary is equivalent, it very much isn't universally highly paid!

It's often written into the HLTA description to provide short term cover, even if that's not what the bulk of their day-to-day job is. They're usually a level 4 position to reflect this whole class element.

HLTAs are not doing the full job of the teacher as they're not responsible for or accountable for the quality of teaching and learning or pupil progress. That's the class teacher and school leaders' responsibility.

The NEU line is that HLTAs should only be used for short term cover.