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.

Yes, sorry, I've edited my post.

@HamstersAreMyLife Understood. What about pay for overtime though?

It's tough because yes HLTA's do provide cover. And you are not adverse to occasional cover.

Why not sit with the ht just for a chat. Explain what you love about your job and the bits you like least. A good HLTA is worth their weight in gold. If they don't listen to you then look to go elsewhere. There is a massive shortage at the moment so you would find somewhere else.

Alternatively - you could become a supply teacher - who neither plans nor marks and has more flexibility of choosing her roles. You wouldn't need to work full time to earn an equivalent salary.

A HLTA still isn't a teacher though is it? What's the difference excluding wages?

@Spirallingdownwards I was paid my teacher rate for cover until last year.

You wouldn't need to work full time to earn an equivalent salary.

What do you mean by this?

@blackfluffycat I can only comment for myself really. My teacher rate £30 p/h roughly. My HLTA rate: £12 p/h roughly.

@Mumdiva99 There are two reasons supply won't work for me unfortunately.
Firstly, I need a guaranteed income in order to cover our rent etc.
Secondly, schools aren't really using supply any more as they can't afford to - they use their HLTAs.

HLTAs in my school are always used for cover.

Could you work as a teacher but part-time?

My amazing Year 6 TA is an HLTA (no teaching quals, but lots of tutoring experience). I spend ages timetabling intervention groups for our struggling cohort, only to find her swept off to cover a Year 3 or 4 class for illness or their PPA.

She’s worth her weight in gold when I DO have her, though!

@lorlies they absolutely do....I work across 2 schools, am a cog at another, was at another. Supply is last resort. However there are times when there are not enough teachers/HLTA's especially in secondary.

However I appreciate you want guaranteed income.

(@Shinyandnew1 the difference in cost of an HLTA and supply is vast. The difference in what is earned is also a lot....think double for supply and then some on top....which is why schools with such tight budgets are trying to avoid them where they can.)

@AllProperTeaIsTheft I look out for such jobs all of the time, but schools can't afford experienced teachers on their budgets now. Newly qualified teachers/less experienced are looked for as a rule.
I know I'd have to work on my days "off" but would have to suck that up as do all teachers.

@Mumdiva99 I'm primary. Staff have been directed supply can only be used in an emergency. Rest of time it is HLTAs.

I get no overtime, I'm not aware of colleagues anywhere that get overtime in law tbh but I get that it's a huge industry! When I was at the self employed bar I got the hours i worked paid for private law work but very poor on legal aid. I'm salaried now so get paid for 32 hours and work around 45hrs on a good week as it was too much being full time but still end up with at least one late night a week even though I try not to (and kid myself it isnt happening)! I did look at teaching as I know quite a few who don't seem to do massive hours but there is less flexibility than in most of my legal roles so I've moved to this part time office based post insttead as it's the flex that's my priority. Gosh that's a long answer to a short question lol. Totally get what your point is though, I know its not what you want to be doing but school budgets are very challenging at the mo and this seems to be happening everywhere, i see lots more unqualified teachers too. One of my sisters has gone from a full time teaching to supply and it works really well for her, has a childminder for the kids and uses the days she doesn't get work as bonus time for her! Maybe something to think about?

@HamstersAreMyLife I need a guaranteed income sadly as need to pay bills and rent. Also with a childminder on top this wouldn't be doable 😞
I meant do you get paid any extra hours you work? Or do you just not have to do any?

@LorlieS could you compromise with the school? Say you will do a days cover but if it's goes into more you will want paying as supply (I am thinking for work, marking, prep etc)

And anything over say a week and it's discussed again... if it's long term cover they need to get someone in?

Anything more 'permanent' at my school is paid as an extra money per hour in line with supply.

I'm confused as HLTAs always cover in my school. That is their job role!

@stomachameleon The problem is that it is such a huge school someone is always off ill, and that's not necessarily the same teacher. I'm often covering different classes far more now in a week than doing the job I was actually employed to do!

The HLTAs in our school get used as cover all the time too, I think it goes with the territory unfortunately.
Could you apply for a pastoral role EG family support worker, inclusion manager, designated safeguarding lead etc
A lot of them come up in our area and whilst you still work with children 1-1 you're very rarely (if ever) expected to cover classes.

@happypillsareworking There are many HLTAS in my school, but I'm the only one who is also a qualified teacher. Why is it they are using me constantly and not them?

I can completely understand what you are frustrated. Cover is a job for HLTA's but due to your experience you are being used most, the school is no longer paying you an increase for doing it (which I'm surprised you ever received!), and they aren't using expensive supply.

I think you need to separate out the issues and work out which matters most to you. Then you can work a plan to tackle it.

-are you happy doing any cover?
-is the issue that you aren't getting the higher pay?

Your HLTA rate seems low. I’m a TA and earn just over £12 per hour. The HLTAs at my school earn at least £4 per hour more than me.

@Lochroy I think I have to accept some cover but there are lots of other HLTAs in the school that are rarely asked - not sure why it always seems to be me?

Also then I feel I'm letting down the EHCP kids I am supposed to be working with frequently. They are left in classes of 30 with no TA or additional help whatsoever. And these kids are the ones that need a lot of extra input. They simply can't access the mainstream classwork.