TA gave a talk on bullying

[vixma]

A TA at my sons primary school has really annoyed me as she did a talk on bullying and has introduced childline. I am aware of them, however she has not asked permission to do this and I feel that at year 4/5 they are to young to understand what childline is about. I feel my son can talk to me, however I feel this subject was not understood by my son....they spoke about the internet, that it is not safe etc.....really pissed off!

not sure that it's 'often' that TAs have Masters qualifications, certainly not in my 12 years of teaching

but

can't imagine that someone would take issue with the fact that a TA and not a teacher gave the talk. unbelievable!

this smells like snobbery to me I'm afraid

be glad your school takes bullying seriously and that someone is prepared to talk to the children about protecting themselves!

She's lucky her dc have got a TA !!!!

Sadly, some young children do not to be aware of places like Childline The school may have had information come in to alert them to the need to do this with some classes.
I am not aware however that my own 7y knows about it. I am fairly sure they haven;t been told about it at school - she is in Y2.

However, so long as it was presented appropriately by school and children knew thtat whereever possible they should speak to a grown up they know first, I can see no harm in children being old at this age.

I doubt school need to ask for permission about this as it is just generally PHSE stuff.

By vixma on Sat 02-May-09 22:52:13
TA's are not qualified to teach children in this subject (I am sorry, I do not want to offend anybody), although they are awesome, they are not qualified like teachers and I am worried she will say something that may be incorrect....sorry, I am not trying to offend.

Vixma - how do you know this is the case? Do you know her background and qualifications? Do you know what training s/he has had regarding it?

I am a TA in a y1 class. I am actually also a qualified teacher with 10 years experence. I also have a level 4 qualification in giving advice and guidance. I have taught PHSE in my role as a teacher and would be perfectly able to teach it to Y1 too.

Also bear in mind that generally a TA is only delivering stuff. The materials s/he is using will often hve been researched and prepared by a teacher, and will be assessed byt he teacher.

I also misread it at 4.5 year old rather than Year 4/5. I would have even less of a problem with tht age group!

I'm a cm and I have books in my setting that sensitively deal with the subject with children from the earliest age. What's the problem here . I was bullied in my reception year - it wasn't dealt with in the 'ice age' the way it now - and it affected me throughout my primary education. Children need to be aware what it actually is and I don't think children of yr 4/5 are too young to be made aware they have a right to NOT be bullied and where to go for help if they need it.

TA's often have a support or 'pastoral' (sorry I can't spell) role in schools, and may have had more experience of dealing with children who are being bullied in school or at home than some teachers.

year 4/5 to young to learn about Childline/Bullying etc....realllly.....are you for real?
and having an issue with ta's....many will have ample experience and often they have degrees, they just haven't gotten round to their teaching certificate thing....

This is one of the things that have really impressed me about modern schools. My children have been taught not only how to deal with being bullied themselves, but also that they must look out for signs of other people being bullied, and they have been taught what to do about that. I have been really impressed by how quickly dc's schools have been able to nip any bullying in the bud. My generation was clueless.

Where has OP gone?

Thank you for reminding me that I need to order some new Childline posters for the hall where I run a summer holiday club. For AGE 5+.

If one child that needs it discovers Childline through that poster, it will be well worth it.

indeed...

Yes I am A TA (well done kid). I taught this session and to be honest was worried that parents maybe upset with me, not because of the content, but because I introduced Childline. I was worried that I may get a complaint because many Children have seen wonderful programmes such as Comic Relief etc..and get upset and complain because ks2. However issues such as sexual abuse etc may come into discussion which I have dealt with. The views on this disscussion has suggested that parents feel comfortable with TA's teaching this subject, which is great, as I was concerned it would be percieved as not. I was fishing because I do not want to upset parents, soz for the deception.

oh right...totally see where you are coming from....
anyway....hope it all goes well...

Really, vixma? That wasn't the impression your opening post gave at all

Thank you FairLadyRantALot, i am so sorry for fibbing, just wanted to sus how parents would feel teaching kids subject. Dont want to upset parents.

OP - why not just post it as it isinstead of winding up parents, TA's and other childcare professionals.

Children can talk to childline about ANYTHING, and they will always listen, even if they just want a chat, no age is too young and every child should be aware of the service.

Now I am off to bed as I am in childline tomorrow morning

underpaid, maybe op wanted a honest gutreaction to properly gauge how people would feel?

Our school had people from other organisations deliver this bit of curriculum, I am thinking about TA training and as someone who ahs worked in a CP related job would consider myself qualified to deliver it.

I know that Childline wasn't there when I was 9 and needed it, and when it did come in I was too scared to call. I'm glad my boys have that safety net if something happens to them they feel they can't share with me, and that has to be delivered to all kids in school as soon as it can be