TAs replacing teachers

[LublieAva]

Does anyone know if its ok in practice (or even in theory) for a TA to regularly take charge of a class for a day at a time? How much is too much?

I posted about this elsewhere but I am hoping someone can tell me if its ok or not, even though I can't do anything about it either way!

sorry some poor sentence rearranging there... I meant to say:-

4 days NQT + 1 day TA per week for a year two class is not acceptable in theory but does happen in practice and there is nothing a parent can do (apart from move school)?

NQTs are entitled to 10% of their teaching time for PPA, but also 10% for professional development/mentoring as they're NQT.

If you're concerned I'd contact the Head and ask for a meeting to discuss what level the TA is, what they're teaching, who's planned it, who will mark it. It maybe that the TA will teach P.E., Music or PHSE so no marking. I'd still be concerned though, but yes it does go on. Depends on the Head as to whether you can do something about it. Let us know how you get on.

All teachers are entitled to 10% of their teaching time for PPA, I had a job as a supply teacher where I spent a regular 2 days a week in school covering all PPA time. It is very common to have it done with one teacher like that. I had to plan, prepare and mark all my classes. A TA would work under the direct supervision of the teacher. I don't agree with it, and I think that it is expecting too much of them for the pay, but schools can do it. Take it up with the Head and/or governors and see what they say.
There have been several threads recently about job shares-especially in reception where people think it undesirable-I don't think that parents realise that a teacher won't be in the classroom all the time. NQTs get extra time out of the classroom, so will Deputy Heads, team leaders, SENCOs etc.

Thanks for answering. The head would not be amenable to questions on a subject like this. she may well feel that her decisions are being questioned.

So in this case, I do not believe that any positive change can be accomplished (unfortunately).

I'm a little old fashioned about these things though and I do believe schools exist to provide an education before anything else.

LublieAva, you are correct in thinking that the school can cover your child's teacher with a TA one day a week. However, if more parents questioned this approach, maybe this would not be so commonplace. Up to you, whatever you decide to do, good luck.

I don't think that you are old fashioned! Qualified teachers should do the cover- but money is the first consideration.

In our (primary) school all PPA time is covered by qualified peripatetic teachers. On the occasions we do need cover staff we have two or three regular supply teachers who come in, who know the school and the children and who are known by the school and children.

And, here's a novelty - the head has been known to take a teaching role too when needed!

Have a look at this

We had this problem with DS2 a few years ago. Hs teacher was ill quite a lot and we found out that 2 teachers and 2 TA were floating between 3 classes and it didnt work.

The TAs were able to keep the children ticking over but in the end very little progress was made with new concepts. Teachers do a job that TAs cant do.

Having said that, my sister was a TA in a school for severely autistic children and although she has a degree in psychology she was still not a qualified teacher but was often left for weeks on end being asked to 'teach' because qalified teachers left and were not replaced. Eventually, she and the other TA demanded a pay rise and to be promoted to de facto teacher status. The LEA eventually agreed but neither my sister nor her colleague is a qualified teacher and yet are doing a teaching job.

It's something poor TAs are regularly abused for in poor schools. Level 3 can cover, with planning, but many sadly use any TA to regularly do things like PPA cover. IT's not fair on them or the classes.

LublieAva - I think you need to find out if it's going to go on all term or all year before deciding whether to talk to the head. It may be that the course your DS's teacher is on lasts 4 weeks or something?

bramshott - i have no idea how to find that out. My DS (who is only six) says that he's been told it will be all year.

I thought of asking the teacher direct but she seems so young and I guess this is her first proper job so I don't want to scare her by asking difficult questions in her first few weeks!

I am beginning to think that i may as well keep him at home on Wednesdays and provide him an education here. I may not be a TA, but at least he'd be getting on to one, rather than 30 to one! I am tempted but I won't because if I did that, then I may as well declare war on the HT. Actually i don't know what i will do (or can do).

I definitely wouldn't keep him home one day a week, you'd have the Education Welfare Officer at your door for 80% attendance.

I'd make an appointment to see the head. At least you could write your concerns in a letter beforehand so she'd know you're worried. Then you could meet to discuss it.

LublieAva - just ask her. It won't be the most difficult question she'll ever have. If you explain you're getting confused messages from your DS she won't take offence and you'll get it from the horse's mouth so to speak.

How about if the TA has QT status?

DD is in Yr5 but her class teacher is "acting head" 3 days a week. The other 2 days we have a head from another school come in.

On the 3 days when she's acting head she's not in the classroom and the TA is teaching the class. I wasn't happy about this but other mums have said she is actually a qualified teacher but she is definetly employed as a TA.

Viva - my issue with a TA (albeit with QTS) being used as regulalr long term cover is that they are not being employed for that job and they are not being paid for that job.

If employed as a TA then they should be working as a TA.

if the school want the person with QTS to step in and teach then they should fork out the money and employ nd pay her as a TEACHER.

I agree with Hulababy. It's a catch 22 situation. Many teachers are now applying for Teaching Assistant roles and once in post are used as a teacher but still paid as a TA. It's wrong.

There are 2 problems here...

1. The children's education (30 of them but I am most interested in my own child)
2. the needs of the teaching and the support staff, which seems to subdivide into the NQT needing/ having rights regarding her own professional development and the TA's being paid little and given big jobs.

If every teacher should get 10% of class time off and NQTs should get another 10%, then in a school of 7 years, that means you need to employ 8 teachers. Does the government (who presumably made these rules) provide funding for that? Do the children have the right to be taught by a qualified teacher?