TA's doing Physio

[schoolsecretary]

Hi first post here, and am after some advice. I work in a primary school in the office, and one of our TA's is trying to find our where she stands over providing physio for children within the school. She has done it for a number of years for different children however at present she has one little boy to do who has cerebral palsy and requires quite specific physio, her trouble is that he is a bit of a drama queen and his mum thinks he's an angel. He is constantly complaining about the physio he is having done by the TA, either she's pushing him to hard, or it's too easy! He also require use of a wheel chair for things like going swimming or trips, and mum seems to think that the TA is his personal one to one carer on these occassions. Between them they are pushing this TA over the edge, and she is seriously considering telling the Head and Class teacher that she doesn't want to do it any more. It's not part of her job description (as she was told during a Job Evaulation meeting recently) so where does she stand, any one know. Thanks

She needs to speak to her line manager (probably the class teacher) and be very clear what is expected of her and what isnt. I dont see anything wrong with her being attached to the child who uses a wheelchair if he needs someone to push him on school trips.

I would hope looking after a child who is in a wheelchair is part of someone's job description.

What does his statement specify?

If the TA doesn't want to do this, then this is between her and her manager. But the SENCO needs to make sure that this child is adequately looked after.

Same applies to physio. Has the school / statement promised the parents that this child will receive physio? If so - the school does have to provide it....

Does the child have a statement?
Does he have a support assistant?
Does he use a wheelchair at other times or can he walk?
Does a physio work with the child/provide a programme of exercise?

Hi thanks for your comments to answer: the child has a statement, I don't know what it says though. No support assistant is provided, just the usual access to the class TA. Who this year is the lady who has provided physio. He hardly uses the chair, he plays football for the whole lunch hour and can run rings around the other kids.Mum provides the chair for swimming as she believes he will be tired after swimming, he often refuses to use it and it is used to transport his bag. He has the physio visit every other week to go through a programme with him, and in between time the TA i mention is expected to do the programme with him. I think a lot of the problem is the attitude of the mum and the kid towards the TA,she is feeling that she is not appreciated for doing this extra task, but is now constantly being criticised or as she put it, "set up for a fall".

She is not being asked to do anything unreasonable and it is very common for children to run around playing football yet still need a wheelchair at some point in the day. SHe needs to talk to the class teacher.

Yes she is being asked to do things which are not a normal part of a TAs role. If it isn't in her contract she shouldn't be expected to do physio. As he has a statement he should have specialist support.

thanks for your comments that is whay I had said to her, I think she is just unsure of her position, if it's not an expected part of being a TA and no one else has to do it, can she refuse? She has as I said done this for a number of years with no problems and all parents have been very grateful, it may just be a clash of personalities between the mum and the TA and the kid is playing on this. I will tell her to speak to the Class Teacher and the Head to see where she goes for here. Thanks very much for reading and taking the time to comment.