Can TA be in charge of class?

[tryingtokeepintune]

Just spoke to someone whose child is in a school I am thinking of sending dd next year. She said that because there are only 15 children in the class, they need only 1 adult. There is a CT (and TA, I think) for 2 and half days and a TA for 2 and half days. I thought there should be a teacher in the class most of the time.

What is the legal position?

Having to rethink about sending dd to the school now.

I agree that some TAs are very experienced etc but I think it shows the school's attitude.

The woman I spoke to said she assumed someone had checked the legal position and although they were very unhappy, there was nothing they could do...It doesn't help that school is in a small affluent community and people want to support their local school - until those who can afford it get fed-up and go private (but no one complains - I think)

Why don't you ask the school about it? When my DS was in reception his teacher had 6 weeks off with illness. The class was covered by two TAs, who were both qualified teachers (they were paid for the period as qualified teachers). Actually they were superior to his normal teacher and the RTP teacher he had the next year (on her final year so she could be in charge of a class).
My DCs school would be very willing to explain if such a situation existed. Don't forget that 10% of time is PPA (often covered by TAs) anyway, and PE might well be taken by a TA or HLTA too.

Talkinpeace my head has a bank of regular supply staff who previously worked either at my school or at his previous school (so we know the quality of their teaching)who we can call on when needed which means we don't need to use unknown agency staff or exploit TAs or break the law.

Sorry I missed the QCA bit in my haste to post. As we don't use QCA (it's absolute a bit rubbish) we wouldn't want anyone who using QCA units.

It is unlawful for a TA unless higher level to be in charge of the children. A cover supervisor dan be in charge, teach the lesson but not plan it, although I have heard some schools ask them to.

Teachers undertake rigerous training in order to teach and have responsibility for the children and their learning

I have worked in support and am also a qualified teacher. No way would I or my head leave a TA in charge, nor would I have felt comfortable to do this as a TA

It is not unlawful for a TA to be in charge of a class for short periods of supervision or under the supervision of a QTS

gillybeanz - You don;t have to be a HLTA to be left in charge of a class. Level 3 TAs can be too.

My DS was in reception last year. It was his 3rd school (due to moving).

1st school - class of 30 yr Rs - full time class teacher and TA - she was studying so had PPA time and at least another half day off a week so DS had a variety of supply teachers for these.

2nd school - class of 30 mixed year Rs and year 1s. Full time teacher and TA

3rd school - class of 11, class teacher 4 mornings a week, head covered all day on 5th day. HLTA who 'provided continuity'.

I had done some voluntary work in the 1st school, so know how the class worked (carpet time, phonics, group time, free play etc).

I had doubts about having a part time teacher, but within 6 weeks of DS being at the 3rd school, Mrs X was established as a very respected teacher in DS's eyes. The proportion of teacher time and attention he had was equal or above what he'd had at the other schools - due to the lower numbers.

Yes the law states this is wrong, but it seems the small schools locally have a choice - 3 classes with FT teachers or 4 classes with a part time teacher in one of the classes. From my experience, this is definitely the best option.

I guess what I'd say to OP in the light of this is go and have a look at the school, meet the HLTA if you can. Has your friend told you about the part time teacher because you 'should be aware...' or because she's a great teacher?

Good luck with your choices!

Hi Cakes - friend told me about part-timne teacher as in - we are not very happy about it but there is nothing we can do. Also, although ta is competent, she is not very dynamic. Feeling is that she is just doing this till she retires in a couple of years time.

I was told next year, because there are almost 30 in the class, they will have a teacher and a ta so dd should be all right.

However, makes me wonder about things like infants nativity, sprots day etc - think teacher will be stretched then.

Give the choice I would pick a school like school 2 rather than either of the others for my children.

the TA in my ds class told me last week that as he didn't like messy play, he was missing out. I wondered whether a qualified teacher would make a statement like this or whether it's fair comment.

Not in those words but I might ask if he engages in messy play outside of school
messy play

mrz - at home he likes helping with dough/ pastry, mixing etc when cooking. I'm an artist, so for instance we painted with acrylics on canvas a couple of weeks ago on the dining room table and the poster paints come out for printmaking too. tbh i'm a bit of a fusspot about wet dirty mess (surprisingly) and food on floor and furniture, so he might have picked up on that.

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but i was really wondering more about the way a TA would have less training than a teacher in communicating with both parents and pupils

My friend is a TA in reception class.
She has bugger all qualifications and regularly takes the class in the independent school she works in.
SHe thinks it's appalling ,both the fact that she is paid crap wages and made to take too much responsibilty and that the parents are non the wiser

In reception the EYFS says children should have a key person and for some children this may be the TA. Personally I see it as my role to be key person for all my class but it varies.