No teacher in reception class, just TA

[madhairgirl]

I was in m DS reception class this afternoon to listen to children read and they had no teacher just the TA from Y2 who isn't qualified. Is this standard if teacher has gone home ill? I think I just felt uncomfortable because she seemed to have little control over the class and little knowledge of their routines. At one stage all the children stood up and where looking out of the window and because they were pushing and shoving they managed to knock some shelving over. Just feel a bit concerned.

[mrz]

It's over five years since the thread closed !

[viques]

I know qualified teachers who choose to work as ta, so not a good idea to diss a ta's qualifications!

[jamdonut]

Urge! Just wrote all that then saw that it's a zombie thread!!!

[jamdonut]

On PPA afternoon, I supervise the class for 15 minutes after lunch break, before the teacher who takes them for the first part of their afternoon activities takes over. I then go with them to that activity. Then when the sport instructor comes to take them to their activity, I get a rare 1/2 hour to get my own preparation for my groups sorted, or make a display or some other job. Then, I supervise their last 10-15 minutes while they get changed and get ready to go home and I ( and the TA from the other class) supervise dismissal of our classes in exactly the same way as the teachers do if they are there .We have both done this for years and are experienced, and well trained.
In our Local Authority, we are classed as level 2 TAs, but our job descriptions include being used in this way. As far as I know, it is the same with the TAs in the other local schools.
They (LA) stopped training HLTAs a few years ago to save money. Level 3 is almost unheard of, unless they have a more managerial role, like our nurture TA who has a significant amount of decision - making and planning to do.

It really does seem to depend on the Local Authority's interpretation.
Unions have been involved before, but at the moment, we would all rather have a job than quibble about it.

[Scabetty]

I have a first class degree in early childhood studies and 10 years ks1 experience. I have 5 years in year 2 and know more than the nqt but I am not paid to teach the class and my head if year respects that.

[mrz]

Zombie thread

[sioux66]

I am a HLTA I have achieved this status from the Teacher Training council and had to show competency and ability in almost all of the teacher training standards. Additionally, I obtained a Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning. I feel completely qualified.. In my school I teach a reception class one day per week, a year six class one day per week, the opposite year six class one day per week and run intervention classes at other times. As well as this, I can be asked to drop everything to cover any other class. It can be upsetting to be called "just a TA". I plan, assess, teach and evaluate all of my own lessons. I am well paid for my role and enjoy my job immensely.

[spammertime]

Sorry reviving old thread but it's relevant.

My son (reception) has just had the TA covering for 4 days of sick leave (his proper teacher was back this morning). She hasn't been on her own as there has either been another TA or a long term volunteer (new graduate unable to get placement) helping her. Just to add here the TA is wonderful, fantastic etc.

However - it seems bitterly unfair that she has been left to cover for a long time without a qualified teacher there to assist (this is a small school, the head was out for 3 days of the 4 that the reception teacher was off for, another member of staff was off sick too so I know there was no capacity for anyone to overflow).

Should I / How do I approach this? I would like to get some reassurance from the head teacher that procedures are being followed, however I am also understanding that this is probably a budgetary problem. Any suggestions?

[CardyMow]

I would LOVE to know how my DS's school manages to fund the wages of the 'extra' qualified teacher they have who covers the PPA for all the other teachers. He does two days teaching to cover the Deputy Head, who teaches 3 days a week, and on the other 3 days, he covers the PPA for the other class teachers in the juniors.

And he's lovely.

It is a big school though - in 7 years it has gone from having 210 pupils to having 415. And still growing.

[ConstantlyCooking]

OK I have now had far too much coffee as I am correcting non-existant mistakes.

[ConstantlyCooking]

it's obviously

[ConstantlyCooking]

This is not unusual. I worked as a supply teacher until last Christmas and had noticed that several bookings were cancelled when the head teacher decided that a TA could cover a one-day absence. To be fair in reception TAs are usually very good and qualified, so as a parent I would be happy with that especially as the children would know the TA. However, I would not be happy about having an unfamilar TA drafted in from a different class, especially if she did not have Early Years' experience as it is a v different environment.

[IAmRubyLennox]

Great, thanks for clarifying, Hulababy. I don't particularly want to take them on my own, I have to stress!

[Hulababy]

No not really as yiu are employed as an entry level TA. If you were employed at a higher level, then yes - you could be expected to do it.

Likewise I am a qualified, experieced teacher. But I am employed as a TA, so my job expectations must reflect that - not my teacher abilities.

[IAmRubyLennox]

So just to clarify - I'm a TA qualified to NVQ Level 4, but I'm employed as an entry-level TA (that's what the vacancy was, plus I'm newly qualified)

Am I allowed to cover my class teacher's PPA or not?

(I don't at the moment, there's an HLTA that does it. I'm on my own with groups of 6 children for intervention groups, but the only time I have the whole class on my own is for five minutes here or there if the teacher is called away, or if I've just brought them all in from break or something. Or wet play )

[Hulababy]

A HLTA shouldn't be just letting the children do choosing time all the time though - unless it is their golden time perhaps.

[lovingthecoast]

Blimey, Juniper! Are you teaching in central London? TA jobs round here (sth coast) are like hens' teeth!

[lovingthecoast]

I'm now a TA after teaching for many years and I'm loving it! I pretty much get to be in the environment I love without the hassle.

I have to say, that I would almost always rather my kids were supervised/taught by their very competent TAs for an afternoon than by a supply teacher. Whilst some supply teachers are good, the vast majority I have come across have been truly awful. Much better the continuity and warmth of someone who knows them and has an interest in them that extends beyond 3.15 that day.

[juniper904]

Most of the TAs in my school are agency staff. They're all actors waiting for casting calls, and doing the job to get a bit of £££ in their pockets first.

As soon as they get an acting job, they leave with no notice. The kids form relationships and then poof the person goes. Often without even a goodbye.

On the whole, they have an appalling attitude towards the children too. They are impatient, they shout, they're blatantly bored out of their faces, they send texts whilst in class and on duty, they work the absolute minimum they can and they have no initiative.

Not all of our TAs are like that. Some are fantastic (like mine).

[ohnevermind]

I agree that TAs should not be used to cover classes unless there is an emergency. The school where I work has started to use TAs to cover PPA and NQT time. Now the children in Year 2 are having to have catch up classes because they have fallen behind and will not do well enough in their SATs. Can't be a coincidence.

The TAs in our school are very good but I sometimes wince at what they do when left to their own devices.

In my son's class there is a HLTA who has recently been covering the class a lot as the the teacher has some health problems and is often away or can't do a full day. The HLTA seems very capable but she is left alone to manage the class whereas there would normally be two adults. My son loves it because he gets to do lots of choosing on those days.

[exoticfruits]

From the teacher's point of view I was the preferable choice because they told me what to cover and I did all the preparation and planning and marking.
There are plenty of qualified teachers who would like to work part time and would be happy to get to know the school and be a regular part of it.
It is simply cheap labour. If I was a TA I would refuse to do it for the money, but I expect they are coerced into it.

[Clawdy]

Exactly what happened in my local school, exoticfruits I had been doing regular supply with another teacher,covering courses and illness,knew all the children and staff. Now most of that work is covered by TAs to save money. The rest of the staff are unhappy because they lose the invaluable support of their TAs working alongside them in their classes. The TAs are unhappy because they are not paid enough for the extra responsibility.And I'm not happy because I've lost work I enjoyed.

[exoticfruits]

I have never worked for an agency. I worked directly for a small handful of schools and knew every DC in the schools.