Teaching assistants - Are you expected to go in when your children are ill

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Just that really. I am currently working at my dc's school as a paid ta at lunchtime. I also volunteer a couple of days a week whilst I study for the level 3 diploma in specialist teaching and learning in schools. I am also used as supply ta cover as and when required. My problem is that my ds is currently off sick with a sickness bug. Started early hours of this morning and last episode of sickness was at 8.30 this morning. I am supposed to be working this week to cover sickness but obviously I called in this morning to say ds was ill and neither of us would be in. I am not however sure what I should do about tomorrow. Ds can't go in even if he is well as per the 48 hour rule but I am in two minds as to whether I should try and get child care so I can still go in. Normally, I would only be working lunchtime so I would go in and get someone to take ds for me for an hour but I am supply this week so not sure what is expected really. What happens at your school?. Are you expected to get child care in place to look after your sick child or is it just a given that you will be off until they are better. Any guidance appreciated.

The law says that you are allowed "reasonable time off to deal with a family emergency". It does not, however, give any definition to what length of time is reasonable. For example: your child is ill and you are called at work to pick them up from school. You take the time off and are able to arrange for a family member to look after them the following day if they are not well enough to go back to school. However, you may not have family available to do that so you may need to take another day off to care for them. Both these situations are "reasonable" taking into account individual circumstances. If you need an extended period of leave you might have to negotiate some unpaid time off (time off for dependents is not paid), make the time up or take holiday of you are able to. Speak to the school and see what they usually do. You can't be the first employee who has been in such a position.

www.gov.uk/time-off-for-dependants

I get 5 family sick days and thereafter it's unpaid leave.

I am a teacher, but at our school the general rule of thumb would be to be given 24 hours off to look after children if they were sick, and thereafter we would be expected to try and sort out alternative childcare for them. Obviously each case is looked at individually though as circumstances are different for each member of staff.