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Original poster

Headteacher won't disclose qualifications of TA

308 replies

AStreetcarNamedBob · 19/03/2016 04:57

My son starts reception in January and it's a long story but the "teacher" is actually a TA

I've emailed the head master and asked to know what Mrs Xs qualifications are (ie QTS or NVQ level 3 or whatever)

He has refused to disclose saying that he won't discuss his staff without a good reason. Apparently the fact that my son is going to be entrusted to this women for 6 hours a day is not a good enough reason to be told her qualifications.

Would this surprise you? Does it seem an unreasonable question. The head is acting as shocked as if I were asking something personal like what colour pants she wears.

All I wanted was a response saying Mrs X holds a level X in early years studies or something.

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HarveySchlumpfenburger · 24/03/2016 21:46

I think private day nurseries can run with an NVQ 3 as lead, but it requires a 1:8 ratio.

State run day nurseries can use an EY teacher with a level 6 and can run with a ratio of 1:8

For a reception class in a maintained school the teacher needs to have QTS though (as far as I know). Academies can do what they like.

The one that confuses me is nurseries with 39+ children, 1 level 6 and 2 or more lower level staff. It makes no sense given the 1:30 ratio in a reception class. Even with extra TAs you'd need an additional teacher once you went over 30.

twelly · 24/03/2016 21:54

It would not be appropriate to give this sort of information to a parent, the teacher has been appointed and the school have been satisfied that she has the skills, relevant experience and qualifications to do this job.

mrz · 24/03/2016 21:58

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Headteacher won't disclose qualifications of TA
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 24/03/2016 22:06

I'm sure it's legal. It just doesn't seem very logical.

If you were to run a reception class of 4-5yr olds with the same ratio, it wouldn't be legal, yet for 3-4 year olds it is.

mrz · 24/03/2016 22:18

Somewhere it says schools should employ another teacher if nursery classes exceed 30?

mrz · 24/03/2016 22:25

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Headteacher won't disclose qualifications of TA
madamginger · 24/03/2016 22:40

I wouldn't be happy with a TA teaching a class full time.
My DCs school has a reception class of 39 and they have 1 QTS, 1 NQT and 3 TAs.

Isthatwhatdemonsdo · 25/03/2016 10:33

Lower class of teaching assistant! That says it all really don't it.

Ditsy4 · 25/03/2016 11:25

Level 2 in England is not allowed to have a group outside the classroom. Level 3 and above can take/ teach a group in a different room. HLTAs can teach whole classes.
If it is a state run school you could(if you wanted to stir a can of worms) ask the Local Education Authority!

Where I work the children move between classes. There are two teachers and a Senior TA in there. We have more than one year intake but some bright Reception children move too.
It is thoughout the day not just for English and Maths. I have known other schools that do this. One had open plan. Reception and Year 1 all together.Child centred learning.Over 90 kids, it was a nightmare. I was on supply. There was lots of staff but noise level was high. The next Headteacher built the walls up and made separate classes.
I would imagine the teacher will be teaching them some of the time. What happened this year?
Nursery. A Level 3 can be in charge of a private nursery. Nursery Nurses are highly qualified ( 2 years full time- oldNNEB) were often in Officer-in-Charge positions.

I would be concerned if the said person was wholly teaching the class. I would weigh up the benefits of living on the island with the rest of the years of teaching at the school. If the rest is good then it should be worth staying. Infant staff do occasionally shout as it can be quite noisy. I use a bell if I go in there." Listen for the bell." It works a treat. Then you can tell them what to do.
The teacher will be doing the planning and she will have to follow it. An experienced TA can be very good. Her knowledge of phonics may be excellent as I have known TAs to be more experienced in this field than some teachers.perhaps telling the Head you are considering leaving the island because of this will be a good enough reason to give him. My children went to a small school and my sisters went to an island school and they do tend to bend the rules a bit more but the education that they gain in other areas like nature/ science was greater than a larger school. In our school recently the could not name a tree ( other than Christmas tree) whereas if I went to our village school I bet the could rattle off about ten because the school is surrounding by trees of different species and they have access to a private wood too. It is a difficult decision to make.

Ditsy4 · 25/03/2016 11:28

Oops the Yr 3/ 4 children.
Sorry for such a long post but I hope it helps.

tomatoIzzy · 25/03/2016 11:57

It comes across as if you are questioning the headmaster and school set-up, and judging the quality of the teacher before your son has even started the school.

You do have the right to know what level of qualifications she has but do you know enough about education to know what they mean when you have the information?

I worked for three years as a TA, I have an OTT and I was doing my masters. I needed time more than money, over qualified TAs are not rare. Many speech therapists and educational psycologists work as TAs while they train, many teachers who don't need the money or hassle of having a class or graduates that need to get experience before they can be accepted onto a teacher training course work as TAs. Career TAs also receive extensive training.

tomatoIzzy · 25/03/2016 12:17

If it's a small island community what are the alternatives? Is there a qualified teacher that could be employed if you took this further and found it to be illegal? Would the school easily be able to employ a teacher from the mainland? Surely it's more difficult than it would be in a city.

mercifulTehlu · 25/03/2016 12:20

Exactly - it's hard enough to get decent applicants for jobs in big, well-equipped, easily accessible schools. Rural schools must often have a very limited pool of possible employees.

mrz · 25/03/2016 12:57

It's not a good excuse would you be happy if your doctors surgery said sorry we can't find a doctor so we emplyed a receptionist to treat your illness? Or when you go for surgery they say I know he's not a surgeon but we couldn't find one and I'm sure the porter will do an excellent job he's very experienced working in hospitals?

Original poster
AStreetcarNamedBob · 25/03/2016 13:27

Yes, what mrz said.

OP posts:
tomatoIzzy · 25/03/2016 15:12

No you can't compare the situation to a doctor being replaced with a secretary or porter Confused

It's more like saying we haven't got an accountant to do your tax return, we have a trainee or book keeper instead. They may or may not be good depending on how thorough, committed and intelligent they are. Keep it in perspective!

KittyOShea · 25/03/2016 15:15

Maybe not a porter but you could compare to a nurse. Still wouldn't want anyone other than a doctor operating on me. And as a teacher I wouldn't want anyone other than a qualified teacher educating my child.

mrz · 25/03/2016 15:25

How about a law clerk instead of a barrister or a nail technician when you want your hair cut or a physiotherapist when you want a midwife? The point is they may work in the same building but they have a different skill set and different qualifications and responsibilities.

tomatoIzzy · 25/03/2016 15:40

No not really, teacher's and TAs work with the same group of children and do similar things. They use the same skills. Teachers do not have nearly the same level of skills and training as doctors and lawyers. That is not a like for like comparison.

mrz · 25/03/2016 15:52

And TAs don't generally have the same level of training as a nurse so your comparison is flawed.
A level 2 TA might not have GCSE English and Maths and training could entail six months of one day a week in school and half a day in college

mrz · 25/03/2016 15:54

Or worse still an internet course as one applicant I know

FairyDustDreamer · 25/03/2016 15:58

Not all distance learning courses are crap!
I am a TA and do not run classes as fairly new to role and certainly not qualified or experienced enough to do so.
However, have had 'career' in previous life and am qualified at MA level.
TAs intelligence or life experience should not be belittled....

Fedup21 · 25/03/2016 16:00

No not really, teacher's and TAs work with the same group

Nurses, hospital cleaners and auxiliaries work with the same group of people. I wouldn't want a cleaner responsible for administering my medication or checking my blood pressure was normal.

Its a sad state of affairs when people really don't think a teaching qualification is worth the paper it's written on.

mrz · 25/03/2016 16:07

Certainly don't want my surgeon or hairdresser to have qualified via the distance learning route just as I don't want my child taught by someone who qualified over the Internet.
It's not belittling anyone just a reality check. I could point to a school bursting at the seems with TAs taking intervention groups with no qualification whatsoever who got the job by volunteering and are paid a pittance.

FairyDustDreamer · 25/03/2016 16:25

A distance learning course can be supported by a school I know. Not enough on their own without work experience I agree.
I do know some unqualified TAs who have worked in role for over 20 years.
They are brilliant, do interventions, kept at low level pay and I believe are undervalued and under rewarded financially.