Headteacher won't disclose qualifications of TA

[AStreetcarNamedBob]

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.

badda - does that really happen? I've never seen it here in Scotland because you obviously have to be a qualified teacher to y'know, teach. I'm so glad we in Scotland are devolved for Education, it sounds like a right mess across the border.

Hope you get the situation clarified op.

Is it a private school?

I'm presuming this person is already teaching the reception class this year, you have siblings already at the school and are confident your younger child will be offered a place.

Most teachers don't know which class they will be teaching next year yet, so there may be a change by September...some one else may be employed by then.

I'm also presuming there is more than one adult in the class....so two TA but one acting as a teacher?

I'm on my phone so can't link but it's well known that children in an early years setting do better where a qualified teacher is employed, which is why many nurseries employ early years teachers when they don't "need" to.

I'm surprised how any posters on this thread don't think knowing how qualified or experienced a teacher is is any business of a parent.

Under the early years guidelines a reception class MUST have a qualifies teacher for every 30 children in the class (I know this because we got battered by ofsted for having 30 YR and 1 Y1 who was in the process of moving to a specialist setting and Y1 was utter unfit for her)

I'm guessing that the ht is twitchy as maybe she does not hold qts.

It will become more and more common after the academisation of schools. Personally I don't think tas should be covering or teaching unless they have an hlta quail or higher. But then most people think we don't actually need training for the job we do anyway.

A reception class teacher uses the eyfs and not the national curriculum. I have a degree in early years and this qualified me to 'teach' in early years and in academies or private schools.
Eyt is also a recognised teaching qualification in early years.

well shes within her rights to be curious, but not within her rights to know.

Your rights extend to having your child in that school or finding a different school

Exactly this "I'm surprised how any posters on this thread don't think knowing how qualified or experienced a teacher is is any business of a parent"

When my DD was in year 1 she had an utterly rubbish nqt, when I sat down with the HT to go through my concerns it was disclosed to me that the TA was a HLTA and former secondary school English teacher. It massively put my mind at rest.

I dont think OP is out of order for wanting some clarification so that she can make appropriate choices for her child

Since "academisation" hasn't happened yet, why do so many of you seem unconcerned that a potentially unqualified person has sole responsibility for the introduction to learning of an entire class?

Having a piece of paper that says you're a teacher doesn't make you a good teacher though. Either someone is doing a good job or they aren't. I've known very well-qualified but crap teachers and amazing TAs who I'd be much happier with than the teacher.

There is a statutory requirement that maintained nursery and reception are taught by a qualified teacher and I'm afraid the EYT isn't recognised as a school teacher

LynetteScavo Sat 19-Mar-16 07:58:23 I'm surprised how any posters on this thread don't think knowing how qualified or experienced a teacher is any business of a parent.

I fully agree. Given how important education is to parents is it really unreasonable for a parent to seek reassurances?

Becles When we get requests like this, we forward the job description for the role and say that the person was judged to meet the criteria during the recruitment process.

This post suggests that OP is not alone in asking for reassurances that the teacher is qualified for the role they are doing.

Why any school would think that a job description would be an appropriate way to respond to such a FOI request is beyond me.

Why don't you ask the ht for all the teachers CVs that should go down well clear things up

I'm surprised how many people think breaking the law is acceptable

By January, the school will probably be an academy, QTS will no longer be required and the Head will be able to employ whomsoever they want!

There are some unbelievably stupid posts on this thread!

Not in EYFS even independent settings and academies have to comply with the level 6 qualification requirement.

Bonkerz Eyt is also a recognised teaching qualification in early years.

mrz I'm afraid the EYT isn't recognised as a school teacher

I suspect OP will be non the wiser even if they do obtain the information they are asking for.

But as the government are doing away with QTS, there soon won't be any qualified teachers around anyway!

www.gov.uk/government/uploa.../508447/Educational_Excellence_Everywhere.pdf

I agree, in my school, unfortunately we have a few tas that are far better teachers than some of the teachers. However, the main reason hts use tas to teach is not because they are good at the job (sometimes better) but instead to save money. That's what annoys me.

It's a shame there isn't a fast track route for tas to be observed teaching and be offered qts (I know 2 tas who would easily meet the standards, they are fantastic, I'm lucky that one is one of my tas!)

I completely agree with you- I'd want to know if my child's teacher didn't hold QTS.

I'm confused by you knowing they are starting this class next January though- that's 10 months away. Most teachers don't yet know which class they'll be given for September?

Is this a state school in England?

Some very harsh comments on here... In my DS class. TA sometimes covers the whole class but work is set by qualified teachers..I agree qualification does not guarantee a great teacher, however I would far rather a qualified teacher than not..

My Advise Op is look through the whole school though...When I looked at schools I only really concentrated on reception but in hindsight they have another 6 years at that school so look how many more unqualified are in school.

rollonthesummer Sat 19-Mar-16 08:38:26 I'm confused by you knowing they are starting this class next January though

Maybe because the OP hasn't given any background information e.g. sibling, lives 2 doors down from the school etc.

I'm afraid this is going to happen increasingly - unqualified staff will be cheaper, & with the recruitment/retention crisis schools are struggling to find sufficient actual teachers even if they could afford it.

Within a deteriorating system the school will be doing its best; obviously they aren't going to set a precedent of disclosing staff qualifications.

Or they'd be deluged with parents demanding their child be in Reception class A with the 'real' teacher, not Reception B with the TA or Reception C with the Principal's dd doing a Gap Year.

It's right and proper that individual personal information that organisations hold about employees is not disclosed to all and sundry

Shit! I'm in Scotland and would absolutely expect that any teacher in that role be qualified because it's a controlled profession with professional registration. I would utterly expect to be told if my child's main teacher at infant age wasn't actually a teacher!!
I utterly respect the skills of good TAs but if somebody is not qualified and registered as a teacher they should be supervised and not in sole charge of the class's year of learning.
I'm truly shocked that the majority here don't think you even have the right to know this never mind object to it!