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.

An nvq level 2 is GCSE level. There is no way on earth I would allow someone so poorly qualified to teach my child.

If she's competent enough to do the job then she's competent enough to be properly qualified.

Being QTS does mean something and have a value even if Osborne and his academies plan says different

Movingon - you won't have a choice. A pulse is practically the only thing a headteacher now needs to ensure in employing someone to teach.

From your later posts I'd say that it's not the fact that the teacher is unqulaified that is the issue it's the fact that she doesn't appear to be good at her job.

That imo is a valid concern to raise with the HT but I'm not sure what weight they will give it as at the moment it's all just local gossip. Are current parents complaining do you know?

Some posters on this thread obviously don't have experience of how small schools operate. Saying things like you might not get a place or the treacher might not be teaching that class just don't apply in small rural schools where everyone gets in and the teachers don't tend to move aroud the classes. That's not relevant here.

I used to live in an area like that and the fact that numbers are so small means that schools couldn't afford to stay open if they had to have a qualified teacher for every class when there might be less than 10 children in the reception class, that's the reality of school funding.

Whao, the people saying that it is none of the OP's business are mad. IMHO, first year at school can make all the difference between a child having a positive feeling about their education or a child being miserable.

I understand that there are teachers out there with all the qualifications and none of the ability, while some TAs may have the ability without the qualifications, but surely teacher training must be good for something?

I suppose you could home ed for the first year, OP?

I know and it's criminal. Although governing bodies can still choose not to have unqualified teachers but that means finding the money from somewhere else and assumes they can find any teachers to recruit.

My last post was to antiqueroadhero

We understand its too expensive to have a QT for 10 children and would be happy for them to be in one class with Year 1 but this isn't really an option, the classroom is too small for them all! It's just a little room, it's a tiny island school and clearly built for about 10 kids per classroom which is what they have.

Other parents have complained about the manner of the TA (I've spoken to 3 of them personally and heard of others) They've all been told that the school is shocked to hear this and nobody else has ever complained and the TA is a lovely angel ... I swear you couldn't make it up!

Well if you already know the qualifications of the teaching assistant why do you need to ask the HT? It seems passive aggressive to ask for information that you already have. If you have a concern raise that with the HT you are going about it the wrong way.

I'm shocked at people who are saying that this is none of the OP's business. I'm in the US; this kind of question would be very reasonable, and in a state school, administrators would have to respond with the information.

OP have some backbone. Email the school and arrange a meeting with this particular TA and ask her yourself. Why have you not done that?

As a parent, you want those people weeded out before they are put in front of your child's GCSE Chemistry class!

Yes!! NNalreadyinuse

There is a huge dropout rate for the PGCE. If there are still 'hopeless' teachers with a PGCE year and an NQT year to weed them out then imagine all the really shite teachers there would be without any barriers to entry.

I agree that many TAs would make fantastic teachers and they should be encouraged to become qualified and get paid properly.

I can't stand the TA bashing that goes on on Mumsnet. It is almost assumed that just because they haven't become teachers then they are failed educators. In my personal and professional experience I've come across many TAs who were infinitely better at teaching than their assigned teachers.

OP - they'll have your number in the staff room after this. Something of an own goal before your son even starts at the school. Well done.

The OP can't just email and arrange to meet the TA, she isn't even a parent at the school. Do you really think that members of the public can go into any workplace and ask employees about their job performance, of course she can't do that.

Until you start at the school OP I don't think you have any options unfortunately other than to plan a move if you're still not happy in January

skiptothegoodbit it's not about TA bashing it's about a women doing a job that she isn't qualified to do.

For example a taxi driver without a driving licence. She might be a fab driver but if she's going to drive my children about in her car I'd like her to have the licence to do so.

It's not fair on her either as she's being vastly underpaid for the role she is having to perform.

I can't stand the TA bashing that goes on on Mumsnet. It is almost assumed that just because they haven't become teachers then they are failed educators

Bollocks.

There are some fab TAs. They are not teachers though and if they want to teach, should be qualified and paid properly.

Clearly I'm in a minority though and when Nicky Morgan has her way, any passer-by will be able to teach your kids. Good luck with that-can't think what could possibly go wrong.

mouldycheese I'm not certain of the qualifications or I wouldn't have to ask. I'm very confident but obviously the first step is to get that clarified before being able to do anything else

senecafalls yes in the USA the law says you are entitled to know the qualifications of anyone teaching your child.

Are there really that many parents out there using child minders/teachers/doctors etc and not caring if they're licenced or registered or qualified? Thinking it's not their business when it involves their CHILD?

Why do you think it's a matter of not caring?

I trust my child's school to employ people who will educate my child well. Beyond that, I don't think the details matter.

OPwhy did you not state you were in the US in the first place. Would have made this thread a lot easier and im,sure the comments would have been different.

Some disparaging remarks about NVQ2 TA qualification.
I was on a 38 week course, 2 1/2 hours tuition at Night School, a week,at LEAST 10 hours a week ( voluntary ) in school to build up a huge portfolio, had observations, not dissimilar to trainee teachers, and all my work had to be cross-reference and properly witnessed and signed off!!! There was huge dropout during the course.

You make it sound like something any old body could rattle off!

I would like to have gone on to HLTA , but it was stopped in our area.( cuts), and schools aren't prepared to pay you for that level , anyway .
I've thought about a degree, but I can't afford to do it, and anyway, it wouldn't get me any more money if I did. But I've been a TA for 8 years now, and have learned " on the job" and I'm just as able to deliver a lesson as a teacher, while managing behaviour. I just don't have the hassle of the copious amounts of paperwork/data crunching etc that a qualified teacher has. (Though there is plenty of that as well!)

However, in this case, I don't think it is right to not have a fully qualified teacher in charge of the class, permanently.

Our current nursery teacher returned to work as a TA for a year, and the following year became the Teacher.

Do the USA have QTS?

I know it varies from state to state but teachers have to be certified

Sorry, but NVQs are nothing like a teaching qualification! Yes, an NVQ is a fine qualification for someone working under supervision with children, but in my children's nursery someone with a level 2 qual isn't ever left alone with children.

Can someone with a level 2 NVQ be left alone with 10 Reception age children? I think the ratio in the EYFS is 1:8 isn't it?

I think the ratio in the EYFS is 1:8 isn't it?

Well as the OP is not in the UK what is done here is irrelevant, also I believe in most reception classes there is only a teacher and one nursery nurse/early years worker/TA.

Maybe there is nothing the school can do about it, perhaps because of a lack of QTS qualified staff who want to work on the school/live on the island? A TA with a qualified teacher in the next room supervising/planning lessons is probably the only option the HT has.

The ratio with a qualified teacher is different to an unqualified person in the EYFS.