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.

But being an early years teacher is easy. You don't need to know much and just get to play all day. Eventually once you're experienced enough you get promoted and get to teach older year groups. If you are really good you can make it all the way up to year 6.

It's not innovative practice Pretty it's streaming/setting which research shows is ineffective in primary age range.

I teach and live in rural areas and it's definitely not common practice. Some schools using RWI in particular set for phonics for one session per day but that's it.

No, you're right, it doesn't.

It says that as long as there is a teacher overseeing no more than 30 (in England) EYFS pupils, then thats OK.

And because this school is so small, the YrR and Yr1 class can be overseen by the same QTS teacher - regardless of the respective locations of the DC's. They don't even have to be on the same site (or landmass) as far as I know!

How wrong you are Rafais - give me year 6 any day - much easier!
I find the reception age the most difficult.

It's not innovative practice Pretty it's streaming/setting which research shows is ineffective in primary age range.

Given the DfE oversight that the area is currently subject to, I'm fairly confident that the highly skills and proven School Improvement Team which has been drafted in know what they are doing.

But being an early years teacher is easy. You don't need to know much and just get to play all day. Eventually once you're experienced enough you get promoted and get to teach older year groups. If you are really good you can make it all the way up to year 6.

Ha ha

Given that you need to draft in a school improvement team I'd worry,

I also know the school - lived there for many years. I actually left to become a teacher!
There is a private school on the island - is that not possible? Otherwise I don't think you have much option as the regulations don't exist really. It's overseen by the bigger place, but the rules are still different - and different again from the mainland.
Have you approached a states member or the clerk of the court to see what the legalities really are?

Given that you need to draft in a school improvement team I'd worry

About what, MrZ?

I'd much rather have reception than year 6. I'd prefer y1 or y2 though.

Jeez Suburban The problem is that the OP doesn't want her reception child taught by an unqualified person. And she really shouldn't have to move house to avoid this.

She shouldn't have to, but she said she can. No-one said it would be easy or straightforward - moving house rarely is. But people do it all the time to be near a good / better school.

It's a big move to make just for a school place though. It would be something to consider in the long term. The OP wouldn't be the only one, I know several people that did the same.

I don't really think there's any impetus for change. There's not really any consequence for not changing and a sort of island mentality about it.

susan the private school sadly closed due to not enough students so it really is this school or no school.

We will approach a states member next.

rafal we had planned to be gone by then but we will have to go earlier if this isn't sorted. I sort of feel a duty to the island and the children left behind (whose parents maybe aren't as interested) to fight it tho.

Ah that's sad. It was a lovely little prep school.
The islanders don't really value education. It's not part of their life really. The odd few who do either send their kids to board, or move away.
It's so sad to hear the school has gone downhill though - when I was there the majority of the teachers genuinely cared and did their best. There were a couple who were a bit shouty on occasion, but no worse than in a mainland school. And the reception and year 1 teachers were bloody lovely and a real inspiration to me.

I might have considered that briefly last year. I'm not sure it's worth it. Susan is right about the value of education and those that do value it either moving or boarding weekly.

And most people won't have anything to compare it to. It's easy to convince yourself that everything is fine if you're not hearing stories from others about what goes on in their children's schools.

Many people will say that the education system as a whole is excellent. It's almost like the two independent reports into it didn't happen.

I don't doubt that in general pastoral care is good. As is access to extra-curricular activities. But the academic side is an issue unless you can afford to pay.

Why setting doesn't work!

mrz I didn't say it was "setting", you have assumed that from the little I have said. I'm not a teacher, but the explainations I have been given do not relate to attainment. Apologies for hijack OP

wonders if she knows Rafals

No you said " in all the primary schools local to me, there is regular movement between classes.
Timetable is are coordinated so that DCs across the whole of KS1, for instance, receive literacy or numeracy at the same time of day, and the pupils integrate across classes"

Setting/streaming call it what you will

criticalpublishing.com/ability-grouping-in-primary-schools-case-studies-and-critical-debates.html

AStreetcarNamedBob, gosh your question has generated a lot of heat. Rather than asking the head to list the member of staff's qualifications, you could just ask "Does X have QTS. If not, is she working towards QTS through a recognised Initial Teacher Training program?".

If you say it is a Freedom of Information request the Head will have to respond, and it's a perfectly reasonable question. (Though I suggest you ask it in a reasonable, polite way rather than in a demanding tone).

Interestingly, all new schools are required to publish details of teacher qualifications to parents before they are approved by Ofsted to open - see the final bullet of para 24(1)(b) here.

I have no idea why this doesn't appear to be a continuing requirement for schools once they're open. Perhaps that is a question for Ofsted.

I was a teacher for over 30 years and have taught everything from reception to PGCE. I can honestly say that Reception was the hardest of all. I used to describe as 'like dancing with aliens'! I only had a reception class for a very short time on supply and asked if I could move after the first couple of days.

Oh my what a thread....

Sorry but it is the school that decides who to employ and judges if they are appropriately qualified for the role and are carrying it out competently.

As a parent your choice is to send your child to the school or to go elsewhere. That's it. If you have a complaint about a teacher - and for that your child needs to be in the school - then you follow the published complaints procedure.

Oh my, t4gnut. You really want to put this uppity parent in her place, don't it?

I don't see why there should be so much secrecy around someone's qualification for the job they are doing. And surely a parent should be interested in the quality of their child's education, isn't that what every teacher prefers in their pupils' parents