TA constantly teaching - teacher away

[StarUtopia]

How long is this acceptable for? She's a fab TA but she is not a qualified teacher. Would you be happy with this? I imagine it's to save cost on getting in a supply teacher with budgets the way that they are.

Seeing as there's nothing you can do about it, what does it matter?

TAs are allowed to deliver content as long as the actual lesson has been planned by a qualified teacher. How long has this been going on for?

Of course it matters. Would you be happy with dental nurses standing in for dentists!?

user * 7 weeks or so. Key subjects too (i.e not just topic work, RE etc)

TA

7 weeks isn't acceptable even if she is an HLTA unless the school is an academy

Blame the Tories for their policies and cuts on education. It's well known there is a teacher shortage crisis in this country.

My Dsis was a teacher.

Blame the Tories for their policies and cuts on education. It's well known there is a teacher shortage crisis in this country.

Yep-expect this all over the place come September.

User is right in that TAs can deliver lessons that have been planned by a teacher. Depending on the type of school, they don't really need to have qualified teachers anyway.

I would suspect that either the school can't afford anything else or they can't get anyone else. You can speak to the school about it but you can only express your displeasure. You cannot force change and I doubt the school are happy about it anyway.

Are you going to move schools? Home educate? Make a formal complaint?

You can't change school.

I am sure you can raise this with teacher/deputy head, but the answer will be, there is no money. I am a school governor and you cannot imagine just how close to the edge many schools are.

Blame budget cuts. In-house TAs are more affordable then bringing in supply teachers. And at least they know the children.

I could home educate as I'm a qualified teacher myself. Just I have been out of full time classroom work for 4 years so I didn't know if protocol had changed. I'm still working in education though.

I feel annoyed that the school is basically undermining (in my mind) the teaching profession by allowing someone who is unqualified to take over on a semi-permanent basis. Watching and supporting a teacher teach does not qualify anyone (however fabulous they are) to teach themselves. Or else, what is the point of a degree/PGCE etc? My PGCE was incredibly competitive to get onto, relentless in terms of assessment and work throughout the year and we were taught by exceptional teachers, real artists of their craft. One of my proudest moments when I achieved QTS, and another one a year later after passing my NQT year.

It doesn't help that this particular TA barely scrapped a pass on their own GCSEs (lovely as she is as a person)

Thinking I should have just become a TA all those years ago and avoided £10k of debt!

Will have a quiet word and just see what the longer term plan is.

Ewe That is a good point re knowing the children.

Is it an academy?

No, not an academy.

I'm sure this particular TA isn't thrilled to be covering a class for this long. Who would be? She probably barely earns more than the minimum wage and she shouldn't be put in the position where she has to do this for more than an ocassional afternoon. It's far from ideal for her but what can she do? Tory budget cuts are entirely to blame for this mess.

User I do agree. It's not fair on her either. She does seem very stressed (not surprisingly)

I hope she has another TA to support her. Completely unfair otherwise.

I agree OP. This is exactly why I didn't complete my TA training. I saw this go on.

I don't think it is right. All children deserve a decent standard of education and I wouldn't be happy with this, I know many parents at my children's school wouldn't either. Also, it isn't fair on the TA, unlikely she is being paid anything additional! Email to the Head!

I'm a teacher and mum of a school aged child. It's completely unacceptable, but it's happening a lot now. School budget cuts are to blame as schools can't afford supply costs. However, this will have a detrimental effect on your child's education.
I would have a chat with some other mums and get organised. You'll have more impact if it's not just you.

Do go and talk to the head about this. It really isn't on and schools have insurance to cover supply teachers for when regular teachers are off sick. Don't assume like the pp said that you can't change the school. If you get no joy from the head take it further to the governors or the county. I really wouldn't be happy with this.

Star, I agree with your point re: how competitive it is to do the primary PGCE. Sadly, I think many leave before or just after qualifying.

Id ask when they will be getting a qualified teacher. It may not help but you can still ask. Poor woman doing a teacher's job on a TA salary.