No qualified teacher in class for two terms

[Belinda61]

My dd is just finishing her first term at primary school this week. She's settled in really well but we have just been told her teacher is leaving as of the end of term and they have no plans to replace her. The class will be looked after permanently by TAs. I understand that they are well qualified TAs, but that seems an awfully long time to be without a qualified teacher.
I've phoned the department of education and they told me that this was perfectly legal.
Has anyone else found themselves in this position? I'm so worried about her education suffering if she doesn't see another teacher until September, she's just starting to learn to read and write and generally lay the foundations for future learning. But equally changing schools just after she has settled in seems unfair (and that's if I can get a place for her elsewhere).
Does anyone know of any legislation or best practice guidance out there that I can use to back me up when I raise my concerns with the school?
Apologies if this is a repeated thread, happy to be pointed back to another one, but the only ones l could find were a bit out of date.
Thanks!

Yes, Battleax, you are correct. But, as I said, it's very easy to force a TA out by reducing their hours to a stupidly low level and many TAs will do what they are asked and keep their job, rather than have the difficulty of finding another job. I can't remember the last time I saw a TA job advertised in this borough.

I hope all the TAs involved are keeping records of hours actually worked (and quietly joining a union). You never know when it might blow up into an embarrassing situation for the school or LA that TAs can "helpfully contribute to".

Any TA (or teacher) not in a union is either a fool or very naive. TAs like teachers need legal protection.

Only just seen this thread but OP send to have disappeared?
Is the school one form entry?

I have QTS. I was a TA before then, took home about £700 a month, contracted for 25 hours a week (so literally just lessons). We were occasionally asked to cover classes, and did used to insist we were paid at least cover supervisor rates for that hour. If I was to be a ta again, I would ask for extra payment to the level of someone with QTS. (I was on UPS 1 before I quit)

I don't know if I'll go back to teaching post babies. I'm a chemistry teacher so probably in demand but I'm not sure I want to do it to myself and my family, frankly.

We are all in unions but they are not TA specific eg GMB, Unison. We need our own! And even hitting and exceeding CPD targets we are told no money so don't even ask (for a one off 1% payment of £100) so asking for overtime is an absolute no. This includes training and staff meetings. The only time overtime is paid is for safeguarding training. Don't like it? There's the door. Don't want to cover for no extra money and without TA support? Bust you down to Level1or 2. We are treated appallingly. We need nationwide standards/support/pay structure. And I agree about standing ground for overtime but it falls on deaf ears!

Even a teacher on UPS3 can be paid MS 1 if changing schools.

That's it, runningoutofjuice. Our unions are general rather than specific. Last time I needed to speak to mine I discovered that the schools rep only works school hours and no holidays. The national helpline could only refer me back to the local branch. Thankfully, I was able to sort out my issue without their help, otherwise I'd have been stuffed.
Unfortunately, unlike the specific teacher's unions, our unions have so many other groups of workers to support, that they are not strong enough or, frankly, knowledgeable enough about the specifics of education. Maybe the teacher's unions should extend coverage to TAs?

Anyway, as things stand, TAs are simply not in a position to make the demands some of you want them to. And because we genuinely want to do the best job we can for the children and teachers we support, we will continue to attend training, work during our lunchtime or come in a bit earlier, go home a bit later, all unpaid.

The teaching union helplines aren't much better. When I had a problem they sent out some pamphlets really unhelpful.

I work as a full time TA and in the past in other Primary Schools I have been left with the whole class of 30 with the teachers plans to follow on my own. This would often happen if the teacher was off ill or on training. I didn't think it was fair as I was lucky to earn £40 a day if that. I also found my self doing PPA 2 times a week with the amazing subjects - Music, RE, PE and Welsh (can't even speak it!) not to mention to do all my other TA jobs - hearing all the readers, changing books etc...

Overall it was a nightmare. The headteachers argument was that the supply staff were not good enough, we would often get very young and new qualified teachers and they would sometimes struggle. So he thought the TA's could do it and made out to the parents we were better. Although that's nice to be trusted it's not fair on the children and it's not fair on the TA's. They do it to save money a TA earns around £40 a day whereas supply would cost the school over £100 a day.

Some TA's would make great teachers but at the end of the day we are not qualified and shouldn't be doing it!

I always remember on a PPA day I'd have the class from 1pm - 3.15pm and the teacher would always magically appear to dismiss the class at 3.10pm the parents were not daft though as the children would all say I'd been looking after them!

Thankfully now I work at a different school and can actually do my job as a TA. The odd time I may get left with the class but just to do a story or a game which I don't mind doing at all.

I have worked in many schools now though and it happens everywhere!

Circling right back; The ATL are extremely keen to recruit TA members and when the merger with the NUT goes through they'll benefit from that heft. ( I meant to come back much sooner but it slips my mind.)

It's gone through and the NEU are recruiting members

I agree admission that schools must consider their staffing budgets very carefully and that governors should be rigorous in ensuring that SLT are not top heavy or have inflated salaries.

However, as a former primary school governor, who resigned over a similar issue, it isn't as easy as it sounds. If teachers meet their performance management targets, they are entitled to move to the next scale point. I think that is perfectly acceptable and fair. What I objected to was the secondment of two assistant head teachers in the school, for reasons that I considered to be not in the best interests of the school and it's pupils. I was a lone voice however, many not prepared to oppose the Head teacher. I was not the first to resign. The governing body personnel changed considerably over the time I was there and there were no experienced governors left. It's wrong, but sometimes it isn't as easy as it sounds to oppose the Head.

That'll teach me to read from a paper backlog norest.

Throughout my sons junior education he has mostly been taught by newly qualified/training teachers. A lot of the time they are out of the class so the TA steps in.This year he has a Head of Year, again hardly in the class either out at meetings or supporting the very many school sporting events taking place outside school. Therefore, the TA is usually left teaching the class. He actually prefers the TA, I really like her too but doesn't mean he is getting the best chance in his education. He got slightly behind in maths during year 4 and since then I have supplemented his education with a tutoring club. On paper no will will know that it wasn't down to the schools efforts he has starting to thrive again, it was down to the paid tutor!

bettyboo90 I always remember on a PPA day I'd have the class from 1pm - 3.15pm and the teacher would always magically appear to dismiss the class at 3.10pm the parents were not daft though as the children would all say I'd been looking after them!

Exactly what happens in my sons class and yes, you are absolutely right our children do tell us!

Governors and head teachers in my LA are taking very tough decisions. At least 6 schools have closed this academic year due to current and projected deficit budgets.

Six!?

Foxy, it's really depressing to hear that as a parent. Our school have HT, deputy head, and 2 assistant head teachers, while letting go experienced HTLAs, reasoning being school cannot afford them.

School went really downhill in last couple of years.

2 x maternity leaves (mat cover got pregnant!) and a teacher signed off with stress coming in as and when she feels like it as far as I can tell have really screwed up my dd1 over the last 3 terms.

Why is it now so unrealistic to have 1 teacher teaching you the whole year?! When did that become a dream? I don't remember my teachers needing a whole day out of the classroom for 'planning' either.

We are in a particularly shit county for schools (but overall a wealthy one) and it often feels like anyone who can possibly contemplate private schools is being pushed to do it. We probably will do now.

" I don't remember my teachers needing a whole day out of the classroom for 'planning' either." Teachers don't get a whole day out of the classroom for planning. They get 10% of their teaching timetable as part of the workload agreement. It can be broken down into 30 minute blocks. Instead of reducing bureaucracy (all the additional paperwork introduced in the last decade) the DfE in their wisdom thought the best solution was to remove teachers from the classroom.

At our school the teachers are only in the classroom 4 days a week.

DfE have really, really stuffed up state schooling. I cant believe how different it is to what DH and I remember, and we live in a much more privileged area now than either of us grew up in.

If the school can afford to give every teacher a full day out of the classroom they're obviously much better off than any school I know. It's over and beyond entitlement. For what it's worth I'd much rather be in the classroom full time than filling in bits of paper.

Thanks for that norest - it helps to know thats not standard as we decide what to do. I would have assumed the teachers agree, but I am wondering now. The head is not the best leader Ive ever come across.

We are in one of the most poorly funded counties.

It's not really to do with counties, but how the authority shares out the money . My school is in a leafy suburb so gets nothing in comparison to others nearby.