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Primary education

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Original poster

Primary class with no class teacher

40 replies

PansyIvy · 06/12/2020 10:38

My daughter is in Year 1. Her class teacher left the school with little notice this term. The plan is for a TA to cover the class for the last two weeks of term and recruit a new teacher for January. I don’t know how easy the role will be to fill (or difficult).

Should the class not have a teacher for these two weeks? Are there statutory requirements for primary classes to have teachers? My daughter missed half of her Reception year due to school closures, and it has been difficult enough to settle her back in, and now we have further disruption to deal with...

I’m not sure what to do, how much impact this will have, and whether we should try to move her to another school. What would you do in these circumstances?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

JiltedJohnsJulie · 06/12/2020 10:42

I really don't think it will have a huge impact. It's the last two weeks before Christmas which in my experience are usually taken up with things like a Christmas Party.

You could get her to read to you in the evening and ask for some maths homework if you are concerned.

I know that it is worrying that they've missed so many weeks of school already but it's important to remember that all of the other children have missed these weeks too and your DD is in the lucky position that she had years of Primary school left to catch up.

MrsMomoa · 06/12/2020 10:45

Move her to another school because the TA will be taking over for 2 weeks? Seriously?
Your DD and her classmates will be fine.

How do you know the TA isn't a qualified teacher or is in the process of becoming qualified?
The TA will be well supported and the school is being very sensible as there will be less disruption for the kids that way.
If the TA is struggling, they can easily get agency in.

Mumofsend · 06/12/2020 10:51

Its two weeks before Christmas. Not amazingly ideal but not a huge issue for 2 weeks

Rudolphian · 06/12/2020 11:09

Our school is moving to remote learning for the week before Christmas. And next week are having a Christmas party etc. I think most of the next couple of weeks is filled with doing Christmas related activities/ watching a movie etc.

Original poster

PansyIvy · 06/12/2020 11:13

Ok, thank you for the perspective on this. Hoping they can find someone for January!

OP posts:

Sallyjo27 · 06/12/2020 11:19

I’m a HLTA and covered a class for 8 weeks when a teacher was off. The senior leader team helped with planning, checked in to class regularly etc. I can assure you the LSA won’t just be left to do whatever they want x

JiltedJohnsJulie · 06/12/2020 11:34

Ok, thank you for the perspective on this. Hoping they can find someone for January

There is no reason that they won't. DS had a very well established Teacher leave abruptly after just a few weeks in Y4. They managed to get a supply who stayed with them for the rest of the year and all was fine

TwoZeroTwoZero · 06/12/2020 11:35

As a supply teacher this really bugs me. There are fully qualified, experienced teachers readily available to fill the gap but schools don't have the money, or aren't willing to spend the money, to pay for them and would rather do it on the cheap.

caringcarer · 06/12/2020 11:37

The headteacher should get s supply teacher in for 2 weeks. I would email and ask if she has Tried to get s supply teacher in. Headteacher is wrong and knows it. It may be they have no tried but no supply available.

BecomeStronger · 06/12/2020 11:38

These next 2 weeks, it will be fine. Yes, they should have a teacher for January, but I imagine it will have to a be a supply - teachers need to resign in October to start a new job in Jan.

Neverwrestlewithapig · 06/12/2020 11:38

The teaching assistant may well be someone who has been working alongside the Reception teachers for years and so knows the routines and expectations of the school. They are also likely to have been working in your child’s bubble for the past few weeks and so will know the children well.

Piwlyfbicsly · 06/12/2020 11:38

They will find a teacher for January. TAs are not that useless like you imagine them to be. They are capable of teaching and in fact, they do that every day in smaller groups. They participate in every aspect of children's learning every day. Moving to the other school? It's a total overreaction on your part.

HappyChristmasTreeRex · 06/12/2020 11:41

Some schools are not using supply at the moment due to covid, so that might be the reason? Either way, the TA will manage to help the learning continue and there will be all the Christmas craft stuff going on anyway so I'm sure it'll be fine.

ineedaholidaynow · 06/12/2020 11:43

Some schools might have already spent their supply budget, if indeed they had a supply budget

OverTheRainbow88 · 06/12/2020 11:44

@Piwlyfbicsly

OP didn’t say TA was useless but this isn’t their job, hopefully the TA will be paid the same as a qualified teacher for those 2 weeks.

Pinkflipflop85 · 06/12/2020 11:44

Getting in supply teachers is pretty much 'banned' (for want of a better word) in our academy trust because there's no money to pay for it. There hasn't been supply cover in our school for over 3 years now!

As an aside, in many academies, there isn't a requirement for the person in front of the class to be a qualified teacher

kursaalflyer · 06/12/2020 11:45

Poor TA! Although she will be fully able to take the class if she's in my school she won't get paid any more, (well 50p an hour if she's lucky), unpaid planning and marking time and no TA of her own. Shouldn't be allowed.

SillyOldMummy · 06/12/2020 11:46

In our school the HT herself would step in to cover half the day if there was no possibility of a supply teacher. I don't doubt the TA may be capable but it's not really fair on anyone in the classroom.

Also I'd be annoyed if having missed months and months of school "all they do is crafts " in the last few weeks of term.

cabbageking · 06/12/2020 11:46

You want the right teacher for the position not just any teacher.

It isn't unusual to interview and not employ any of the candidates.
There are also specific dates to give your notice in.
The TA knows the children and the push at schools presently is about safety, reassurance, mental health etc.
They are probably better off with someone who knows the system and the children and avoid additional disruption.

Piwlyfbicsly · 06/12/2020 11:51

@OverTheRainbow88
I’m sure OP is not worried about TA’s pay though.
I know many TAs. Some of them have changed careers due to different circumstances but are highly educated people. Many of them also worked in a school for decades so they know exactly well what to do despite having no teacher qualification. In our school TAs often replace teachers during the week to allow them to do the planning and preparation.
There is no need to be dramatic about it. Some children are self isolating and have no chance to go to school at all.
During the summer my children went to the key workers provision and some parents were moaning about children having no teacher. Despite being taught by a TA (they covered home learning curriculum) my DS progressed a lot and came back with books full of work. It’s ok, it’s only 2 weeks.

Justajot · 06/12/2020 12:06

A TA who knows the children and school can be better than a supply teacher (not always, but it is possible).

I've looked at the legal position on a TA teaching. At KS1 and in reception, it is permissible for a TA to teach a class under the supervision and direction of a teacher, but it doesn't make the TA a teacher. As far as I can tell, KS2 and above, anyone can be designated as "a teacher".

littleharissa · 06/12/2020 13:24

Some TA's are qualified to teach so it'll probably be one of those

ScubaSteven · 06/12/2020 13:41

My TA has more teaching experience than I do. Don't be so quick to judge.

And please don't email the head to ask if they've tried to get a supply. Unless you want to be that person course, that's up to you.

PresentingPercy · 06/12/2020 14:57

I would sit tight for this term. However given all the issues around dc being behind, I would expect reading and academic work to continue in the mornings. As it always has done in many schools. Fun Christmas things in the afternoon!

Where I was a governor, the Head would have taken over and/or deputy. For at least part of the day.

It’s never a given a teacher can be recruited for January as the resignation deadline has passed. The school is saving money this term but hopefully a suitable new teacher is waiting in the wings and wants a job. If this isn’t resolved quickly I really would worry! Sometimes schools have their own supply teachers who are former teachers at the school who don’t want permanent work. Sometimes they can organise a job share too. Hopefully they will.

purplewaterfall · 06/12/2020 17:21

Moving her to another school would be a lot more disruptive than having a TA for the last two weeks of Christmas crafts etc before the holiday

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