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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Y2 class being taught by HLTA

59 replies

notanotherclairebear · 18/11/2023 17:04

DS is in Y2 and his class teacher is on long-term sick leave. She has not taught a single day yet this year. For context, she was his teacher in YR and was absent for most of the year, and most of last year too, so I have no reason to believe that she will be returning any time soon.

DS has been taught by another teacher since September. We were told that this was a long-term plan, but last week we got a letter saying that she is reducing her hours and will be teaching 1 day a week, plus covering the new teacher's PPA one afternoon a week.

I have just found out from another parent that the person becoming the substantive teacher for DS is in fact a HLTA rather than a teacher. I feel unsettled and uncomfortable about this - particularly given that YR was very disrupted (and anecdotal conversation with other parents suggests that children in his YR class are behind the other class in reading and English).

WWYD? I'm assuming the school has no funding for a FT teacher, because they are paying sick leave on a long-term basis. It's a small school so likely doesn't have a teacher's salary to spare. Is it legal for a TA to be the class 'teacher' in a maintained school?

I'd like to make it clear that I'm sure the TA is lovely and wonderful at her job; but surely the reason teachers need to qualify is that their role is more skilled than that of a TA?

I'm increasingly frustrated that my child's education is being compromised for a second year. The school has opted out of the SATs for Y2 so there's no accountability there either... Short of moving him to another school, what can I do?!

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crumblingschools · 18/11/2023 17:07

You’ll probably find it is the same in other schools too! Even if the school could afford a teacher they probably can’t recruit one

Original poster

notanotherclairebear · 18/11/2023 17:13

@crumblingschools do you know if there's a legal requirement for classes to be taught by a qualified teacher? It just seems mad that it's acceptable to bring in a TA to do the job of a teacher!

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Octavia64 · 18/11/2023 17:16

Schools can buy sickness insurance. It usually covers from the fourth day of sickness. It's really really expensive though, and not all schools have it.

So they may be struggling financially with the sick pay.

That having been said, while another permanent teacher is obviously the best solution, there are situations where using a HLTA who knows that class is a better solution, in the short term.

Unless the HLTA is also a qualified teacher (a surprisingly large number are) and is stepping up, it tends not to be a good solution in the long term - teacher workload is much much higher than HLTA workload (mostly paperwork) and few HLTAs are prepared to stick it for more than a few months.

Octavia64 · 18/11/2023 17:17

There is no legal requirement for classes to be taught by a qualified teacher.

LilithImpala67 · 18/11/2023 17:19

If it is an Academy or an Independent school they do not have to be qualified teachers . State schools run by the council are required to have qualified teachers.

Aramist · 18/11/2023 17:20

Even if they were legally required, they can't magic a qualified teacher out of thin air.

Original poster

notanotherclairebear · 18/11/2023 17:26

LilithImpala67 · 18/11/2023 17:19

If it is an Academy or an Independent school they do not have to be qualified teachers . State schools run by the council are required to have qualified teachers.

It's a state school. This was my understanding too, but I don't work in education so wasn't sure I'd interpreted the information correctly

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Original poster

notanotherclairebear · 18/11/2023 17:27

Octavia64 · 18/11/2023 17:16

Schools can buy sickness insurance. It usually covers from the fourth day of sickness. It's really really expensive though, and not all schools have it.

So they may be struggling financially with the sick pay.

That having been said, while another permanent teacher is obviously the best solution, there are situations where using a HLTA who knows that class is a better solution, in the short term.

I've emailed the school to ask whether she has QTS but haven't heard back yet. I'm hoping she does and I'm worried about nothing!

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Octavia64 · 18/11/2023 17:29

Officially they are supposed to be "supervised" by a qualified teacher.

I worked as a HLTA and the supervision usually amounted to nothing much.

It may be that the current teacher will plan the lessons and the HLTA will deliver them - I suspect that the school will argue this is "supervision".

Whether you should be concerned about it - worth finding out if the HLTA is an ex-teacher. Some are. In which case the school is exploiting her and using her as a teacher on the cheap.

Soontobe60 · 18/11/2023 17:29

Schools cannot opt out of KS1 and KS2 SATS.
I know some amazing HLTSs BTW. (And some pretty awful teachers)

Soontobe60 · 18/11/2023 17:30

Octavia64 · 18/11/2023 17:29

Officially they are supposed to be "supervised" by a qualified teacher.

I worked as a HLTA and the supervision usually amounted to nothing much.

It may be that the current teacher will plan the lessons and the HLTA will deliver them - I suspect that the school will argue this is "supervision".

Whether you should be concerned about it - worth finding out if the HLTA is an ex-teacher. Some are. In which case the school is exploiting her and using her as a teacher on the cheap.

They could be paying her an an unqualified teacher too.

Octavia64 · 18/11/2023 17:31

Maintained schools have to "supervise" HLTAs

Link

schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/staff/staff-ratios-and-qualification-requirements/teaching-roles/higher-level-teaching-assistants-whole-class-responsibilities/

If it is not a maintained school anything goes.

Beamur · 18/11/2023 17:33

It's not ideal, but the lessons will have been planned by a qualified teacher. My DD had this for a few months when they didn't have a class teacher, their very capable TA delivered the lessons. DD left primary years ago now but I think due to budgets shrinking this has become the norm - one class is taught by the Head for part of the day and a TA for the remainder. Due to budget constraints.

Dontsparethehorses · 18/11/2023 17:35

@Soontobe60 They can for ks1 now they are no longer statutory (because of eyfs baseline being brought in for this years year 2)

Original poster

notanotherclairebear · 18/11/2023 17:35

Aramist · 18/11/2023 17:20

Even if they were legally required, they can't magic a qualified teacher out of thin air.

Perhaps, but the law is the law and therefore it is a non-negotiable. Given that there are a number of qualified teachers currently employed by the school, it's hard to understand why my son gets a teacher 20% of the time when all other pupils get one 100% of the time. My frustration stems from the fact that the quality and consistency of the education of my son's class is, for a second year (so 66.6% of his educational journey to date), being considered less important than the education of every other class in the school. It is my job to advocate for him. Surely it is the school's job to provide him with the standard of education that they are legally required to.

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Original poster

notanotherclairebear · 18/11/2023 17:36

Soontobe60 · 18/11/2023 17:29

Schools cannot opt out of KS1 and KS2 SATS.
I know some amazing HLTSs BTW. (And some pretty awful teachers)

I believe this academic year is the first year that they can opt out at KS1, I think KS2 are still mandatory

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Original poster

notanotherclairebear · 18/11/2023 17:39

Octavia64 · 18/11/2023 17:29

Officially they are supposed to be "supervised" by a qualified teacher.

I worked as a HLTA and the supervision usually amounted to nothing much.

It may be that the current teacher will plan the lessons and the HLTA will deliver them - I suspect that the school will argue this is "supervision".

Whether you should be concerned about it - worth finding out if the HLTA is an ex-teacher. Some are. In which case the school is exploiting her and using her as a teacher on the cheap.

Yes I believe the planning is being done by the teacher who is reducing her hours. I am honestly appalled that this could possibly be considered sufficient supervision.

OP posts:

Original poster

notanotherclairebear · 18/11/2023 17:40

Octavia64 · 18/11/2023 17:31

Maintained schools have to "supervise" HLTAs

Link

schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/staff/staff-ratios-and-qualification-requirements/teaching-roles/higher-level-teaching-assistants-whole-class-responsibilities/

If it is not a maintained school anything goes.

Oh this is helpful, thanks! I have been trying to read up on things but I don't really know what to Google to come up with the right information 🥴

OP posts:

wildblue07 · 18/11/2023 17:47

Many schools are facing the same issues. Teachers are leaving the profession mid year and therefore the school don’t have many applicants at that point so have to do their best to cover. This may be a long term supply or a HLTA. I’m a teacher and know of many schools struggling with staffing issues. It’s nightmare and does impact on children’s education.

cansu · 18/11/2023 17:48

It is poor but not that unusual. Schools have been using TAs and unqualified instruments tors for a while now. It is partly to cut costs but also due to difficulty recruiting. I would be complaining tbh. They could of course look at the children who have already been affected and do some staffing changes to make sure the same kids are not affected again.

WASZPy · 18/11/2023 17:55

Doing a whole week's planning while only being paid for 1.5 days is a rough deal for the teacher. I wonder how long she will stick that out.

Squirrelsonthescaffolding · 18/11/2023 17:57

I agree with cansu. I would focus my energy on the unfairness of the same children being affected for a second school year. This is something they might be able to do something about by moving staff around. Is there a parallel class who ‘had’ this teacher last year?

Gingerbee · 18/11/2023 17:59

Sorry your DC is missing out.
A few years ago I took a job at a Prep School. I was shocked to find out that myself and another teacher were the only qualified teachers. We were the only staff who had degrees too.

Hercisback · 18/11/2023 18:00

A HLTA who knows the kids and I being supported is much better than 5 different days of different teachers. I'd put that idea to bed.

I understand your frustration, like PPs have said, the school can't magic up teachers or magic up funds to afford one.

Support your child at home as best as you can. Read lots, talk lots.

modgepodge · 18/11/2023 18:04

It’s really not ideal but quite possibly the only solution they have. Teachers are like gold dust at the moment even if they have the budget to pay one. You mentioned the other class - in a 2FE class you may find the other y2 teacher is doing all the planning and regularly catching up with the HLTA to see how lessons are going and supporting as much as she can. If a member of SLT may be. As year group lead for a 3FE school, this was part of my role if we have TAs covering classes or supply for any period of time.

I agree it seems unfair that the same class has been affected for 2 years. I think it’s worth complaining, if it’s going on the rest of the year they should consider moving a teacher to his class and another more settled class having thr HLTA IMO.

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