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?!