What would you define as "appropriately trained" for a TA?

[appropriatelytrained]

I've name changed for this.

We have had no end of bother with DS' statement. It has taken months to get a S&LT porgramme up and running. The TA hired is useless and has no experience/qualifications but worse still doesn't seem to be particularly bothered about DS. She also has an overinflated opinion of herself.

I have complained to the LGO. I actually think that, in addition to the sessions not being set up, the TA has not been 'appropriately trained' to deliver the S&LT sessions as required by his statement.

LA says the definition of 'appropriately trained' is whatever the S&LT thinks the TA needs to deliver the sessions.

Yet, she has had no training at all. Not even an ELKLAN course. She has seen one session modelled by a S&LT. She has never even been a TA before.

I think they are in breach of the statement even if the sessions start until this TA is properly trained. What do you think?

Try anything, AT. The lack of appropriate training may just lead to her getting trained, of course, which is better than nothing, but won't change her personality. Can't you get her to swear at you?

Can you try and build a relationship with her? Her frosty/over compensatingly strict attitude may stem from panicking about not knowing what she is doing (due to a lack of training/experience).

My youngest brother (now 19) had a book thoughout his entire school career of likes and dislikes which really helped with new staff.

Is there the flexibility to allow the TA and your son to spent time doing low pressure enjoyable activities so they can get used to each other?

I would ask her to watch some of these type of videos

I would really try to find out why she has chosen this career path, there isn't much room for progress (unless you want to teach) and the pay is rubbish so she must have a reason....

Oh no, she wouldn't do that, she's too much the wide-eyed passive aggressive!

Oh God, have got to try and tell DS what to say tomorrow if he doesn't want her interfering. That's a pressure he doesn't need.

And actually, it was great that he didn't need help, shouldn't we be praising him for that? Isn't that the point? The world has gone mad

Find a training course that's only available in a certain far-distant part of the country on only one date when you know she's not available which costs more money than the school can afford

Or just find a bit of legislation that shows they're not living up the their Duty of Care...

I still like the idea of checking her Application out properly. She's covered things up at work already, surely she's exaggerated her Essential and Desirable skills? Job Description Here sorry it took a while, I had to find an advert I hadn't applied for in order to access the info!

blueemerald - it has gone way beyond this. DS has a book. The TA has had ample time to get to know him and everyone has bent over backwards to support her and accommodate her and her lack of skills.

I have tried for three months to build a relationship with her. She is just not interested. I have organised time within school for her just to 'be social' with DS - play games etc. Yet she's never had one conversation with him about his special interests in three months.

She has a degree. She has no interested in TA'in but she has a child at school so it fits in with that and she has said wanted to use this as a basis for trying out her alternative therapies - she's 'training' in something outside school. She has her own agenda but if she gave two hoots about my son I would put up with it.

I'm pushing at an open door with school which speaks volumes. I'm sorry but I've gone past feeling sympathy for her. She's had too many people running round trying to support her when they should be supporting my son

'she has said wanted to use this as a basis for trying out her alternative therapies'

Who did she say this to? Because that has got to be incredibly unethical and may be your get out clause. Your child, and the other children around him, are not an experiment for her to play with. What does she mean by alternative therapy?! You didn't spend however long it took to get his statement sorted for her to then come along with some ideas of her own.

I would be tempted to remove your son and kep him at home (if possible), otherwise I would insist on observing a few lessons and also insisting on weekly, if not daily, meeting with his head of year or form tutor or SENCO and if it comes to it start investigating other schools. I suspect his school will be so scared of losing the ££ he brings in that they will find a way for her to be a generic classroom TA (possibly more the sort of role she was expecting) and hire someone else to help your son.

The school I work at nearly allowed my visually impaired student to take a 2 week holidy during term time as they were scared she (and her VI twin sister) would leave (and take the ££ with them). They didn't allow it in the end because the SENCO and I kicked up a fuss.

She said it in a meeting with me and the EP!

I had a chat with DS this morning to try and make sure the same thing didn't happen again. It is worse than I thought. I had been working on the basis of her story - that he had told her he didn't need her help.

Actually, he asked for help and she said no. She then told him off for speaking to her disrespectfully.

I'm so angry. I will see what school comes up with but I don't want this woman dealing with my son and unpicking all the good work everyone else is doing,