2 LSAs better than 1?

[messmonster]

My DD will need full-time 1:1 when she starts MS next year (hopefully if you've seen my other funding thread!)

It's been suggested by the SEN Officer and her EP that it might be preferable for her to have 2 LSAs in a job share rather than 1.

Reasons given are that it will reduce her dependence on 1 key adult and will be less intense for the LSA(s).

I can see pros and cons and am interested in other people's experiences of this - whether as a parent or an LSA.

Any views gratefully received. If it's relevant my DD is non-verbal and has significant cognitive delay. She has no behavioural issues (tending to passivity if anything) and loves being around and interacting with other children.

Many thanks

Why will it? The whole POINT of 1:1 is that they are trained in how to support the child to BECOME independent. I woukd have thought the consistency of ONE 'trainer' was preferable.

2 were recommended for DS when he first started ms and I'm so glad we went with that option.
DS is a very anxious child at school and very challenging when anxious.The morning LSA really was shattered by lunchtime handover and it was nice for a fresh person to take over for the afternoon.
Also when one of the LSA got quite I'll and was off for a while the other LSA just covered all the hours instead of DS having the uncertainty of not knowing who would be covering and when.
Worked fantastic for us and the only down side for us were double the pressies to buy (grin)

I think its mostly a positive idea.
Our ABA staff only work half a day per child for exactly this reason its too difficult to keep up the intensity for a whole day, everyday with one child. The ABA provider arranges the timetable so the staff move to a different child in the afternoon. However I would be a bit more dubious that an LSA will be working 'intensively' but if they do intend to thats great!
When I was doing ABA with DS myself about 2.5 hours was my limit then I began to get tired, get into bad habits, be less consistent, let his 'breaks' become longer and longer, start watching the clock.....
1:1 LSAs often stay with children at school from class to class so I think just having one would have its drawbacks if that was the situation for several years.
The ABA provider moves staff around periodically so DS gets used to different people. This has bene good as he is more receptive to new teachers, supply teachers etc
It also means if someone is ill the other staff can cover and know him and his programmes.
I also think its good for staff to be able to bounce ideas off someone else / have some support.
The only downside really is the extra training but thats a cost to the LA / school not you. So I would be clarifying what training the LSA will have.

More than one TA isn't a problem. The problem lies in the REASON for more than one. Also, how you can pretend to get around the dependency thing but a mush mash of support instead of fewer but properly trained people.

My Ds' statement said minimum of 2 TAs. None of them were trained in anything except undermining the parents.

As a TA, I think that it's better to have more than one (preferably only 2 for a young child) if the support is full time. It's a very intensive job, very full on and one TA can get quite jaded. Relationships between the TA and the DC can suffer. (Think what it's like in the summer holidays!) I think a child can become too dependent on one adult and then struggle if that adult has to change, due to sickness or if the adult moves on. That's just my opinion. Obviously a good TA works hard at making their charge as independent as possible but DC will get used to one TA's style.

In secondary, my DS has half a dozen TAs. They need to know the subject as well as the DC.

Thank you very much for your replies.

My initial reaction to the suggestion was that I didn't want 2 different TAs but talking to her EP, I began to see some of the potential benefits which, for the most part, you've supported in your replies.

But, as Starlight says it's the quality of the support that's clearly the most important and making sure that whoever is appointed, whether it's 1 or 2, is properly trained and understands the importance of supporting DD in such a way that she doesn't become too dependent. Wish me luck with that

As long as they are prepared to give both the LSAs SN training and both can be involved in meetings etc then it is a good idea.

Ds has 3. I suggested it though. School appointed a brand new ta for him and asked me if one was enough. I said it would be better to have at least 2 due to the amount of work and planning involved.

From past experience one ta had to have breaks, had her own holidays, courses to go on or was sick. He had replacement but sue to it being out of the norm it upset him also a stand in is just that not someone that knows your child so it can be a bad experience for
Both leaving no on wanting to volunteer the next time.

He has a 2rd for breaks and lunch times. So that stops the ta who is entitled a break nipping off for a cuppa, trying to rush food, etc.

These 3 faces don't change, are on his timetable. But this school has involved all 3 on all sensory, SN awareness and package training, plus all parent teacher meets so they are all barking up the same tree and that is very important.