Don't shout at me Moondog - TA post

[inappropriatelyemployed]

I know - I post all the time about TA problems. Sorry Moondog but I need help in managing this once and for all.

The fact is DS is at a nice school with a nice SENCO, nice teachers and helpful head (not with us for much longer).

But the delivery of provision and DS's relationship with school falls down because of the TA.

He didn't want to go into class after half term. He didn't want to see the other children. He has been doing really well but when he does well, it seems to be an invite to the TA to do bugger all so she leaves him to it and the framework of stuff he needs to support him gets withdrawn.

Then , when he then stresses out, her attitude is 'what's his problem, he's done this before'.

I have got him back into class over the last few days; basically TA'ing him myself in the mornings. While there, I can see loads of flashpoints where she jumps in and is too critical or criticizes unnecessarily or tries to change agreements or questions things that have been agreed in front of him. I can also see that he gets stressed in lessons and that he talks to himself quite loudly. Very different from the picture presented by TA.

I have now got him in class, facing the rest of the class and he was asking questions today. He says he will go in alone tomorrow. This would never have happened if left to the TA as we have tried this before and he ends up in conflict with her or outside the class with no strategy to get him back in.

Our SLT was in today and she said - TA just doesn't get it and she probably never will because she is clearly not interested. The SLT has been involved for two years with DS but since January with TA. SLT says TA perceives everything as 'naughtiness', for example, TA said she gives DS 'looks' to tell him to be quiet and he sees them, stares back and carries on. SLT asked was she sure he understood her 'looks' She questioned DS on this later and he hadn't a clue.

It's just basic straightforward stuff. I have raised it with the head and he is going to try and get a move for her in autumn term when they need someone elsewhere in school (it is a very small school with no TAs save for assigned TAs) but he can't guarantee it because he is going.

Senco has said she will pass on things about creating a more positive environment and she does and indeed I tell the TA myself.

But nothing can change her attitude which is to treat him like a naughty child and then be surprised at the reaction.

What would you do?

Would you consider stepping back, letting the placement fail and using that evidence to secure decent secondary? And get home tuition/hE?

I did feel like that at the weekend but there is lots about being at school that he likes and that is good for him. School are very much onside with finding a decent secondary too.

it is particularly grating because another boy with autism is supported by an absolutely marvellous TA who is at the other end of the spectrum (if you would) in terms of skills and commitment. It makes the difference glaringly obvious.

Oh and I don't know if I am being too sensitive about this but when I stayed over lunch I noticed that DS was left to eat outside the hall on his own.

He didn't want to go into the lunch hall and hasn't since half term.

I stayed with him as it looked so miserable and I asked if this was the way he was always left and he said yes.

I spoke casually to head later about trying to encourage him to get back in the hall bit by bit as he looked so miserable eating along.

Head looked and said TA is always with him. I questioned this and he said maybe that was just today because you were here. I told him what DS had said and he said her only job was to look after DS and she had to be with him for health and safety.

I asked DS tonight and he said she absolutely did not stay with him

I am wondering whether I could just formally challenge a few practices like this. I am not happy with him being left there. They could have suggested a few kids eat with him.

I think this is a problem in education / public services which just does not happen in the private sector. If she is not the right fit she would be gone in the commercial world. Education is notorious for letting dodgy staff hang on for years. As someone who is self employed you know in the real world you are only ever as good as your last job.

The Head knew this was an issue last year and did not move her / get rid of her - is she on a permanent contract? So I don't think you can rely on Head this year.

Can you be blunt with the Head and say moving DS is not an option but this TA is never going to work. As far as you are concerned you cannot go on like this and she cannot work with him for another year. If he won't tell her / move her then you may need to say to Head you will have to tell her / raise it at AR as the situation cannot go on. Your DS only gets one chance at education.

You could suggest to Head that a move / change could be presented to TA as DS needing to work with a variety of adults so he does not become too reliant on one individual / to help generalisation etc etc and given she has had him for 2 years it is time for a change?

Well I do think it's our role as parents to 'push things on' as it were. So saying, can we have a few children to eat with him, yeah absolutely. Like anywhere, they'll get into a rut.

The leaving him alone though. Has it ever occurred to you the HT might want to get rid of the TA and might bite your hand off for a well-documented record of her failings??? Just playing devil's avocado.

Wrt to the salt, I don't know. The cynic in me would say it would be unexpected for her to criticise in writing, but verbally, I don't know, maybe. If she's acting in the best interests of the child...

Thanks Agnes. I will do that and I will say I will have to raise this directly at the AR.

Interestingly, the head, when talking of getting someone for autumn term raised the point you are making to justify a change, i.e. that DS needed to work with other people. If he was here in Sept I would feel like it would happen but he is not so there is no guarantee.

Perhaps I will talk frankly and say that he knows of my concerns and that I was worried to see he is left unattended at lunchtime despite what head thinks is happened, and that their relationship is not working and I can see why from being in the class. I can throw in that the SLT saw things that worried her too.

I can say this is never going to change and it is unfair on DS and us and that we need to think of practical solutions. I could say perhaps we could approach out chair of governors for ideas/thoughts?

I could then say I am raising this to give them the chance to deal with it as I don't want to embarrass TA at the AR but I will say what I think if necessary.

What do you think?

I think this is an easy face saving way of getting out of it. Won't the new TA have to be recruited before the Head leaves?

Could you get it agreed at AR and written into statement / AR report that it would be good for DS to have a different TA this year to aid generalisation, get him used to working with different adults etc to get him ready for move to secondary? ie present it as a need / objective and a change of TA as the provision needed to meet that objective?

Thanks Wilson - that had occured to me - about the head I mean. I could test the water tomorrow.

I think eating with a couple of friends might be helpful too.

WRT SLT, she was going to suggest strategies that she thought could help based on what she has seen which would in effect be an implicit criticism.

Polter, thanks I will suggest the lunch time thing.

Agnes, that is a good idea. I am hopefully taking our mutual advocate friend so that might help it not look 'personal'

Thanks you so much

I have had to sort out most of the provision myself as well because of her

I would not have that woman anywhere near ds1, and he doesn't even have one to one!

Seriously, she sounds lazy and ignorant, why don't you put her failure into writing to the local authority? Ask your slt to provide evidence?

I will do the - we can play it the easy way or hard way approach.

Thanks you all so much for your very helpful posts tonight. You have made me think there may be a way of addressing this without confrontation.

The days of hoping the TA will change are long gone but I wanted to find a way of raising this seriously and demanding a change without pissing everyone who has tried to help off in the process.

It has been a stressful few days. Being in school means working evenings and weekend so it is hard to keep your thinking straight.

Once again,

Good luck... I hope you can sort out a new TA.

Thanks!!

Spoke to head today. Very much agrees. He is going to set in process recruitment before he leaves . Talked it all through and he was very honest about why he had dallied on this - thought TA might leave. Not want to say too much more. But faith totally restored as we have an end date! Great to report good news!

Oh phew. Hope there will be a new beginning!

Anyone know a good TA

Me me me. I'll do it!!!!!!!!

He sound great your li'l man and with SO much potential. Sure he'd be very rewarding to work with.

No, one month's notice. Unless it's an academy, they are employed by the county council. It seems to be very hard to manage people out of a TA position. My DS's TA wasn't retained by his school once he left, much to her surprise. Too much time off 'sick,' I think.