Primary school - TAs about to be made redundant

[TerrifiedByNews]

NC here as I need to remain anon for this, but I am so scared by some information that has come my way - like the thread title says, it seems our school is about to make all class TAs redundant! I can't ask school yet, as it's 'only' hearsay - but the source is pretty well watertight (as much as it can be without being official IYGWIM)

DC hasn't got a statement, we are gathering evidence to make PRSA, but since the school has become an academy they are very reluctant to even acknowledge my DCs difficulties (ASD (dx) SPD?)

I want to call IPSEA (i think - maybe a knee jerk reaction from me?) to check out the legality of this, there are some fab TAs at the school that support some very vulnerable children, or shall I just bite the bullet and look for (yet another) school?

Sorry for the rambling here, am trying to make this as factual without outing myself.

It happened at the school I worked at years ago, we all had to apply for our own jobs and they changed our contractions. It was to do with the school becoming a foundation school and they wanted to save money.

I was one of the lucky ones I kept my job but went from full time to part time.

I hope this doesnt happen in your school, it is very

The TA's will be some of the lowest paid staff and yet they are the first to go

Lol,@contractions

Should have said contracts of course

The more I hear about academies, the scarier it is.

You really need to push ahead with the statement. If you can get TA support written in, it will have to be provided, whatever else is going on in the school.

There's lots of evidence that TAs don't help attainment. That the more time a child spends with a TA the further behind they get. (Sutton trust report)

So there may be sound reasoning for getting rid of TAs. We're not replacing any TAs who leave, and are instead hiring teachers.

One of our carers works at a PRU and they have been told this looks likely, they will have to reapply for their jobs and are likely to be downgraded. . The time scale is later this year.

There may be 'sound reasoning' for getting rid of TAs, but from where I'm sitting, they are very well disguised.

The more I think about this, the more sick I feel

I don't know how it works with academies, but I do know that there have been changes in some areas as to how funding is delivered to schools for sen children (for those with additional funding). This has come from central government. Unfortunately this has meant that some school budgets have been absolutely decimated and schools are having to make redundancies or face closure. Some schools are now having to run at a significant deficit budget and are trying to keep things going for the child's to the best that their resources allow. It is a dreadful situation for all involved.

I don't know if this is the situation your school is in, I hope you get some more info soon to put your mind at rest.

I agree it could be due to funding changes that came in in April - details on dept of ed website. A lot of schools have funded class TAs out of money delegated for sen and if their sen budget has gone down or they have children on statements for whom they now have to pay the first £6k of the statement then they will have to take that money from class TAs. All school budgets are falling in real terms as costs rise. Some academies also got a lot of funding to start up but that has not been sustained.

UNISON's view

Thank you mayeera and Agnes. From my experience, TAs and lsas make a significant difference in pupil progress and wellbeing. I am extremely fortunate in the colleagues around me and in the support the great majority of parents are able to give their children.

Well, this was my thread, and yes, the rumours are true

half the TAs are going, as well as the SENCO (deputy head)

Why!?

because they are over budget and over-staffed apparently

the KS1 senco was deputy head, so as she is moving on, they are looking for a new senco.

a bit more than shit for a MS school with it's own DSP, isn't it?

welcome to the world of academy schools, eh?

:(
Scary.

Oh yikes.

Not sure on the idea that TA's don't help. How my son's TA get's him to do his work I don't know but without her his 3 R's wouldn't be anywhere near the level they are now. He would be left floundering without one!

Do academy schools still have to honour statements?? Mind you DS has a full time TA but his statement states much less, the school make up the hours for her out of their budget.

it's getting better

there is now a new fucking pilot which involves a review of DSPs in our area, DDs school has a DSP...she doesn't go there, but the facilities are open for all MS to use if they so needed...

i need to be looking at new schools again don't i