Can you help a MS recruit your childs TA?

[Lesley25]

My statement will state that the TA my DC needs has to be a specialised tutor with experience in dealing with children on the spectrum - as well as the necessary accreditations and qualifications.

My question is, my DC's nursery teachers were all highly qualified individuals and would be perfect for the role, not to mention they adore my DC.

So, (even though i'm not on great terms at the moment with the school - another thread), once the statement is issued, do you think the school would let me put people forward or involve me in the recruitment process?

...or does this simply never happen?

Schools get v defensive and want total control of interviewing and recruiting their own staff, not surprisingly I suppose.

It worked for me by just asking my tutors to put themselves forward for formal interview by school

And since they were up against some old mum from the playground with not even a glimmer of experience of working with autism, they tended to get the job. Most were graduates, with loads of autism experience and also teaching experience in other schools,

Important that they came across as totally independent of the mum, not in her pocket

hmmm, thanks sickof. lots to think about...

They are very unlikely to involve you especially if you ask them to! The best way is to be diffident but if you have someone in mind get them to apply. Dd ABA tutor was accepted but it was really through going with dd on taster days and the school being able to see she was obviously the best choice that swung it. If I had asked they would have said no.

I think it might be down to the individual school, fifteen years ago a forward thinking head invited me to meet applicants before she appointed a TA for my child. It worked well. I have a younger son in the same need of a TA and made the same request of a different head. Not a chance she already had someone all set up! I moved his school shortly afterwards the appointment she made was disastrous!

The problem is that the LSA is v often seen as a sort-of extension of the dinner lady role - ie low paid and no skills or training needed. Mums at the gates typically fll into these roles, and just sit by the child's side hoping for inspiration to strike, or the bell to ring

So when we march in with our trained, autism-experienced graduate ABA tutors, the system is under threat and closes ranks against us.

The low pay is why many ABA tutors can't or won't take n £15k per annum LSA jobs, UNLESS parent tops them up or they do it part time as job share so they can earn more in the rest of the week. Job share also works well as it is stressful work.

Nb Do NOT mention the topping up bit to schools, they would not allow it.

Wish I had seen this thread 2 weeks back.

I have no idea how a £12.5/hr lsa is going to motivate my daughter to learn

Try and train her quietly, behind the scenes

See if she will agree to a home visit/ training session with your supervisor, offer subtly to pay her expenses for the trip. Do it all carefully, not too overtly

Make her your pal, chat at pick-up, gradually introduce ABA ideas to her

If she has even half a brain, she will realise quickly that they make her job easier

Or, if you get nowhere, try influencing skills on the SENCO, top down approach

The senco approach won't work in the current nursery. I have a horrible feeling it won't be one designated lsa. They will have someone with her all the time. Trained or not.

Salondon, £12.50 an hour is significantly more than a TA earns in my LA. more like £7 - £8 depending on experience.

My daughter is severe autism and significant learning difficulties. Her tutors get way more than £12/hr

Some of us don't do our job for the pay you know.
I appreciate you want the best possible for your daughter.. we ALL want the best, but your attitude makes me feel that TAs are all so underrated that we might as well not bother!

I'm a TA.. with over ten years experience of working with children who have severe learning difficulties, very low functioning autism and very challenging behaviour. (I'm also parent to a young man with ASD and LDS) I'm not some parent dragged off the streets thanks! I have extensive pecs training, extensive behaviour management training and experience.. in a specialist school... and I do it for the grand sum of approx £10 an hour (pre tax!) because actually I want to, because I'm passionate about helping children fulfull their potential.

We aren't all babysitters ya know... just saying!

Medusa, you sound like you do an awesome job and are fully trained.

But I would say practically every LSA I came across supporting an SEN kid in mainstream had only around half an hour's training (aka, a chat with the SENCO, who herself seemed only to know about Brain Gym and the like)

Am not exaggerating, promise

And just to add, one particular pal of mine got lucky because despite that lack of training, she lucked out and got given an LSA who a) cares b) has a brain and c) listened to the mum, got herself some training by insisting and learned how to manage/motivate the child in a busy class of 30.

Many more seem to just sit there though, seeing the role more as passive "shadow" rather than Learning Support Assistant.

MedUSA - Which borough are you in? You seem to be the exception that makes the rule. I wish tehre were more TAs and LSAs like you

I have just come from a meeting with a 'good' school. The headteacher told me that even if my daughter had a 25hr/week 1-1 statement (adn the works), she wont be able to access it because they cant have the highly trained LSA for my daughter all the time.

I'm in Oxfordshire.. and in a very good school. It is a special school tho not mainstream, to be fair and I know our training is excellent.. I admit when we had a (rare) joint inset with the local mainstream primaries a few of us were gobsmacked at how ill informed some of the TAs AND teachers were about the topic in hand :/

there you go....