issues with school. how to go about it?

[chocnomore]

Dd's lovely 1:1 TA has been replaced mid term by another TA who is utterly clueless and useless.

Dd is also no coping well with this change (she has Autism).

We have approached school countless times about, have complained about the new TA as we have numerous concerns about her ability. School is refusing to engage with us about it. they will not tell us why the original TA has been pulled off. They also refuse to tell me if this is a short term arrangement or long term. I just get waffle about a 'staffing issue'

school is also refusing to address our complaint and concerns about the new TA.

Dd is statemented and on paper Dd is getting provision as per statement.

I found out by chance (and not from school) that Dd's old TA is now looking after the new TA's previous charge Basically they have been swapped around

Any advise how to go about it and get school to address our complaint/concerns?
.

choc - does your child have a statement?
i wonder if the other dc's statement has a part in it regarding the experience or and qualification of a TA and your original TA has been used to cover that childs statement.
Is your statement explicit about the type/qualification/experience of your childs 1:1 TA?

sorry i just read the part about your child actually having a statement, so that part of my question isn't relevant.

both TAs have the same training. on paper they both qualify in the same way. Dd's statement is quiet specific on terms of qualifications & experience. I don't think the
other child's statement could call for more.

I wonder if there are issue about our new TA as she has been pullex off her previous charge. there was certainly no issue with our old TA.

anyways, I need ti get the school to engage with me. but how?

i would approach the head and senco. The fact that your daughter isnt coping well with the change and has autism shows a lack of thought on their part. To be fair, they may be banking on the "wait and see" approach with how the new TA is with your child, so are not aware this is a problem.

Focus on the change (negative) that your childs displaying. Also bring on the importance of stability that the TA brought to your childs world and changing that mid term has disrupted that.

I am surprised a school would do this because a child on the spectrum with a 1:1 will develop a bond and rightfully so. My child's school encourages the same TA follows the child through school with a focus on reducing support (dependent on child). But overall are very keen the same TA carries through with the child , precisely for the reason that it can disrupt progress if a child has to then forge a new relationship - difficult for any NT child let alone a child on the spectrum.

we have talked to Senco and head, had a meeting with them, put things in writing.

all they tell us is that there are 'issues' they cannot talk about to us and that they are aware of our concerns but
cannot do anything about it unless the 'issues' have been resolved.

It feels like banging your head against a brick wall. I find it also very concerning that there are issues which havea direct impactbon Dd but we are left in the dark about it.

this is a tough one..im not sure the la would be any good as the statement is being maintained.
we have something called parent partnership which can talk to the school, and act as a sort of mediator in these situations,but im not sure if every la has this.
im bumping this for you in the hope anyone else has any ideas.

PP is shite and the PP woman is best mate with the head.

crumbs

Reading between the lines they know TA is crap - previous parents complained so they swapped the TA. Now you have complained about the TA. School know there is a problem but can't get rid of TA until contract ends or something. School budgets are tight so presumably they can't put this one on gardening leave and employ another one.

I would be direct. State clearly you want a replacement as its not working. Ask if TA is on a temporary contract and if so when this ends.

I suspect notice for a TA is one or two months if they leave voluntarily. However sacking someone is harder. Perhaps the school are putting pressure on the TA to leave of own accord? Maybe thats what they can't tell you?

Ultimately you can move your child to another school and take the statement (and TA funding) with you and the school will be left with the TA (they presumably don't want). Not saying you want to do that but you could say to school 'i don't want to get to the point where I feel I have to remove DS and go to another school to get an appropriate TA...' which may make it more likely they will sack TA rather than wait for her to leave / contract to run out etc.

thanks agnes, that is what we suspect as well (shite TA pulled off other child due to parent complaint). that is the only way I can explain it.