TA qualifications

[sunnyfriday]

I am in the process of getting DS's (ASD) statement finalised. He will have full time 1:1 support in a MS school.

I would like to know what qualification his 1:1 TA will have. School have been reassuring that his TA will have the required qualifications and experience but won't tell me what makes her "highly qualified". They just tell me that she is "highly qualified" IYSWIM.

Can send a request to school re the qualifications of the TA? Or should I approach the LA?

I am going through a similar dilemma. I have been advised to get it on our statement. What does the EP think the qualification & experience of the TA should be? The school should then go and hire someone with those qualifications.

You should try to get it on the statement. Whether or not you'll be successful is another matter. But if you are going through Tribunal, then you definitely should - the level of qualifications for all my DS's therapists/teachers etc are all on his Statement - but it took Tribunal to get it all properly specified.

If it's not on the Statement, then it'll be up to the school to employ whoever they think is appropriate.

proposed statement (which looks fine for most parts) says 'highly trained/experienced in working with children with ASD' (or words to that affect).

EP and SALT both recommend in their reports somebody who is 'highly trained/experienced in working with children with ASD'.

but nothing specific.

I talked to school where DS will have his 1:1 and I think they already have somebody in mind for this role. But I really wanted to know what the qualifications of this TA are. Can I request this info from school?

I have been through a lot recently and won't be able to go down the tribunal route for various reasons.

i don't now is the answer -during my tribunal I had a bit of an argument with my LA as they wanted to send autism outreach in to work with him which in theory I had no issue with but then she wrote some damning reports for the tribunal which were completely at odds with what every other professional had said. I became suspicious so asked for her qualifications as heard a rumour she wasn't a qualified teacher. in a meeting with the LA they hissed at me that she was when I asked, I still was suspicious so formally asked and they refused to tell me, asked again and they still refused but then said the woman herself under the data protection act was refusing so I then asked the tribunal to order them to answer! they did then answer and surprise surprise she was not a qualified teacher. I would make sure you get it in that they need to be highly qualified but ensuring the person is suitable may be difficult as you will find they will tell you what they want to tell you and how you then find out is going to be difficult - a lot of it will have to be on trust

well, statement says "highly qualified" but I want to know what that means. surely this is open to interpretation

might ask school formally and see what they come up with. if they have nothing to hide they will hopefully let me know.

In the case of my DS and his dyslexia (pre-Tribunal) "qualified" meant that the HT of the school the LA wanted him to go to had been on a 3-day course run by the Council just weeks before Tribunal.

If the school don't openly give it to you, you could try a Freedom of Information (FOI) request direct to the school.

thanks

Outrageous that schools tell you people are 'highly qualified' but won't specify. Even more outrageous that they refuse to release details of qualifications at all. 'Highly qualified' has no meaning without specifics of training. Most people's. SEN are poorly trained particularly classroom assistants.

This may be useful as a yardstick for what the TA should have.

Ambitious About Autism runs training courses aimed at practitioners working in mainstream or special schools, as well as those working in specialist settings for children from the ages of 5–16 years.

There are 3 levels of training, so for someone who works regularly with children would probably need at least Level 2.

Ambitious about Autism is the designated training hub for schools in London for a programme of face-to-face training, developed by the Autism Education Trust (AET) with support from the Department for Education. The training is aimed at practitioners working in mainstream or special schools, as well as those working in specialist settings for children from the ages of 5–16 years.

Autism Education Trust training can be delivered in your school on a date and at a time that is convenient for you or you can book to attend a course at our training venue in Muswell Hill, north London.

www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/page/what_we_do/training/aet_training.cfm

Yes that would be vastly superior to any wishy washy 'awareness raising' course run by the public sector which is both a scandal and a tragedy.