TA on crutches

[Greenandcabbagelooking]

That will be me tomorrow. Returning to work with a sprained ankle, which is very sore to walk on. I'm in Secondary, so I do move around the school and then around most lessons. Any tips? I've emailed my line manager, and have told her I can't do my upstairs lessons. Any more good advice?

I wasn't allowed in to teach on crutches. EYFS though...incredibly frustrating!

I wasn't allowed in to teach on crutches. EYFS though...incredibly frustrating!

Our TA wasn't allowed in school on crutches because of insurance. Have you checked with the head that your ok to go in.

Why can't you do upstairs lessons? Surely there are lifts for disabled access?

I taught on crutches for a few weeks and it was hard work, try to sit as much as you can, hopefully the person who does the ta timetable can give you lessons all in one building?

Good luck!

I taught on crutches for several months - school were fantastic and we just did a new risk assessment together for my time in school (ks1 teacher).

Think about practical things like moving around the school during lesson changeover - can you leave a few minutes early so that the corridors are calmer? The children need to make sure you can get around the room safely by not leaving bags etc sticking out from under desks.

I found that the children were fantastic about it - they all wanted to carry things for me and asked if I was alright at regular intervals.

You will be exhausted - mainly mentally. It is so stressful being hyper aware of your surroundings. But as you get better with crutches and your ankle gets stronger it will be easier.

No lifts in the building. That I've seen anyway. I think because there are very few upstairs rooms, and no whole department is based upstairs. Hoping I'll be allowed to go in, I've been bored stiff at home all week!

Have emailed Dep Head who will presumably tell me if I can't go in.

Do you have stairs at home - can you do them?

I would have thought that in secondary it would be fine. Ok so you may have to do stairs before or after the bell so you can have more room. But school stairs tend to be bigger than home and will have a sud handrail.
Different in early years of your having to get up off floor and move a lot of things around but sitting at a table should be fine

Are you a class TA or are you a 1-1 TA?

1 to 1 mostly, although I spend very little time just sat with my various 1 to 1 students. I probably will move round less this week.

Tuesday is good as I spend 4/5th of the day in the same block.

I went into today. I am knackered. So much moving between buildings, even if I sit still in lessons.

My hands are raw. Need something on the handles I think.

Cycling or weightlifting gloves are good, as they will take some strain off your hands. You will get used to it - I've been on crutches for 8 months now.

Day 3 in the hop along house. There have been tears. I am exhausted. Any ideas on managing the tiredness? Napping after work is the only way to get through!

Thankfully small children like things in toast for tea! It's what they've had recently.

Are you carrying anything? If you can avoid carrying things it is mildly less tiring. Like I said, I found the mental stress the most exhausting so avoiding crowded places might help slightly.

Comfy shoes, something on the handles... If you can't sit down, can you lean against a wall to just take the weight off slightly?

DP had to get very good at shoulder massages - my whole back was tense from the stress of it. If you can get into a bath safely, do it. Otherwise, naps and cups of tea and grin and bear it, I'm afraid.

I carry a rucksack with essentials in. I've been paring those essentials back so my bag is as light as possible. Sitting down for at least part of every lesson, and teachers have been good at sourcing an extra seat, asking kids to come to me for help, etc.

i just wanted to curl up and sleep at lunchtime. I got caught up in something and didn't get much actual lunch, which probably contributed to crappy I felt. Eaten dinner, and feeling more human!