New TA job, no breaktime.

[somedaftbugger]

New job as 1-1 TA, mainstream school. Been told today that I will be out on playground duty every morning with my 1-1 pupil, someone will bring me out a hot drink and if I need to go to the loo someone will cover me for a couple of minutes. I don't get a breaktime in lieu and am a bit disappointed as I'm mornings only and will not get to know staff if I'm never in the staffroom. Not my first job in a school by a looonggg way. Been out of schools as a sahm and I know teachers are often too busy to have a full breaktime, but no break from 9am until 12.00? Really?

I'm a one to one TA I work from 9 to 2:30 and go out at every break, lunch and have lunch with "my" child.
It is very normal when a child has social needs. I get time to go to the loo and grab a drink while class teacher takes afternoon register.

There's no legal requirement to give you a break if you only work 3 hours.

Why would you get a break if you only work three hours?!

Pretty standard to not have a break if working 3 hours only.

Sorry I'm not a teacher so possibly don't understand the full picture here, but I think 3 hours without a break sounds absolutely fair enough!

I'm a teacher and we're on duty every breaktime.

You wouldn't get a break in my school either if you were a 1:1 or Early Years TA. There is no legal right to a break if you are only working 3 hours.

I did 9 to 3 and worked every break time and usually had lunch with my child too.

There will be other staff on the playground surely. Usually on a Rota if you aren't supporting a specific child.

You could hang around having a drink in the staffroom until 12.30 (or whenever) if you wanted to have some social time with other staff.

TBH I don't think, in these ludicrously hard-pressed times, it is reasonable to expect to have a paid break during a 3hr shift.

You've been very lucky if you think you're dbtutked to a break every three hours !

entitled

lowdoorinthewall

That's a really good idea

1-1 worker here, am out all play times and take a covered cup out with me. Loo breaks sound the norm too.

Haha a break when working 3 hours? This is what gives people working in the public sector a bad name!!!!

Not unusual at all to work 3 hours without a break. I'm sure you will still get to know staff over time. There are usually social events going on that you will be included in.

I think your name sums you up perfectly if you think that you should get a break when you work three hours

Ime most support staff in schools choose to have the bare minimum in breaks as they're unpaid. I do 6 hours without a break. If I wanted it, I'm sure I could negotiate a 30 min lunch break, but then I'd have to stay 30 mins later for the same money

It's 3 hours. Hardly arduous.

Must be a joke thread.

Ha ha ha.... You ARE joking, aren't you?

Break time in leui of what? Working 3 hours. Why do you need a break after such a measly amount?

I do 10 hours standing on my feet. I'm lucky if I get 20minutes undisturbed.

I think if all other ta's get a break every day then it's not fair that you never do but as 1-1 you're not a ta so unfortunately you can't expect the same. I was 1-1 last year and you quickly have to adjust to the fact that whatever everyone else is doing may not apply to you. 'My child' was severely autistic sand that meant missing out on lots of things throughout the year that he couldn't cope with as it was my role to support him.