TA troubles

[SleepymummyZzz]

So yesterday (last day of term) was the final straw and I need help for September!

My TA is a very committed, ultra efficient but very bossy type! She has frequently reminded me all year (in front of staff/children/visitors) that she has been at the school for ever and "knows it all". I am an NQT. She interrupts me when I'm teaching and doesn't follow any kind of plan I give her if she doesn't agree with it. She confuses the children by telling them the opposite to me. Yesterday when the parents were saying goodbye and thank you, giving gifts etc she literally shoved me out of the way to hug the children and take all the praise. She was even saying "I've loved having him, she was a great part of my class etc". I felt invisible 😞

Anyway, we are working together again next year which she is delighted about but I am so upset after yesterday I don't want to go back.

Help!!

Well, if TA won't follow your plans, or interrupts you , that's a management/disciplinary matter, and I would seek management input. A TA's job is implementing teacher's plan, even if (ex TA), they seem misguided.
Bossy manner? 'Knows it all?'. That, whilst profoundly irritating, is personality stuff. I wouldn't raise this. Go to management with the specific issues, once you've raised them with the TA, assuming being clear with her gets you nowhere.

Assuming that you have spoken to her previously and you've been ignored, you have to be blunt. Polite but blunt. I worked with one of those before - she'd carried a failing teacher the previous year and was still in that mode.

She got it soon enough and once we were both on the same page she was the best lsa I have ever had. She was brilliant.

Make sure you are organised, controlled and efficient. So that she knows she's not needed to provide that. If she decides to do something else - redirect her back. Publicly if necessary but never rudely. Thank her/ praise when instructions are followed and have good outcomes.

If you're not happy with her interrupting, agree a point when she can add in her tuppence at the end of you speaking - 'Is there anything I've forgotten Mrs. X?'
If she tries interrupt before then, then all her to hold that thought until you're finished.

If it still continues you need to talk to management and perhaps have it mentioned in her observation feedback.

Once you're working as a team she'll probably be great. Efficient and organised are fantastic qualities to have!

Good luck.

This is a management issue, her job is to follow your plan.
And next year you won't be a NQT, so use your professional weight, and be polite, but very blunt.

I know just how you feel.... really dreading next year with TA already. She's really shit at her job but takes any glory going. I've given up telling SLT because nothing happens. Really regretting staying on at the school, but was assured wouldn't have her next year but we are:(.
I'm not going on end of term night out because of her and her clique who have taken it over.

You have to pull her up when she veers off the plans, that isn't acceptable.

Learning to manage the other adults you work with is a learning curve, just like all the other aspects of school life you are getting to grips with. It can be one of the most difficult.

Is there a member of SLT that you like that you could talk to about it? Who line manages the TA? If it's you ask, for support with her appraisal and if necessary a support plan for her, if it's not you talk to the person who does do it. You could put developing your people management skills in your appraisal targets so it will also be a focus of support for you.

I call them rogue TA's.

Most schools have one it seems.

I got more confident telling TAs what to do (politely!) when I had a girl with a 1-1 in my class, and the 1-1 wouldn't make her do any work. The girl had serious SEND, but was given tailored work she was capable of doing. The TA would just say "Oh, she doesn't want to do it, she wants to play". When other adults tried to speak to the girl they would get "Oh, you won't get anything out of her!" I ended up having to put my foot down and explain that she should be working with her and challenge her to become more independent, not just babysit!

Most of my TAs have been amazing. I've only had that one, and one who just didn't want to do any work, who were a problem. But the children's learning has to come first, and if they're ignoring your instructions or behaving inappropriately in class then the children's learning is suffering.

I find a lot of decisions or awkward moments in teaching are easier when I remember that my first duty is to the children. It makes things simple.

I'm a TA and agree with PP that most schools seem to have a 'rogue TA'. We have one on our team and she drives the rest of us up the wall. We're in a middle school, we all go from class to class working with predominantly SEN children so we all have our own timetables to follow. I'll frequently pop in to see a teacher in a class she's supposed to be supporting and she hasn't turned up and no one seems to know where the hell she is - last time she was clearing out some cupboards. It's definitely a management issue but there always seems to be someone, wherever you work, that gets away with murder and no one knows why!

OP, I think you may need to be pretty direct with her and set your stall out very plainly when you go back in September. Have you spoken to SLT about it already?

As an aside, I supported a class with an NQT quite a lot this year and she was quite nervous about asking me to do things for her at first. Possibly because I'm old enough to be her mum, but I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, so I kept asking her what she wanted me to do to help her along a bit. We had the best time and forged a cracking relationship, so I'm really hoping I have some classes with her next year.

Thanks everyone, it is reassuring to know others had similar experiences.

I have spoken to SLT lots of times as I don't manage her but they all seem a bit frightened of her 🙄 They all sympathise as they have had her as a TA in the past (never for more than a year each strangely enough).

It's such a difficult situation. In my previous career I managed a team for years and was nominated for 'best manager' three years running. I had no problem directing people in that context but as I'm not her manager it's very hard to insist she follows my instructions.

Tortoise story had cheered me up lol 😂

I had no problem directing people in that context but as I'm not her manager it's very hard to insist she follows my instructions

I am a TA and do see a teacher as my direct line manager - I don't think you should be afraid to direct her and let her know when she is doing something that isn't in line with your planning/teaching style, as long as you are polite (but firm if necessary) when doing so. I do think ta's sometimes forget that we are literally employed to assist and support teachers especially when they have been at school for a long time. Sorry you've had such a rubbish year but please don't let her rail road you, I would try going in with a firmer approach in September and if that doesn't work go to your head - good luck!

P.s. try not to worry too much now and just enjoy the well deserved break over summer!

😊 Thank you. Feel better now I've had a few days to de stress and read all your advice. Firmer approach in September needed for me and the children xx

Could you instigate a 5 minute meeting at the start or end of each day to go through plans? This might help re-set the relationship. The fact that she's constantly saying she knows it all and steals the glory is in fact a cover for someone who is rather under confident.