Difficult situation at work, advice would be welcome please.

[HazyDazey]

Hi. This is my first post and I feel a bit unsure/daft about asking, but I'd would really appreciate some advice please. I am currently working in a mainstream school in KS2. I was employed last summer as a general TA and to provide some support for a child but not given any details. When I started the role, I was told the child had ASC and an EHCP. Long story short, the "some support" has evolved into a full time INA role even though the EHCP doesn't cover this.

I have worked in education for several years in Early Years/KS1 prior to this and I have never experienced a child like this. I get hurt regularly (hit, bit, headbutted, stuff thrown at me or stabbed with pencils etc) as do other members of staff and children. I spend most of my time outside the classroom as the child struggles with the environment/learning and does not want to be in lessons. Recently the child became very upset about something and said they were going to bring a knife in to hurt me. It's been dealt with at school. The comments have stayed with me even if it was just the child expressing their feelings and I've been left still feeling unsettled, very down and I'm questioning whether this is the right role and school for me.

I know schools have more SEN children than they used to, but I am not sure if what I have experienced is or isn't 'normality' in schools today. I don't know what to do for the best (am considering quitting). I enjoy the general TA role (including other SEN pupils) but don't get to do it. And advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Personally, I would just look for a job elsewhere. And no, that isn't normal.

Completely agree with @EllieNBeeb
This is not an acceptable situation.

Thank you for your responses. I've spoken with my line manager/SLT and been told that having pupils with challenging behaviour is 'the new norm' and that it's often the child's way of expressing their needs/asking for help. I totally understand that this is often the case with ASC children, but other ASC children I've worked with haven't physically hurt me. I think I've been very unlucky (or shafted if I'm being unprofessional) with this child. I think I need to tidy up the old CV and start looking.

I don't think you have been unlucky with the child, you have been unlucky with the school who are not protecting you and your physical or mental well-being. It really isn't acceptable that they allow you to come to harm, that is not the new normal or part of your job.

Thank you. I've become so used to it, I kind of forget that it's not really what I should be experiencing. I had a little weep at your message. Thank you again.

Please take care of yourself, there are schools that will appreciate you and take better care of you.

It sounds like the child needs at least two people to work with so you can take 'shifts'. This also helps if somebody is off sick, the child is not left stranded.

What is happening about training for you? You should not be expected to work with this pupil without training in both autism and de-escalation/ RPI. Have you had Team Teach training or equivalent? If not, you need it. Not because you need to restrain him, but because you need to know how to safely de-escalate situations that might reach the point where the child hurts themselves or you.

I'm pretty much full time with the child. Someone else covers breaks and lunch. I did have time in a different class for one afternoon prior to Christmas but Covid bubbles have meant that has stopped. I have been told that under normal circumstances they would have shared the work between two (which doesn't help me). If I'm off there is some cover from an HLTA which has happened when I've had to isolate.

I had some autism training once I'd started but that was quite late on in the academic year. I've not had any safe handling as the support services have told the school I don't require it with this child. I have questioned this for the very reason you said but nothing has happened. Just been told to move out of the way and one of my colleagues (really lovely and supportive) showed me some of what they had been taught re safe handling. I asked for it again a few weeks ago.

Thank you for reply. Really appreciate it.

It doesn't sound like your school are supporting you or meeting the child's need.

When I have worked with students who present a risk to themselves, other students, or staff, the student has a risk assessment that all staff are aware off. There's measures in place in the event that behaviour escalates and relevant staff complete additional training, including Team Teach.

My DS has some needs like this (though currently he is doing very well) and he has two TAs (each 50%) on his EHCP for more or less this reason. The idea is that his TAs will be trained by the short stay school he's in. It sounds like you have had no relevant training. At his previous school they booked the safe handling training for after he had left.

I've not heard of Team Teach. And I haven't seen a risk assessment, it's just what to do when the child hurts me. I'm feeling more like I'm out of my depth than I thought I was.

Thank you for reply and yes, I'd agree, I don't feel like I've had enough relevant training beyond 1.5 days on ASC and Challenging Behaviour. I'm glad your son is doing well....that's so nice to read.

I wouldn't say he's doing THAT well but trained staff are a big help!

Team Teach is one of the safe handling courses - it's not actually the latest thinking but frankly it's better than nothing.

I haven't seen a risk assessment, it's just what to do when the child hurts me.
I think to a certain extent you will get this if working with a child with some types of SEN and if you cannot cope with this at all, this job isn't for you.
And the RA is about preventing that as well as knowing what to do, and you should be seeing one for this child - DS school upgraded his in September when the full return to school proved tricky for him but now have downgraded it as he's settled in and staff have worked out how to help him better.
The idea is to reduce the instances of the child feeling attacked or going into fight or flight mode so that they don't need to be aggressive.
So for example my DS first TA in his previous school was a former teacher and SENCO who had, in theory, lots of experience of challenging behaviour.
On the first school trip (just a walk along country lanes, he does this all the time with us) he wouldn't queue up with the others and tried to push in the queue. The TA restrained him as, we think, her first reaction and then he headbutted her. He shouldn't have, but he felt like he was being attacked by someone much, much bigger than him and HER reaction was inappropriate too.
She then left the job (within an hour in fact - she was supply) as clearly she could NOT cope in a job where a child was challenging.
So if (as is perfectly your right) you don't think you can handle this at all, then this is not the right job for you (and the TA that my DS was working with should not have been in that job).
But if you can work forward to reduce the DC's fear then it could work well, as long as you are able to take a few knocks on the way (none of the teaching staff in my DS school would last if they could never cope with SOME challenging behaviour).
For staff working with my DS, it's lots of experience and mentoring by other staff, and listening to parents, that work, rather than any number of "courses". Though knowing how to handle children safely is helpful, too.

@drspouse

I wouldn't say he's doing THAT well but trained staff are a big help!

Team Teach is one of the safe handling courses - it's not actually the latest thinking but frankly it's better than nothing.

What is the latest thinking?

Sorry I can't remember, his PRU HT told me but it has gone out of my head!

And I haven't seen a risk assessment, it's just what to do when the child hurts me. I'm feeling more like I'm out of my depth than I thought I was.
If you forgive the expression, there is a certain amount of occupational hazards when working with students who have complex behaviour and /or certain SEN. However, a school should have measures in place that aim to reduce the likelihood of challenging or dangerous behaviour occurring and staff should know what to do.

To speak generally, if a child is absconding, being violent, harming themselves or other 'high level' behaviour on a regular basis then something in the plan isn't working. When there's no meaningful plan the child and their immediate staff are being let down. School staff should not be coming to work expecting to be assaulted as a matter of course.

In my opinion you should have access to the risk assessment, strategies to help support the student's learning, strategies to support the student to regulate their own behaviour and emotions, strategies to de-escalate situations, and finally strategies if the student is in a position where they might harm themselves or others. If your school aren't providing information or training to do this then you're not being appropriately supported in my opinion.

Also - please get proper training in ABCs.
My DS previous school were using this and putting "antecedent - playtime" or "asked to take his tablet" neglecting to mention that at the time he was under a table and they took a toy out of his hand while he was under there.