Expected Class TA job given 1:1 Role

[stripeymonster]

Just looking for advice really. I was excited to start a new TA role in key stage 2 - was previously a teacher but had time out for children and decided to change to something with less hours and pressure.
Turned up day 1, told need to stay with set child all day except for half hour lunch break. Allocated child is very high needs - can't engage with class work or any whole class learning. Most of day consists of trying to stop child distracting rest of class, escaping, bribing child to look at anything vaguely educational. Child has little awareness of rest of class or any motivation to learn. Very poor concentration . Reminds me of trying to constrain a toddler in a wedding service but all day every day.

I'm finding it really difficult - it's not using my teaching skills at all and being with the same child all day is very repetitive. It would be different if they could access the curriculum but they can't.

Is there any point discussing with the head teacher? I have yet to sign my contract because I have no idea how I can cope with this every day. In my contract it states Teaching Assistant role - no mention of 1:1 responsibilities. So far I have been hit, kicked, spat at and shouted at. I have asked about training for myself but no money available.

I am considering quitting already but feel bad for leaving the teacher and other TA staff to deal with it. Plus having had a few years out of the classroom need the experience to put on my CV.

Having spoken to other staff, the school has form for not being honest about the job description but noone appears to have been able to change roles.

What should I do? Should I at least be paid more for a 1:1 role?

Thanks for reading any advice appreciated.

Apply for another job immediately and give notice. Someone else will apply for your role, I would do something you are happy to be doing. No reason to do a job you do not enjoy.

It takes a certain mindset to be good at 1-1 and by changing your mindset it can make you a better TA in the long run.
Don't focus on the child's academic deficits look at their assets and how you can use them to access learning (not necessarily curriculum)
Don't try to fit a square peg in a round hole, change the hole.
Learn about the child before you try to teach the child.
Demand team teach (or similar) training, confidence in de-escalation and positive handling will benefit the whole class.
Ask for 1/2 days. Splitting the day with another TA is better for the child (doesn't become overly reliant on one adult) and better for staff as full day 1-1 is draining and demoralising.
Build a positive relationship with the child's parents and the SENCO they will be of great value.
Start every day fresh, don't hold grudges it will eat you up.
Finally, it's not personal. Spitting, hitting and kicking is just a poor form of communication. You have to look past that to hear what they are trying to tell you.

Not signing your contract makes no difference as you have attended work so legally you are deemed to have accepted the job and conditions of service.

Regarding the one to one role/Class TA - you can be deployed wherever ‘TA’ contract is a general term and unfortunately due to budget cuts very few fully class TA roles exist.

Hi. I was in exactly your position about 15 years ago. As a 1:1 I was paid less than a TA. I left when child grew taller than me - he was quite rough anyway and his parents' behaviour strategies we're to tell him repeatedly "I'm bigger than you so I make the rules". I stuck it out for over a year. Big mistake. The school had misled me and persuaded me to do the job by assuring me it was very short term. My employment was the LEA's way of keeping him in a provision that wasn't specialized enough for his needs. Having TA on CV really hampered my late career when I was ready to go back. The Head was annoyed with me for leaving and told me he was going to give me a poor reference.

I imagine your notice period is four weeks
/ Month. Ask the school business manager.

Try doing day to day Supply. Rubbish pay but the experience would be more relevant.

Thank you - lots to think about.
I can see how changing my mindset would help if I decide to stay long term. Just not sure that's what I want at the moment. I may look at private tutoring as well as a TA role which is class based.

Had a somewhat similar experience to this OP, and yes to begin with, I was disappointed and felt completely misled. However, it became one of the most rewarding experiences for me, as not only did my mindset change, but the child’s did too. That once angry child who was having regular violent outbursts, could barely string a decent sentence on paper, and was on the brink of being sent to a PRU, was the loveliest, brightest child behind it all, and in the end did very well. Positive experiences can come from the most unexpected circumstances sometimes.

Do you know who supported the child last year? They could give you plenty of pointers of what works with the child. As part of my role, I share the 121 support of a child with severe needs, non-verbal and doesn’t access the classroom. Fortunately there are four of us who provide support during the week. I know how incredibly draining it can be keeping someone safe, trying them to do some tasks and keep on top of what is happening with the rest of the class.

I have done 121 in the past when I was the only support for the child and I found it incredibly hard. It is so intense, you do have to be cut out for it or at least have support to talk situations through.

I am sorry to hear you've found yourself in this position. It is pretty much what happened to me last academic year. I was taken on as a TA and told I'd also support a child who needed 'a bit of help'. The child needed a full time INA (ASC and various other SEN) which is what I became. It was tough and like you I was hit, punched, bitten, spat at, stabbed with pencils/pens, headbutted, had things thrown at me, touched on the breasts, backside and genitals, and shouted out. I raised this with the SLT and told the support services has said that they didn't recommend positive handling training to work with this child (yep I know) and also I had to decide 'how much pain you are willing to tolerate'.

I spent a lot of time outside the classroom as the child struggled with learning and would disrupt lessons. Like you, I got my lunch but I also didn't do breaks as another member of staff watched the child and I did main playground duties.

It was an incredibly lonely role. I was told I'd be working with different children this academic year but this was changed at the last moment and I was placed back with this child. I don't know how I managed to get through last year and came close to breaking (I had v little support but told continually I was doing a good job....). When I got the news I decided to leave as I couldn't face another year. I really enjoyed being a TA and miss being in the classroom but what I was doing was not being a TA. The child really struggled with mainstream school and I was basically keeping them safe. If you are not finding your role fulfilling, please don't do what I did. Leave. Don't feel guilty about letting the other staff down as they will find someone else.....take care and good luck for the future.

Lots of really insightful comments - thank you. The child's 1:1 has left from last year but there are a few people who have given me helpful tips. But I'm still not sure if I can handle the role full time. I have decided to take it a day at a time for now and see if it improves. Aside from the continual behaviour issues I struggle with the boredom of the role - not being able to follow the curriculum means that everyday feels like groundhog day and it passes very slowly. It is very early days so maybe progress will happen with a bit of positive mindset and hopefully some further training.

Why don't you search out another role? You have no obligation to be in a job you don't enjoy, that doesn't stimulate you, that you do not want to be doing. You do not have to be unhappy at work. You aren't a martyr. Just do a job you do like doing where you don't feel like you're babysitting a child you can't engage with. Someone WILL be passionate about working with this one child, that someone isn't you.

Have a think about being a secondary school TA... much more variety and perhaps the opportunity to do small group interventions and teaching, etc.

Stripeymonster what did you decide to do in the end. Currently in a similar situation myself!