Only 2 TAs for 4 R and Y1 classes. What is the fairest solution?

[DancingRaindear]

With budgets and increased SEN/ 1-1s throughout the school we can only have 2 TAs, and they’re both in R. Last year the R classes were very unsettled so I understood why, but those children have now moved to Y1 without support and the current R classes are calmer.

R provision is wonderful, and I completely understand what they’re working on but it’s leaving us so short in Y1.

Do I put up and shut up or is it reasonable to go in and ask for a change?

I think it's just the norm now not to have any general support, I've not had any support in year 1 for about 5 years now. I've had children with 1:1s but they've only ever supported their child or children. Currently have a 1:2. More support is always needed in reception.

Are there stricter ratios in Reception?
TA are fewer generally due to cuts/ restructuring. This results in fewer class TAs.
Frustrating, I know...

Are those children entitled to extra support through EHCPs or the like?

There are some very carefully worded sections in the EHCPs. I know I’m not meeting needs and I’m worried that I’ll be the one taking the blame.

The ratio is 1:30 in Reception too.

From my POV, we could then have a very similar setup across the two years. They really struggle with the transition but I can’t do anything about that without support.

There's probably little you can do. It frustrates me so much that Year 1 children are just expected to get on because they've had a year of school. Most of them are only 5!!

Do you run a CP approach? I think 30 doing formal learning with one adult in the room is a waste of time a lot of the time. You have to give them far easier tasks because there's no way you can support 30 at once! At least with a CP approach you can concentrate on groups. It's not easy without another adult to circulate or have another group but I'd certainly prefer it over formal. Plus you can put out things to specifically target those SEN children.

No, CP was impossible. The noise levels and behaviours were awful and they weren't completing the tasks to a high enough standard.

Literacy and Numeracy are done through carousels with some freeflow in the afternoons. I do get very frustrated that all of a sudden they're in Y1 and expected to cope!