Is it normal to feel so in the shadow of Reception in Y1?

[theninetiesforme]

This sounds ridiculous so I've nowhere else to ask!

I've been teaching for 8 years now and bounced around until 3 years ago when I landed in Y1. I love it as a stage and my school is generally good. Workload is (in the greater scheme of things) manageable, SMT generally approachable, colleagues are great.

BUT.

Reception get everything. For the past 3 years, they have first choice of furniture, buying additional resources, CPD opportunities, PPA timetabling, PE timetabling, and one year later, we're practically lumped in with Y6.

Any time anything changes in the school- e.g. assessment requirements or planning changes- the staff will immediately say they can't do it.

I have 30 in the class and there is no chance ever of having any TA time. There are 3 TAs permanently attached to R and I know they're busy, but today I asked about arranging to borrow one person for a Spring nature walk, just for an hour, at any time that would be suitable in the next 3 weeks, and the response was absolutely not.

AIBU?

Who was the absolutely no response from? We have a similar situation but it isn’t in reception - we have a year group where the teachers demand so much and they always manage to get it, have caused other year groups to change trips and time table to suit them…..I don’t quite know how.

If the No is coming from th e teachers, approach SLT, ideally with another teacher from your year. Explain you need a TA for a walk, you never have one, there was no effort made to even try and accommodate you and help. Do they expect a TA to be moved to them if one of theirs is absent? I expect they do.

Some colleagues are just unreasonable and not willing to adapt or flex or even just look outside of the needs of their own class at all. Drives me mad. I don’t see why some are allowed to be like that and others are not. Honestly? Calmly approach SLT but be clear and firm. You’re in need of a TA for the morning, your class also needs some new resources (in fact have a list ready and say next time there’s availability you would like first dibs because reception have had first pick multiple time's} and so forth.

It may fall flat, or you may not be the onl6 one speaking up and it could prompt some action.

Yes, from the teachers. I don't want to look as though I'm going over their heads, but I'm so disappointed. I really can say that if I had been asked, I'd have no problem!

I know it’s hard to go over peoples heads…..but from everything you’ve said, they clearly have no issue going over your head! It’s a lesson I’ve had to learn, sometimes you just have to stand up. Your request was not unreasonable in the slightest. We swap and steal TAs all the time!