Going to hand my notice in..

[Shadow1986]

I work as a 1:1 and have been doing the job a few months now. I don’t have prior experience but the job appealed as I love children and thought it would be a really rewarding role. I completely underestimated how hard the role would be. The child I work with has ASD and although I’ve built a good relationship with her, I just don’t feel I have adequate experience to be able to do this job. She can be very challenging. I’ve done a 2 hour online course on ASD and that is it - I also haven’t had any check ins since being employed, I’ve just been left to it.
I’m torn because I feel like I should try for longer, but it’s making me very unhappy.

Just the phrase 'it's making me so unhappy' is very important. If you have choices, why would you continue in a job that actively makes you unhappy. Life is too short. I think it's really sad and actually an outrage that many TAs are currently in your situation - working 1:1 in mainstream with children who have significant needs, but who do not have the resources, training or support to be able to meet those children's needs in the way they should. There are places where it does happen. Look for one of those.

Thanks for replying @thebookeatinggirl
As they are fully aware I have no experience, I was surprised at how significant the child’s needs were and completely agree, it’s sad that the child’s needs are probably not being met.
I think it’s just the feeling of giving up too easily I’m struggling with and not knowing whether I’ll find it easier, the more experience I get. But I do feel out of my depth and it’s taking it’s toll.
Maybe I will try and speak with someone before I make any decisions.

That's terrible for the child as well as you.

If you want to leave I wouldn't blame you at all, but I think you're missing training not experience. Most of the very best people with my autistic DC have had very little experience of autism, and some of the worst have told me they have vast experience of autism.

Would you consider asking for more training? Do you see the child's EHCP, and does it specify that support needs to be given by someone with specialist knowledge or training in autism, for example? If so that is a legal requirement. Maybe you use it to argue that you are unable to meet that need at the moment and need more training to do so.

I know there are TA courses that can be done on day release. I wonder if there is a 1:1 version you could request. Or maybe a local autism charity might have a course that's written by, or with, autistic people.

If you haven't read it already, The Reason I Jump is good for insight and very short. But you shouldn't have to train yourself up in your own time on a TA salary.

@MinesATriple I actually read that book as soon as I got the job. It was very helpful. The ASD training I did receive was also very useful, although it was very short. Just a two hour course. Both gave an insight into the behaviours and the reasons why the child may be acting in a certain way. What I feel like I haven’t learnt is tools/tips on how to deal with child I.e if they are climbing on something and refuse to come down, if they are continually banging something on the table. I’m lacking in confidence and I’m scared of doing something wrong.
The class teacher has just gone on maternity leave and she was very good at dealing with the child so I have even less support now which isn’t helping. But that’s another reason I feel like I shouldn’t hand my notice in because the child will have even more change. But if I’m honest with myself, I don’t want to do it anymore. The wage is very low and it’s not worth the stress. It’s just going to be very difficult telling them.

That's my point really, decent training should give you the strategies. But fair enough, you've been put in an impossible situation and it's not your problem to fix.

Staying in a job you feel unhappy and unskilled in is not going to do the child any favours in the long term. Teaching staff moving on is part of life. It's gutting at the time, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't make a tonne of difference whether it happens this term or next term. Some schools have a policy of switching round 1 to 1s every year or 2 so the child doesn't get too dependent anyway. She will be OK. If you leave before the end of the summer term the likelihood is they will recruit a replacement who will finish the summer with her and then be with her from Sept, so she will still only have 1 transition.

I'm just sorry you haven't had the support you needed from the school.

Completely sympathise, have been in a similar situation as a 121 with a child with profound ASD in MS. We did at least rotate during the day to enable the class TAs to have a break. Might not be best practice but helped morale. Have you spoken to the SENDCo? Do any outside agencies or staff from specialist schools come in to offer support/ strategies? We had this but to be honest the school setting wasn’t suitable for many reasons but as parents were happy, we had to trundle along which was not helping the child at all (overwhelmed/ not engaged/ no interaction with peers).

See what practical support SENDCo and local SEN settings can offer but completely understand that it is soul-destroying to be a 121 and not feel you are actually able to support the child.