TA issues with Teacher. Advice please.

[RhubarbFairy]

I am an experienced TA who moved to a new school earlier this year. My background is SEN and prior to my previous school (mainstream), I worked in a specialist SEN school which is known for having a 'difficult' cohort (fabulous school and the children thrive there, but they only go once every other option has been exhausted).

In mainstream I worked as a mix of 1:1 and class TA, predominantly in KS1 across all years and with senior teachers.

I'm now at a new school as a FT class TA and I work in Y2. My issue is with the class teacher. During class time, she only speaks to me to bark at me 'go over there', 'can you do this'. If we are both out on playground duty (rare, she usually leaves me to it) she'll make a point of being on the opposite side of the playground and won't speak to me at all.

Yet sometimes when the children aren't there she's lovely, but it's fleeting.

She's given me good feedback in the early days of my employment, both verbally and via email, but recently she's been snappier than ever.

I've been left to cover the class for the whole day, teaching her planning on several occasions, where she's needed to be somewhere else, and the school haven't got a supply in. So clearly she's knows I'm competent.

On Friday, I was engaging with one of our SEN children, sat with them in their safe space. They had accepted my presence and were beginning to engage with me. She was not in the room when I began engaging.

She came back in and snapped at me to move away, that I was in their space and I needed to leave it. All the children were in the classroom and heard.

I did, but once again I felt so small.

I'm looking for a new role, but there's not much out there at the moment. I know that more will be advertised after half term for September.

DH thinks that I should talk to her. But I'm not sure what that will achieve and am concerned about making things more difficult.

I have also worked in EYFS at the school and don't have this issue with either of those teachers. No previous issues with any teachers at either of my last schools, I was met with dismay when I handed my notice both times. So I don't think its me.

I know she's stressed about SATS and it's a stretched school and she's part of the SLT, so that added stress.

I think I just want some points of view and advice please.

Thank you

Hi, I’m a HLTA in primary. It may well be about her stress and nothing to do with you but it’s not nice. I worked with a teacher like that once and I eventually spoke up. I waited until the end of the day and I just asked if I was doing something wrong. When she said no, I said that is found her snappy and bossy and I’d felt undermined in front of the children. She was very apologetic and it never happened again. Stand up for yourself. Good luck.

Thanks for your reply.

That's what my husband thinks I should do too. But I'm struggling to find the nerve. And I'm not usually the nervy type. I don't think anyone likes confrontation, but I'm usually okay if I have to, yet I can't seem to work up the nerve.

Think I might have to wait it out until SATs are over. Not sure I will achieve much adding to her stress at the moment.

Yes that might be a good idea. I think it’s about how you say it. I didn’t say it quite as bluntly as I posted. More of a ‘this is how I’ve been feeling..’. Anyway, it sounds as though you’re doing a good job and have good experience so trust in yourself and your judgment.

Thanks. I shall keep my head down for the next couple of weeks and see what post SATs brings.