Do you have a TA?

[BeeMe]

I teach a Reception Class but have no TA. Just wandering how common this is.

Uncommon I'd say and I am at a school where TA support is scarily short and stretched...

I teach a year 1 class with no TA but our reception class does have a TA.

TAs mostly with children with or in process of getting ehcps.
Rest of children struggle on with no support even if have high need...
Maybe not the same in all schools...

At our school there's a ta in r & and one in y1.

Despite there being an extra 1 to 1 for a child with SEN, the main class TA in r is dominated by supporting children who need it but aren't "bad enough" for extra help.

In y1 the teacher is very very fair about every child getting opportunity, and even manages to get the TA taking small groups of more able out for challenge activities, as well as supporting less able.

This is actually good practise, as the less able really should have their time with the teacher/working at main class pace maximised or they never catch up.

I've not known a Reception class without a TA. I think it is very unusual, especially if you have a class of 30. For starters, how on earth do you do the hideous Baseline assessment 1:1 with children if you have no other adult supporting? Or help change wet accidents? Or have free flow inside and outside? Very hard.

Our Reception classes all have full-time TAs. In Year One we have one TA between two classes doing mostly interventions with catch-up groups or guided reading. It is a struggle.

Very unusual not to have a ta in reception I’d say. I’m lucky to have one in y1 too - I can’t really imagine how anyone runs an effective provision without more adults on the ground!

Year 1 with no TA and it's hideous. Reception with no TA is utter madness.

Our infant class (mixed EY/KS1) has a TA. The junior classes don't.

Our infant class (mixed EY/KS1) has a TA. The junior classes don't.

TA in ours. We have two that soil daily so how would a teacher cope with that? I thought it was a legal requirement re the ratios in YR.

We are a one form entry primary and each class has a TA for the morning, EYFS also has TA support during the afternoon.

Yep. Private school though and every class has full time TA. I also teach reception, 18 kids.

TA in ours. We have two that soil daily so how would a teacher cope with that? I thought it was a legal requirement re the ratios in YR.

By year R soiling daily is indicative of either health issues or neurodiversity, I'd expect children with an issue of soiling daily to have an EHCP. You may get an occasional wet accident but it shouldn't be happening all the time in primary school and most (NT) children should able to sort out changing themselves after a wet accident. My nephew had a phase of wet accidents due to a short term health issue and had wet wipes and a change of clothes in his bag in reception.

@AloysiusBear yes with one child there are definitely signs of ND but it’s early stages and parents think there isn’t an issue so we are observing. The other child appears NT.

Two form entry, North West, academy every class has a TA. Very challenging school though and Hugh percent SEN with at least one 1-1 in each year group.

I'd expect children with an issue of soiling daily to have an EHCP.

Sadly, no LA would accept that as a reason for an EHCP. One child in reception has wet himself 14 times and soiled himself twice since September. Can broadly clean up himself but needs verbal guidance by an adult. He was also in our nursery. He has SALT input, a complex health condition and challenging behaviour.

Applied for an EHCP. Rejected.

And he's not even close to the most needy child in his class.

In theory, I agree with this, but assuming the waiting times for assessment are the same, regardless of age group, children might need an ECHP, but not necessarily have one. I'm secondary, but I know students who it's taken around 18 months to have a successful application go through, let alone if you're starting from scratch in terms of getting a diagnosis.

I also don't think all 4yos can change and clean themselves up without some adult help.

Reception here and yes, I have a full time TA. As others have said, how have you managed baseline assessments? Hats off to you! I wouldn't be without my TA.

An HLTA came in to cover my class for baseline.

I have one in Y2, he is a god send!