Just started a class ta role and currently have misgivings. I spend the vast majority of my time (I work mornings) supporting one child with additional needs who does not engage with the curriculum at all. He is 6 but functions at the level of a young toddler in terms of interaction with others and in his play e.g flitting from one activity to another, snatching, only understanding and speaking very short sentences, no awareness of danger etc. We try to encourage him to stay in the classroom (he has his own area) or doing various activities in the inside/outside areas close by, and to think how we can relate these to the learning the rest of the class is doing. We've used visuals and short sentences to try and offer different activities. But it is honestly pot luck where he goes - playground, other classrooms, dining hall, foyer, what he does there - lay under a table, play fine, snatch stuff, trash stuff - and how long he stays in one place. He has tried to run into offices or out the main door before - the main focus at the moment is simply following him around to keep him safe and minimise disruption to the rest of the school. He needs someone with him at all times and as such, I can't get involved with much class TA type work. He's being assessed but who knows how long that will take and then whether he will be even able to get a 1:1 which is what he really needs.
I have no sen or ta experience myself. I've volunteered in my kids' school for the past couple of years but this is my first job since having kids (who are 10, 7 and 4) and pre kids I worked in insurance. So I know it's all new and different and it will take a while to get into the swing of things. But I can't see how I'm ever going to figure things out when I'm constantly babysitting (which is what it feels like) this one child. If I wanted a 1:1 role or a one working with toddlers I'd have applied for one! I don't like not wanting to come to work, or the clock watching and feeling frustrated when it's not the poor little lad's fault, or having less patience with my own kids cos I've been constantly hearing "no" and being on edge at work.
However on the flip side the staff are all lovely and my class teacher is an absolute saint - loads of patience and totally fine with the fact that I'm brand new, really supportive and always seeks me out to give me a chance to go to the loo etc. It is appreciated how much my situation sucks I reckon. The location is also fab, only a short drive, the hours fit in with my kids' school day/ holidays and I know I'm lucky to get a ta job with no experience. The snippets of class ta stuff I've done in the 20mins between the child been minding goes home and the time I go home have been great. Plus as it's only mornings, the boredom and frustration of the 1:1 stuff is just about tolerable, it is possible he may get some 1:1 support at some point I guess thus freeing me up (?), and he'll only be in my class for a year.
Am thinking I should stick it for at least a year though as it's still really early days and we may turn it around (although I don't think there much progress there was last year in a class with more experienced ta's.) Has anyone else been in this situation and what did you do??