TA asked to cover strike

[captncrunch]

Hi everyone.

Quick question. I'm a primary TA though have a teaching qualification. I'm currently employed as 1:1 support for a high needs child on TA salary. There are a few of us on the TA team with QTS for various reasons. In most cases we are parents of very young children doing this job for an easier life for the time being!

Head has basically told me that myself and the other qualified TAs will be asked to cover for striking teachers to 'keep the school open for the children '. It was an ask but phrased like a direction. I'm really out of practice teaching and will be with a difficult year 5 or 6 class. No extra pay. My 1:1 child will be covered for the day by another (unqualified) colleague.

Can I say no? Would I be unreasonable to say no? I feel also that once I do this I'll be asked to cover on a regular basis. I don't really want to cover particularly for TA pay.

Just wondering if any other TAs are in this situation and what the general consensus is?

Thanks!

Are you in a union? If so, I suggest you ask them for advice, and if not, I'd suggest you join one ASAP- I know it's difficult on TA wages but your head sounds like the sort of person who means you need to be in a union. If there's an NEU rep in school, they may be willing to advise regardless.

My understanding of the situation is that if you are employed as a 1:1 TA and have never covered before, then you are allowed to refuse to cover for a striking colleague, regardless of whether you have QTS or not. I would take advice on your specific contact, and then if this is the case, remind the head of this.

If you don't want to cover during a strike, then I would say that to the head. Covering on a strike day will be more work than usual too, as the teacher likely won't leave any cover work or information.

If you don't feel comfortable discussing this directly with the head, I would ask your union rep to remind the head of this or if you don't have a rep in school, contact your district office (or however your union is organised) and ask if an officer will speak to the head for you.

I suspect you are right, and this would be the thin end of the wedge in terms of asking you to cover in the future and save the school money.

I'm an unqualified TA but in union. In your shoes, I would refuse to do duties above and beyond those I am normally expected to do.

As a member of a striking union, although TA's voted not to strike (prior to my joining for unrelated reasons), I have spoken to my rep. They have said it's for my conscience whether I strike or not. And if I am asked to do anything other than my own job, I do not have to.

I have said I fully support strike action and if TA's had voted to strike, I would. But as we have not, I shall continue with my normal timetable. Nothing more, nothing less. A colleague and I have come up with a flow chart to redirect enquiries that would normally go to teaching staff in our department.

Thanks both of you, that's useful.

I'm not in a union, but will look into joining one asap. To be honest I didn't think it was really necessary as a TA but I can see now that it is.

I hadn't actually considered that covering on strike day would be more work than usual @Postapocalypticcowgirl but you're absolutely right! There won't even be planning! She didn't mention that and I didn't think to ask. Argh.

I think it's necessary for everyone who works with children to be in a union, unfortunately. But doubly so if you have a head/SLT who won't look out for your welfare.

The fact she hasn't mentioned there would be no planning left etc really shows she just wants to exploit you, unfortunately.

You are employed as a teaching assistant and your job is to assist a teacher, so no, they cannot expect you to do something not in your job description.

Also, as striking teachers do not get paid, then the school can therefore afford to pay you for the day at the rate of a supply teacher instead of a TA if they expect you to teach.

If you wanted to, you could go back to the head and say you are happy to be employed as a supply teacher for the day at a rate of £X/hour and follow a lesson plan that the headteacher sets, but otherwise you are happy to continue as a TA for the day, assisting a teacher taking a lesson in your usual role.

You are employed as a TA not a teacher - irrespective of any qualifications you have.
You don’t have to step up and cover the teaching role if you don’t want to - it’s not in your contract. My HLTA has QTS but we never use them as a teacher as that is not what they are paid to do - and they have explicitly expressed that they have no desire to have full teaching responsibility.
Don’t feel pushed into it - I would recommend joining the union though!

found this on TES
"Tes asked lawyers at Browne Jacobson LLP where leaders stand when caught between the guidelines.
They said it depends on the circumstances and the usual duties taken on by individual support staff.
For example, the request would be reasonable if a teaching assistant has historically been asked to cover classes in circumstances where there have been unexpected absences, and a headteacher can show that it is within the remit of their expectations or the remit of what you would usually expect a TA to be doing, the law firm said.
However, if the cover is for one-to-one support, for example, or if the individual usually provides a very specific role, it will be harder to suggest that providing that cover is reasonable and within their usual remit, they added."

www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/school-support-staff-classroom-cover-teacher-strike-advice-guidance