Overwhelmed

[Noodle137]

I am a Y2 teacher and this year the head has pulled support staff so I am on my
own in class apart from
1 session per day. I have three unfunded SEND children and it’s impossible!

I really feel for you.
I'm afraid no helpful comments as your work situation is not unfamiliar to my environment.

Also sending solidarity as I'm in the same boat. Very difficult. I'm trying to strip back the curriculum to its most simplest form to give time to focus on emotional/ behavioural needs. Easier said than done I know x

I’m ECT in a mixed year group class LKS2 - 30 children and no TA at any point. 2 unfunded children with significant SEND and 3 with significant SEMH / behaviour needs. I am drowning and have a stream of parent complaints about disruption and their children’s needs not being met. Honestly I’m at my wits end…

It is becoming an endemic problem. As a teacher of over 30 years in KS1 I have never seen so many children with additional needs in classes, and so little support for them. And so many children who simply aren’t ready school. Our TA support is being cut left, right and centre as budgets are squeezed. We now have children with really significant needs starting school with no support in place, and the hoops you need to jump through for EHCPs and additional funding take ages. We’re lucky if things are in place by Y2, often not until KS2. Foundation colleges barely cope with a play based curriculum but KS1 classes, with huge curriculum knowledge and objective targets, are struggling so much. I feel for you. I experience it every day too. When do you think the Government will realise just how much of a problem it is?