TA - Current Class are breaking me!

[Ta2025]

I've been a TA for 5 years now and always loved my job. Based in year 1 as a general TA, obviously working with children who need more support but not a 1-1 technically. This year we have 3 children (girls) with extreme behaviour problems. They scream, kick, hit, bite, scratch and have to be placed into holds multiple times per day. Me and my team are really struggling, there is the teacher and another TA with me (they are both incredible!) I love our school but they have a very gentle loving approach to children and want to fix them but I feel like there is no consequences to the actions of these kids. I'm literally assaulted by them every day. I've been made to feel it's just part of the job, but it feels so extreme. I don't even know why I'm posting, just solidarity I think from people who understand!

This sounds difficult. What are the head and SENCO saying? What’s the behaviour management system and do they have individual behaviour plans, strategies and positive rewards in place?
The regular having to be “ placed into holds” sounds excessive and should not be happening. Are you Team Teach trained or similar? If not then it’s a hands off approach unless in emergencies. Even if staff are trained in safe handling it should be 95 % de escalation.

Are they receiving any outside support? That looks different in different areas but something like an inclusion service or behaviour support service? Presumably they have IEPs? Just wondering if there is a longer term plan. And sorry you're having a tough time, it sounds very difficult and certainly unsustainable.

Thank you for the replies. One child has an ehcp for emotional social difficulties. She is the most likely to end up in hold, trust me it is always a last resort (I am team teach trained and I really do use holds as a last resort as I hate it for both of us) but she will go from calm to instantly furious, repeatedly screaming and kicking and hitting me with all her force. I have been very hurt my her so many times this year and a hold is the only way to keep her and everyone else safe. The other two are not quite so violent, but even after a careful desculation tactic they will resort to kicking and hitting staff, and running away. Our behaviour policy is reminder of the rules, warning of consequences, removal to another classroom and then reflect and repair. But they are removed from class every day and then harm staff in the other rooms. All three have kicked and hit our head teacher this week, they do not care. I'm not sure what the plan will be going forward, I am really hoping that the head and senco reach out for some external help. Outside of the bad I feel we have really nice relationships with these kids, I just don't know what else to do.

An example from this week, one girl was working 1:1 with me doing fine motor activities. The timer ended and I said it was time for another activity, asked her which of the options she would like to do next. She just screamed No, threw the timer at me and started to repeatedly hit me. She doesn't build up slowly from 0-10, she will flip in an instant.

Sounds like you really need outside support and advice. The SENCO needs to help.
Are you using any emotional regulation techniques or supports such as 5 Point scale? They are young would need to be introduced/ adapted.
How about sensory breaks? Access to active learning, multisensory approach.
With this level of need you need individual strategies. Senco really needs to be advising/ seeking outside agency support.
Sometimes making a choice can be a trigger. Look at I am working for chart and first and then ( you might already be using) So under a working for chart the next activity would be something she wanted to do from a choice offered and agreed earlier before the directed task.
PDA strategies may also help. If you can get help and support for the child with an EHCP that might help the others to be calmer too. An early review might be suggested.

Thank you so much for replying. The one little girl with the ehcp is now also on the asd pathway, but only recently and it is an 82 week wait for diagnosis. Mainstream education is totally not the right place for her, it's sad. She definitely responds well to pda strategies and the outbursts are getting less now that I know how to work with her better. One of the other girls is her twin so I suspect also some asd but parents will not hear it. The third girl has been assessed and we have been told it is trauma and attachment issues. Its just so sad all round that they are three very unhappy children struggling. We have an asd base at our school and our senco is amazing so we are trying every strategy we can, we just seem to be failing at every turn!

They are lucky to have you. This term is notoriously tricky and over stimulating. So many events and festivals. Christmas is so disruptive.
Look after yourself.