I'm an LSA in a primary school. I have no training other than a good education and whatever I've picked up on the job. I have no illusions as to my status in the hierarchy.
Some years I am a class TA, others I am a child's 1-to-1 LSA. Some terms or years, if a child doesn't need me 100%, or works better with a team rather than an individual, I may do both roles on different days. So I understand that teaching staff may sometimes find my role unclear.
I've worked with most of the staff for several years. We get on well. I know who wants their TA to be friendly and chatty and who wants their TA to be quiet, brisk, efficient. I also know which teachers are approachable, and which are prickly.
When I'm a child's 1-to-1, I simply cannot do the running around admin tasks of a class TA. With most teachers, as soon as I remind them that I'm So-and-so's LSA, they apologise and stop asking. Certain teachers, though, don't.
In the last year, I've twice asked a HOD (to whom I report, and who is supposed to be my manager) to talk to class teachers and clarify my role. I've also been in the position where a teacher totally unconnected with my 1-to-1 wanted to do something that would have a negative impact on my pupil, so I wanted to change it. The only person available to talk to about this was a senior member of the SLT.
Each time I've been told to deal with it myself. It's presented either as empowering me or (and I'm quoting) "Oh God, I'm not dealing with that! Do whatever you want."
In each of the cases when I asked for management support, the teacher I need support with was one of the few 'prickly' teachers. The SLT member was blatantly clear that she did not want to deal with the prickliness.
AIBU to want them not to wimp out of managing tricky staff? If they, with their seniority, cannot tell staff what to do, why do they expect a TA to do so?
I do not want to be in the position of constantly refusing to do what is asked of me, nor do I want to then be assigned as TA to a teacher who has a bad opinion of me because I kept refusing to follow her instructions.