Hate my new job

[needsomeadvice8]

Not sure where I stand or what to do, so would appreciate some advice. I’m work as a teaching assistant, started out in special schools over 12 years ago. Since then, mainstream mainly intervention based done some 1:1 but spent the last two years in a school nursery. As a general TA not SEN. I really liked the where’ve I’ve been for the past 3 years, but I needed more hours, and me and my husband are hoping for a home extension etc I applied for a job advertised as a general TA, at interview I asked where the post would be based, I was told in upper key stage 2 as a sats booster intervention TA, with a small amount of time with a upper key stage child with communication needs but no behaviour etc told me how well behaved the school is how proud they are of this, they briefly mentioned I may do a small stint with a key stage 1 child as their dinner time support and what she was autistic. Nothing more was said on this, I should have asked I know. I was nervous and I then did a teaching part of the interview in upper key stage 2 maths lessons to check I passed the skills and knowledge of the curriculum. Now, on my first day, I was given a time table, by the head. Was told they’ve changed my role, it’s basically 1:1 to child in lower key stage 1. With a small break away from said child for 1 hour per day. I was told told nothing of her needs behaviours etc and after 5 minutes of being introduced to her was left in the classroom, whilst everyone went to assembly. I found out in that 10 minutes that she’s extremely violent and unmanageable. I’ve still turned up to work this week and stuck it out but my goodness it’s been hard. I’ve been attacked everyday, constantly asked to take said child outside on my own when this is happening I have refused this as she needs two adults just for safety reasons. I am right to feel like I’ve been lied to in a way? I would never have accepted the job and left my other school if they’d have told me this at interview, now I’m not sure what to do, I have done special schools before but this was in a different environment and much more supported setting etc safer classroom layout, outside area etc. I want to leave, but really worried how this will look when I reapply for jobs. Any advice would be extremely appreciated

I think you can apply straight away, if I see a very short stint on a CV when I’m recruiting but otherwise there are some good long stretches I can recognise it may just be the wrong job. If you had a month, two months, a month, a month, I think very differently if you had three years, four years, three years a month.

Can you afford to leave now and then look for another job? I would be tempted to leave it off my CV completely in your situation

Yes I’d leave it off my CV too. You don’t have to include it.

You’ve been lied too. This has happened to me twice now and each time I have left very quickly. Both schools were not transparent at all. The 1-1s were completely unmanageable. I would suggest getting out asap as 1-1 TA is so, so draining and stressful. You don’t owe this school nothing.

Oh and I left the very short stints off my CV.

Do I not? I’ve only been there a week and it’s given me anxiety, I’m on thinking someone or the child in question or myself are going to get hurt. Other than this I do have long stints on my CV. Can’t really afford financially I’m going to have to find something else ASAP.

Don Gove it a second thought and as others have said, leave it off your CV. Get out ASAP for your safety and sanity.

I wanted the floor to swallow me up on Friday, when I was sent to assembly with child. I’m going to check my contract if I need to give 4 weeks as I’ve only been there a week.

@needsomeadvice8

I feel for you. It’s an impossible job. Having worked via an agency also I’ve had similar stints however was able to inform my agency that the role wasn’t for me.

Two times on a contract though the school was not transparent. It happened to me this week in a secondary school also. The 1-1 was aggressive (and bigger than me). I personally resigned with immediate affect after two days. I just couldn’t put myself through a notice period and didn’t feel like I owed them anything due to their lack of transparency. Schools absolutely do know what they’re doing here. Don’t leave it too long or get sucked in. You’ll burn out.

The school I work for is an academy, could they force action or do anything if I don’t work my notice ? I have a feeling they think they will be covered as they briefly mentioned lunch time cover with this child, obviously no transparency as I said above. I was only told Wednesday that child has been excluded for attacking staff etc

@needsomeadvice8

Yes this was an academy. It is highly unlikely they could enforce anything. Check your contract mine was one weeks notice under 6 months but I felt so on edge with my 1-1 two days was enough. I came out in a load of stress hives on my chest. It was just too much. For such a short tenure the chance of them enforcing anything legally is minuscule. I just sent a politely worded email saying I was resigning immediately.

I’m not even team teach trained!

I’m going through my contract in the morning, I know there’s a probationary period for 6 months so hoping I can resign immediately. I have young children at home and I would of never accepted if I knew, I’ve gone home so stressed

I’ve been in this exact situation. In my case, it did get better with time. As our rapport grew, the child’s anxiety reduced and the violence went away. It took time and much patience and understanding. The school totally did a number on me though!

Could you have a chat with them and explain that you feel misled and you’re going to resign. They may backtrack if they want to keep you and allocate you elsewhere? Might be worth giving them a chance?

You haven't been "lied to in a way", you have been lied to full-stop. Utter bastards.
I feel for you. My own child (ASC) used to attack me when they were smaller, would not wish it on my own worst enemy.
Has your old school already got your replacement?
If not, I'd ask for my old job back.
Get out now. Do supply if you have to.
Good luck xx

Leave. You'll manage.

This is what my husband said, but this child’s previous 1:1 is now doing what was advertised for me in year 5/6 and said child has gone through 4 TAs since September, I can’t see them moving me as I’m not sure who will work with 1:1

Your safety and mental wellbeing matter more than any job.

That’s not your problem. The school needs to advertise and recruit to the 1:1 role not try to foist it on others.

I’d tell your manager that the role isn’t as described and you’re there to do the role you interviewed for and were offered. Indicate that you will resign otherwise and be prepared to follow through on this. Check your notice period, you could give a week’s notice if it is that much and immediately be off sick with stress, as it sounds like you’re heading for that anyway if you stay.

And they have a duty of care for your safety and wellbeing. Make sure you document concerns, incidents and when you’ve asked for support or training and not been given it.

I phoned my old job on Friday, they already had interviews and recruited someone they did say they going to email me before any job is advertised though and let me know. But, nothing going there now until September. Others members of staff at new job, have approached me this week, telling me that they was told school has recruited an experienced TA and she’s going to work miracles with said child meaning me of course !

They can't physically make you work, they lied to you, and an employer is under a duty to prevent you from being attacked while doing your job. I'd say they haven't a leg to stand on.

Can you join an agency? Or more than one agency actually?
We always need supply staff, in my area you’d never be short of work and you can decline schools/classes you don’t enjoy!

I’m actually googling supply agency work right now