10 replies to this topic

[mollywest]

We have 3 Reception classes this year. Unfortunately numbers are low for the new intake, so one teacher has to move to another year group, only having 2 Reception classes next year.

Found out today, (from rather indiscrete senior manager), that the aim is to make our HLTA spend a substantial period teaching pupils from the 2 classes in our spare classroom. This of course isn't breaking any rules!

Staff are furious, because in-effect, money is being saved employing an assistant to do the job that a teacher would have done previously. Our 2 Reception classes are to have 28 pupils in each.

No doubt more children will come along over the summer months getting very close to the limit of 30 per class.

What a sad state it is when teaching assistants (who do an excellent job) are taking over the teaching role.

I suppose Senior Managers ( and government) are to blame. It appears their main aim is to" balance the books!"
Is there anyone out there who has experienced the same situation?

[mollywest]

Whoops posted in wrong area -sorry!!

Hope message can be transferred to Curriculum and General.

Thanks

[Linda McDowell]

Moved as you have requested Molly.
Linda

[Rea]

I thought TA's were being told not to take classes for teachers for just this reason. I know I wouldnt have wanted my children 'taught' by a TA, I've seen one or two in action. Thats not to say they dont know their job and can be very professional but they're still not teachers.

[mollywest]

Our head is "getting around it " by claiming that the Assistant will only be taking groups.

We feel that very strongly that is the SMT's way of saving money, plus relieving the pressure on Reception class teachers, with class sizes being quite large.

This is not fair on the children or on HLTA and can only result in a lowering of standards!

The staff are not a happy team at the moment!

[Lizz]

Hi

Oh dear

How does your HLTA feel about it?

If she/he is not happy about it also, can they not express this to the SMT? If she/he does not feel that they will be able to do the job to a good standard surely the SMT would listen??

Sometimes our TA's take the class if a teacher is out for a morning or afternoon. They are ok with it and quite able but none of us would want it to be a permanent arrangement. Its not fair that they don't get paid the same rate - I wouldn't do it if I were a TA!

Lizz xx

[mollywest]

Our HLTA is quite pleased that she is going to be used in this way. She is very capable and regrets the fact that she hasn't gone on to do a degree.

At present she feels honoured that she is so highly regarded and considered capable to do a teachers job. I suspect that with time she will resent the fact that she earns considerably less than a qualified teacher, I know I would in that situation!

Guidelines state that HLTAs should not take the place of a teacher, but I feel certain that headteachers under pressure to stick to their budget will find ways to use these assistants where they can.

How sad for the people concerned and the children. Parents are bound to shout loudly about it!

[kippax]

I was, (still am at heart..) a nursery nurse, nneb trained. Because a few years ago there was no career progression at all i did the hard slog and did teacher training with early years specialism. Why did I bother? Not that long ago, a state nursery had to have a qualified teacher, not so any more. I'm so fed up.I only want to teach in the foundation stage, but have ended up with a qualification that I don't need! My head is very supportive, but with financial constraints, I wonder how long he will hold out before employing a level 4 worker to run the nursery ? ( a post which I would probably apply for.....?)

[Dianne]

Hi Molly,

I wonder how the issue of planning with your HLTA is going to be resolved. Surely if you are to plan for the groups she will teach, this will be a great burdon and addition to your workload & you would have to get your union involved.

On the other hand, if your HLTA is planning for the children, however experienced and keen she is, has she been trained for this role? Who will be in charge of overseeing these plans?

In my (cynical) experience, once something like this has been decided it tend to go ahead, whatever us lesser mortals (the actual teachers) think about it. But you must protect your workload from a huge increase - we all have more than enough to do already!

Good luck Dianne

[Jamjim]

Molly,is this the only support you will get next year? Im a TA and often take the reception class when the teachers are absent. Our sitation is similar to your where we have classes of 28-30 and 1 TA(me)and I usually take groups from each class into a 3rd room. But I don't have the same children all day,they rotate,could you do something similar?

Thankfully,we have a great team so it all works very well.

[heyjude]

I have an HLTA in my class nd she is brilliant. She is aso our Preschool supervisor. She covers for me one morning a week when I have my PPA time. I plan for her, but she is able to run with things easily and so they don't have to be too detailed. The head has brought in an extra TA to work with her, so there are three staff members in there. She also covers for me if I am off sick or on a half day course basically because she knows the children well, knows where everything is, knows the expectations I have, knows the routines etc. It's much more sense than having a supply teacher in who basically can only sit and child mind! heyjude