Help needed.

[Numpty482]

Evening. I've been working as a TA at a school now for 18 months (first 12 via a supply contract). At the end of the year I was offered a permanent role. Whilst on supply I'd been working as a 1 to 1 for a child with challenging behaviour. I found the job tough but rewarding. In the summer I was given a permanent contract and have been working in a year 6 classroom, often being moved for short periods to other classes because of staffing shortages.

This week, I've had a day off as my own daughter has severe mental health issues, which has an impact on my own mental health (but I manage). I attended school but was told to return home as I had more important matters to tend to. The school for the most part of always been supportive.

This week a member of staff was assaulted by a child with challenging behaviour. She needed time off and the child was briefly excluded. On Thursday this week I was told that I would now become this child's one to one as the member of staff can no longer work with him.


The reason given was "you're a bloke" and he might respond better to you. I'm not happy about the change in my role, nor do I want to work with a violent child (again)if this was the role offered to me at the start of the year I would not have accepted the role.

Stupidily I'm not in a union. The other staff members contract is to work one to one, mine isn't. Is there anything I can do? I really don't want to accept the role.

I spoke to the head today and told him I didn't wish to move roles, he told me to resign.

Is there anything I can do? I'm quite fortunate that I don't massively need the money. I have no mortgage and a lite bit of savings.

Thanks.

[ULA]

Even though your contract is not to work on a one-to-one basis does our job description have in their about needing to carry other other duties as required?

Do you know if this is meant to be a permanent change to your work or is this just temporary until someone else can be found to do this role?

[Numpty482]

It's a permanent change. The school doesn't have the money to employ another member of staff. I'm just employed as a TA, my contract doesn't specify that I'll be a 1 to 1. I was told by another member of senior management that the person who I'm supposed to swap roles with is employed as a 1 to 1, as per the terms of her contract.

Thanks.

[Numpty482]

It does have that I'll be expected to cover other duties and I have previously done that willingly. I've worked with the child in question a few times in the past. But it wasn't a permanent change. If I'm honest, whenever there's something that needs to be covered (lunch time role, moving to support another class, extra curricular) I'm always the first asked, as I'm usually very compliant. I've just recently had a very traumatic week. The school are aware (I've spoken to the school counselor) and I know that I'm not in the right place to take on this role at the moment. It's not best for me or the child. But my concerns have fallen on death ears.

Apologies for the second post.

[ULA]

To a certain extent if you have a generic TA contract rather than one that is a specific function, then they have more opportunity and scope to move you to duties which are expected to be carried out by a TA.

The other issue that you have is that with less than 2 years service you have not build up employment rights. As a suggestion is it worth speaking to the school counselor to see if they can intervene in their professional capacity?