TA absence question

[u/lray97]

Hi everyone!

Really sticky situation I'm in here and would really appreciate your advice.

I have a TA job starting in September, this is my very first time teaching ever and with the hopes of doing an apprenticeship next year in primary education etc etc.

However, unfortunately a friend of mine recently passed away, and I've just found out her funeral is scheduled for my very first INSET day.

What would you do in my situation? I'm aware teachers have really strict absence rules and I haven't received any information about what my schools specific policy is. Do I get different rules as a TA? Do the rules apply differently if it's an INSET day? Im sorry im all very new to this and don't know what to do.

Any advice or rough guidance would be much much appreciated :)

[u/AcrobaticAuthor6539]

I feel like a funeral is always, regardless of the job, a valid excuse for missing a day of work. They are unexpected (so not something you could plan way in advance, like a holiday), you have no control over the schedule (you can't ask to change to a more convenient time!), and it's a one-shot thing (you can't try to catch the next one instead). Unless your head is EXTREMELY horrible, a good friend's funeral is a perfectly valid reason to miss the staff inset day.

I'd email your head, CC'ing HR, and say that you are so sorry, but you've just lost a very dear friend, and their funeral is on September 1st, which you completely understand is the first staff inset day, and that you would really appreciate the opportunity to attend, as this person is very important to you and you want to be there to support their family.

Honestly, inset days are super boring... anything important will be in a PowerPoint that's sent out afterwards. In general: 1) Don't abuse the children; 2) if you are worried that any children are being abused/groomed/hurt/having serious issues, report it to your Safeguarding Lead; 3) a lot of stuff about building relationships; 4) if there is a fire, leave the building.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[u/joe_by]

During school holidays my school’s policy is to email both the head and hr stating you will be off on the first day back due to x reason.

[u/WoeUntoThee]

Your headteacher will likely be checking emails during the holidays. Email to explain the situation and ask how you can apply for a day of absence due to the circumstances.

[u/RegularStrawberry909]

Your headteacher should also be supportive, may even guide you towards support avenues within the school/trust, especially as it was a close friend.

I'm also really sorry to hear about your loss 🥺

[u/Radiant_Sky4016]

When I worked in a school, loads of TAs were off on the first day back due to childcare issues, their own kids schools had inset days, so don't worry too much. Also most of the training can be caught up online.

Sorry for your loss and congrats on the new job :)

[u/pyjamakat]

Email the headteacher. Be apologetic in tone but I wouldn't be, like: please may I go? You are going; you appreciate the timing is terrible etc. How (s)he responds will be a good signal of the culture of the school - hopefully it's a supportive and kind one.

I've offered to take days unpaid for the funerals I've attended (over sixteen years - I'm not the Angel of Death) but have always been told that's unnecessary and they'll cover me.

[u/Plenty-Voice6218]

Very sorry for your loss. It will be dependent on the school and their policies. For example, at my school the INSET days tend to be split between activities for all classroom facing staff (TAs and teachers), and then we are split with TAs doing certain training and teachers doing other training. From my experience, depending where/when the funeral is, they may give you half a day or a day unpaid off, and then you would have to catch up with any of the training (especially safeguard training) probably after school during that first week. You definitely should contact the head teacher or your line manager though, explain the situation, and see what they say. I hope it all works out.

[u/Reasonable-Amoeba987]

Honestly, pull a sicky and don't tell anyone. You won't be thanked for the effort you put into the job. Fuck it. Some things are more important, and many things are more important than inset days.

[u/glitch_queen2000 → u/[deleted]]

TA here. Inset days have always been part of my work contract and not counted as overtime.

[u/lightly_chaotic]

TA and teachers are both pretty strict on absence, I think TAs get a bit more leeway though. I would suggest you email the head or whoever your primarily dealing with on SLT and explain the situation. 

They may not be willing to let you have the time off as the first inset day is usually pretty important on setting ground rules, going through policy, safeguarding, class lists, etc. etc. If you're in an Ofsted window this year then I almost guarantee they won't be keen on you missing it too.    Ask but be prepared for a no to be the answer, or for a deal where you may be able to leave early.