Im just completing my first school year and know next year I will be permanently in one area.
Problem is I am not sure if I am being taken for a bit of a mug. Teacher is great, but during this busy time of cleaning and tidying she always seems to "just have to nip somewhere." leaving me to it.
Other TAs are telling me I am too soft. Now I have been asked to go in school over the holidays to get the classroom ready with her. If I say no, I feel I will be viewed as "not a team player" on the other hand I dont want to be taken advantage of.
I wont be paid for any time if I do decide to go in.
Im torn! What do others think?

say you are away on holiday at that time, but you dont mind heping when you get in at the start of term!

Personally i wouldn`t go in on my holidays for no pay !! Especially if it`s not been asked of any other of the TA`s . Is it the teacher asking you or a request from the Head ? Either way i`d claim to be on holiday at the time !! Doesn`t the school have INSET days in Sept before the children go back .We usually have a day to revamp the class the day before the kids come back .

If you do decide to go in( I have been known to) I suggest you go in for an afternoon and say you have to be back by a certain time ie I can help for 2 hours.

unfortunatly i will be going in in the hol's , BUT that is my choice .We have two classrooms knocked into one ,and is huge so there is a lot too organise and prepare for next year , i will not get paid , but as the teacher and i split everything 50/50 i want to organise my carpet space and have myself ready for september , I will take in some CD's and plough through it while i sing along . I do most of the tidying in my class too ,but i am a cleanaholic , the children however have to do some of it , Do you'r children not have to tidy thier mess ? I would get them involved

Good idea about putting a time scale on it. She knows my holiday dates already so cant use that one.
We do have an inset the day before the children start back too, but she is going in before that day.
I am probably too soft! I need to find the right balance I think.

just rehearse what you are going to say

'Im sorry, all my holiday is taken up with my family commitments but i will be happy to help on the inset day '

you shouldnt feel bad about taking the time off you are entitled to

She gets paid for 52 weeks. You probably don't so don't feel bad.

I usually go in but as others have said this is my choice and it is to tidy and sort my mess and to finish filing programmes. (I have a small room which I use for individual or small group work). I quite like it when the children aren't in as I can get loads done in a short space of time. I have my music as loud as I like and sing along.

I stay after school on the last day to help to tidy the classrooms, help teachers to move rooms if necessary and to move the children's things to their next class. We usually have 2 inset days at the beginning of term to set up.

Say you have got relatives over to stay. Sorry would love to come in otherwise!!

I thought that was what Inset days are for. My teacher has got to move classroom again! Last year I helped but this year I've got full committment through the summer. If you really feel you want to help her just give a designated time and don't be put upon.

Enjoy your summer.

Inset days are normally for training purposes. They are at our school.

The first 2 days we go back one of the days is learning a new computer system & the second is updating Team Teach.

If you aren't doing these or the training doesn't take so long then you have time then.

The last day of term the kids can be collected at 1.30. That's often when the teachers move.

All the teachers go in over the holidays at some point to sort out there classroom. TA's are never expected to go in.

We have three teachers moving classrooms I think they are going to do it on the strike days now only three TA's will be in so they will be kept busy wont they.I bet they wished they had joined the union now.

Did you go in Dotty?

No I didnt! But felt sooooo guilty!

Took a week to move classroom! Never realised how much we had accumulated. The good thing was that we had a really good sort out and set up new systems. Now we can't find anything, we know we put it somewhere