Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants in Primary Schools


Book Description

Drawing on the lessons from one of the world’s leading research and development efforts involving teaching assistants (TAs), this book is the authors’ most authoritative text yet on how to design a whole school plan to improve TAs’ deployment, practice and preparedness, and put it into action. The authors use robust theories and original research to explore an innovative and integrated approach to making the most of TAs, and recognising the valuable contributions they make to the classroom and the school. Structured around a unique and empirically sound conceptual framework, this book provides essential principles, practical tools and workable strategies, developed through collaboration with hundreds of UK schools. It focuses on ensuring TAs can thrive in their role, and presents the tools and techniques needed to do so accessibly, and is illustrated with case studies on school and classroom practices. Essential reading for all primary school leaders and SENCOs responsible for training and managing TAs, this book is also a useful resource for teachers and teaching assistants looking to optimise the TAs’ contributions. Used in combination with The Teaching Assistant’s Guide to Effective Interaction, Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants in Primary Schools is a comprehensive and unrivalled guide to supporting school workforce improvement.




Children's Learning in Primary Schools


Book Description

The over-arching role of Teaching Assistants is to support teaching and learning in schools. To do this effectively, they need to understand the curriculum content of all the subjects in which they provide support and know what learning outcomes are sought. This accessible book provides an overview of the knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes that children learn in each subject in their primary years.




Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants


Book Description

Teaching assistants have become an integral part of classroom life, yet pioneering research by the authors has shown that school leaders and teachers are not making the most of this valued resource. Results from the Deployment and Impact of Support Staff (DISS) project showed that the more support pupils received from teaching assistants, the less academic progress they made. Yet it is not decisions made by the teaching assistants themselves, but decisions made by school leaders and teachers about how their support staff are used and prepared, which explains these provocative results. Prompted by the wake-up call the DISS project findings provided, this timely book of guidance will help school leaders and teachers in primary and secondary schools improve the way they use teaching assistants, and will add real value to what can be achieved in the classroom. Based on the authors' collaborative work with schools in the Effective Deployment of Teaching Assistants (EDTA) project, this book provides essential, practical tools and classroom-tested strategies that will allow schools to conduct a fundamental review of current practice and provides a framework for reforming teaching assistant deployment and preparation, and the way they interact with pupils. Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistantsprovides much-needed and well-informed guidance on how to unleash the huge potential of teaching assistants working in schools and is essential reading for all school leaders.




Becoming a Teaching Assistant


Book Description

The authors introduce students to the requirements that their degree programmes will make and explore issues such as behaviour management and national curriculum strategies, helping readers to engage with the material in a way that is appropriate to Higher Education study. The book draws on the experiences of teaching assistants and is grounded in the day-to-day practices of professionals working with young people in schools. Theoretical concepts are explored as being crucial to developing learning support and teaching skills. The authors′ aim is to help students understand essential theory, and to provide a practical support throughout their studies. This book is for teaching assistants working toward High Level Teaching Assistant status in teaching and learning (HLTA), and/or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It is a teaching resource for Higher Education tutors and school line managers of teaching assistants. The book is also suitable for tutors and mentors as it gives guidance on content and presentation of professional development materials for teaching assistants. This book is a course text for teaching assistants. It helps students make the transition into undergraduate level study, and is also a teaching and learning resource for students and tutors on undergraduate programmes.




Primary Teaching Assistants Curriculum in Context


Book Description

Teaching assistants are uniquely placed to support children's involvement with learning through the curriculum. This book explores those issues that are central to that process. Specifically it examines: strategies for supporting learning and assessment in English, maths and science inclusive and imaginative practices in all areas of learning home and community contexts for learning working practices which support professional development. This book is written primarily for learning support sta.




A Handbook for Learning Support Assistants


Book Description

Written in the context of recent legislation in England and guidance to schools, this is a practical handbook for learning support assistants and teachers working with them. It can be used to ensure that: support assistants know what to expect of colleagues and colleagues know what to expect from support assistants; children are given the best support possible by support assistants who understand the nature of their needs; support assistants and teachers work together effectively to support the child with special needs; and that training is relevant an helpful.




A Teaching Assistant's Guide to Primary Education


Book Description

This jargon-free book has been specially written for teaching assistants taking up posts in primary schools working at NVQ Level 2 and 3 of the National Occupational Standards of Teaching Assistants. It covers every area of primary education, including: an overview of primary education the qualities, knowledge and skills needed the curriculum managing behaviour evaluation and record-keeping professional development. Joan Dean knows primary education inside out and is well known in the field. She uses case studies based on real life scenarios to provide a detailed yet accessible book, making it essential reading for teaching assistants. This guide will also offer support and advice to staff working with teaching assistants and to those who provide their training.




How to be an Outstanding Primary Teaching Assistant


Book Description

How to be an Outstanding Primary Teaching Assistant is packed full of advice, tips and strategies to help teaching assistants deliver outstanding support in the primary classroom. Written by an experienced teaching assistant, this book explores the diverse range of roles and responsibilities held by support staff in primary schools and provides guidance on how to tackle them successfully. It features tried-and-tested ideas that can be easily implemented and helps teaching assistants to build a toolbox of skills and strategies to support children throughout their school career, whatever their ability or need. This easy-to-use book includes creative advice on how best to assist the classroom teacher and the children they teach, including those with special educational needs, English as an additional language, or behavioural difficulties. It is an invaluable resource for newly qualified and more experienced teaching assistants.







The Teaching Assistant's Guide to Effective Interaction


Book Description

This second edition of The Teaching Assistant’s Guide to Effective Interaction is the definitive guide to teaching assistant-pupil interaction, fully updated with examples from schools that have implemented techniques from the first edition. An invaluable professional development tool for classroom support staff and the teachers who work with them, this new edition answers the need for specific, practical guidance on the role of the teaching assistant. This practical and accessible guide sets out a role for teaching assistants that focuses on developing pupils’ independence and ownership of learning, with key learning points now summarised in each chapter. Based on a classroom-tested framework and covering the main contexts in which teaching assistants work, it includes a range of strategies and reflective activities to help improve the support provided to pupils in everyday settings. This book sets out successful strategies for: Responding to additional needs Understanding the principles behind effective classroom talk Carefully scaffolding pupils’ learning Delivering intervention programmes The Teaching Assistant’s Guide to Effective Interaction is an essential read for all teaching assistants and will also be of interest to school leaders, SENCOs and teachers in both primary and secondary schools who wish to improve their deployment of teaching assistants and their own interactions with pupils. Used in combination with Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants in Primary Schools, The Teaching Assistant’s Guide to Effective Interaction is a comprehensive and unrivalled resource for supporting school workforce improvement.