Module 1: Defining and Explaining the Role of a Teaching Assistant

Module 1: Defining and Explaining the Role of a Teaching Assistant

• Objectives:

  • Learn how to train as a teaching assistant in the UK.

  • Understand the different roles a teaching assistant may take on.

  • Learn about various ways a teaching assistant can support a classroom.

  • Understand how the position of teaching assistant is evolving.

  • Explore different career paths a teaching assistant can take.

1.1 Introduction

• Significant rise in teaching assistants in UK mainstream schools.

• Teaching Assistants (TAs) constitute a considerable percentage: 35% in primary schools and 14% in secondary schools (eric.ed.gov, 2018).

• Reasons for growth include:

  • Increased teacher workload.

  • Attempts to include students with disabilities and special education needs in mainstream classrooms.

• TAs account for 13% of the national education budget (eric.ed.gov, 2018).

1.2 What is a Teaching Assistant?

• Definition:

  • A teaching assistant, also known as an educational or classroom assistant, works alongside qualified teachers.

• Roles include:

  • Supporting individual students or small groups.

  • Assisting students with behavioral problems or learning disabilities.

  • Involvement in school activities such as clubs and outings.

1.3 Why Does the UK Need More Teaching Assistants?

• Education reform aimed at raising performance standards requires additional classroom support.

• TAs help teachers manage workloads, allowing them to focus more on teaching.

• Reducing teacher fatigue can enhance enthusiasm and teaching quality.

1.4 What Kind of Training Do You Need to be a Teaching Assistant?

• No specified direct path; requirements vary by school.

• Common backgrounds include experiences in nurseries or crèches.

• Schools may offer on-the-job training for suitable candidates.

• General requirements include:

  • GCSE tests in literacy and numeracy.

  • Higher-level qualifications available, such as Level 2 Award or Certificate in Supporting Teaching.

• Required police check via Disclosure and Barring Service.

• New hires undergo in-school training/induction programmes.

1.5 What are the Roles of a Teaching Assistant?

• Understanding teacher roles clarifies the teaching assistant's supporting role.

• Teacher Responsibilities:

  • Designing instructional programs.

  • Planning daily learning activities.

  • Advocating for necessary resources and assessing students' progress.

• Teaching Assistant Support Areas:

  • Pupils: Provide individualized or small group support.

  • Teachers: Assist with classroom preparation and organization.

  • Curriculum: Help plan and produce learning materials.

  • School: Collect data and monitor classroom effectiveness.

1.6 Teacher and Teaching Assistant Shared Roles

• Collaboration between teachers and TAs is essential in planning and executing educational programmes.

• TAs provide feedback from their interaction with individual students, enhancing overall teaching strategies.

1.7 New Roles for Teaching Assistants

• Shift towards TAs focusing on supportive learning rather than being informal teachers.

• TAs should help develop students' learning skills, fostering independence and reducing dependency on TA assistance.

1.8 What is the Career Progression for Teaching Assistants?

• Teaching Assistant levels correspond with responsibility (e.g., Level 2, Level 3).

• With experience and qualifications, TAs can progress to Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA) with headteacher approval.

• Options to retrain as teachers include various programs requiring a bachelor's degree.