How Teaching Assistants can have a Positive Impact on Learning
Teaching Assistants (TA) have a vital role to play in the classroom and their impact on learning cannot be underestimated as long as there is a well-defined strategy in place for how they are deployed to support teachers in their quest for the highest quality learning outcomes for every pupil. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) have published a piece of research into how the work of Teaching Assistants has a significant impact on pupil progression is profound.
The average impact of the deployment of teaching assistants is about an additional four months’ progress over the course of a year.
Education Endowment Foundation research into Teaching Assistant interventions
The research, however qualifies this powerful statistic by saying that it is how Teaching Assistants are deployed and the quality of both the relationship the teacher has with their TA, the skills the TA has in relation to supporting pupils to improve and the approach to the support that pupils are given over time. The research is clear throughout that it is small group intervention that reaps the benefits to pupils. Where TAs are simply an extra person in the classroom the impact is much less.
This research suggests that schools who rely on TAs as support for teachers and for the pupils who are struggling to keep up to look carefully at their overarching strategies for the deployment of TAs and what they should be looking for in relation to the impact on pupil progress that the TA has on their ability to catch up and progress.
The development of a strategy for the effective use of Teaching Assistants
Why our Coaching for Teaching Assistants course is so effective
Our course Coaching for Teaching Assistants and Support Staff can have a significant impact on building successful relationships between the teacher, the TA and the pupil through an opportunity to learn some coaching skills and principles; as well as a deep dive into effective teaching and learning strategies that favour intervention and small group work.
The research suggests that it is the small group intervention that has the most profound impact on progression for pupils who are falling behind or who have special needs.
Research which focuses on teaching assistants who provide one to one or small group targeted interventions shows a stronger positive benefit of between four and six additional months on average.
Education Endowment Foundation research into Teaching Assistant interventions
How the course will enhance the role of the Teaching Assistant
- Learn how professional dialogue and conversations between the teachers and the TA can help them to work together to share successes and find solutions
- Look at some of the approaches to effective teaching that will support learning including some of the tools and techniques that can enhance professional learning for the TA
- Learn how to use deep and rich questioning to foster challenge and build confidence
- Become an active listener, in order to assess the needs of the teacher and to develop trusting relationships with pupils, parents and other stakeholders
- Develop highly effective feedback techniques that focus on being positive and building the self-esteem of the pupil and others
- Understand the role of the TA as one that is supporting progression, learning and building confidence
- Build the skills that will support the TA to be able to work effectively in teams and groups and enhance pupils ability to work well in small group situations
Professional Development from Learning Cultures
This course is designed to provide a wealth of materials, resources and activities that will support the Teaching Assistant in their quest for continuing professional development that will enhance their role as a positive addition to the teacher and be highly influential in ensuring pupils they work with make significant progress. We know from our own and others extensive research that the CPD that makes a difference is where the recipient of training takes their learning back and has the resources to share their learning with others.
We want to make an impact on whole school improvement and know that the effective deployment of Teaching Assistants who have received highly interactive and deeply researched training have a significant impact on the outcome of the pupil, creating less stress and a lower workload for the teacher and building evidence that all pupils are accessing deep learning and progressing well.
To book a place you can go to our website from here ‘Coaching for Teaching Assistants and Support Staff’ or if you have a group of TAs you would like to have some training use our Contact us form or give us a call on 01746 765076 or directly to Glynis on 07974 754241 or email us and we will pass on your details. info@learningcultures.org
