Be Able to Develop Professional Relationships with Adults

Communicating effectively with many different adults within a school community is a crucial skill for a teaching assistant and having good strategies to achieve this is required.
Strategies for effective communication:
• Listen.
• Make eye contact.
• Speak clearly (depending on the persons age, ability etc.)
• Short sentences getting straight to the point.
• Ask questions if unsure.
• Positive body language.
• Be respectful.
• Empathise.
Adults that I as a TA come into contact with;
 Receptionist              
 Kitchen staff/Dinner ladies
 Caretaker
 Head/deputy teachers
 Teachers
 Support staff(Senco, social services, SLT’S)
 Volunteers
Other organisations;
Visitors to the school
School nurse
Police, fire and ambulance service
Basketball team, Football teams

Working alongside the class teacher
Learning and understanding how the teacher uses language within the classroom helps me as a TA communicate better with the children and teacher. Following his or her teaching style or strategies allows me to copy their behaviour for consistency. This in turn allows for trust and confidence in me by the teacher.
Communicating with staff in the staff room
Communication in the staff room can differ from time to time. Being aware of emotions and different people’s views is essential. Sharing a room with lots of different people means I am always changing the tone, language and my body language when communicating.
There are times in which a teacher and another member of staff (support staff, senco) might need to communicate about the next step in the continuing of a previous lesson or session and this would be completed in their lunch break. This communication is always less formally due to it being their free time and where they can evaluate their day.
Communicating with the children’s parents
It is not too often that a TA has to speak to parents about children unless of course the TA works with the child in interventions in literacy...