Explain the range of the teaching assistant’s role in supporting teaching and learning.
The role of a TA varies from school to school. TAs may work supporting an individual or a group of pupils, or they may support the teacher in the classroom.
Some schools employ TAs with a specialism, such as literacy, numeracy, English as an additional language, the creative arts or special education needs. TAs work under the guidance/supervision of the classroom teacher.
Teaching Assistants support the learner by:
• Understanding the pupil’s learning support needs example repeating instructions given by the teacher or clarifying meanings and/or ideas.
• Gaining the pupil’s trust and confidence example looking after children who are upset or have had accidents.
• Listening to pupils read, reading to them, or telling them stories
• Supporting individuals to keep attention on the lesson – monitoring behaviour to help them keep on task
• Act as a good role model by the way they interact with the pupils
• Helping pupils who need extra support to complete tasks, individually and in groups
• Playing educational games with children and encouraging younger children to learn through play
Teaching Assistants support the class teacher:
• Working in partnership to prepare and maintain the learning environment example supervising art and craft activities and displaying work
• Helping with classroom resources and pupil records
• Keeping records of attendance and health
• Stocking supplies, typing, making copies and other administrative tasks
• Preparing the classroom for lessons
• Help and manage pupils behaviour example observing pupil performance and reporting on observations to the teacher
• Planning, delivering and evaluating teaching and learning activities
TAs are not required to lead lessons but may supervise a class should its assigned teacher be temporarily unavailable.