Teaching assistant (United Kingdom)
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A teaching assistant, educational assistant or learning support assistant (often abbreviated to TA, EA or LSA; sometimes classroom assistant) in
school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...
s in
England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...
is a person who supports pupils in the classroom. Duties can differ dramatically from school to school, though the underlying tasks often remain the same.


Role

Teaching assistants are often used to take small groups of children out of a class that need extra support in an area, such as
literacy Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, huma ...
or numeracy. This can also include work with children with
special educational needs Special educational needs (SEN), also known as special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the United Kingdom refers to the education of children who require different education provision to the mainstream system. Definition The definiti ...
(SEN), either on a 1:1 basis or in an alternative provision to promote inclusion. They are also mostly responsible for supporting children in their academic study and reporting back to the teacher if any issues arise. Helping teachers prepare for lessons by
photocopying A photocopier (also called copier or copy machine, and formerly Xerox machine, the generic trademark) is a machine that makes copies of documents and other visual images onto paper or plastic film quickly and cheaply. Most modern photocopiers u ...
resources, or putting out equipment at the start of a lesson is another role of the teaching assistant, and one which is becoming increasingly common, due to the National Workforce Agreement (see below). Teaching assistants are not qualified teachers, and as such, are led and guided by staff with qualified teacher status. The
DfES The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) was a United Kingdom government department between 2001 and 2007, responsible for the education system (including higher education and adult learning) as well as children's services in England. Th ...
(Department for Education and Skills) stated in the Consultation of 2002 that: : Most teaching requires the expertise and skills of a qualified teacher; but some teaching activity can be undertaken by suitably trained staff without QTS ualified teacher status provided they are working within a clear system of leadership and supervision provided by a qualified teacher. Qualified teachers must have overall responsibility for effective teaching and learning. --DfES, 2002, p.5 The occupation is constantly changing and evolving with the rest of the education workforce in the country. Teaching assistants are increasingly being given more and more responsibility within schools, and it remains to be seen how this "remodelling of the workforce" will alter the occupation. Some additional responsibilities may include supporting with behaviour intervention, running extracurricular activities, lunchtime supervision, and covering teaching staff in their absence. In the EYFS, TA's are sometimes included in adult to child ratios as per government guidelines. In some schools (particularly in SEN schools), where school policy permits, teaching assistants are seen to give personal care to children as required.


HLTAs and the National Workforce Agreement

On 15 January 2003, unions and the DfES signed the National Workforce Agreement, which began a reform of raising school standards and tackling workloads. This agreement created a "new breed" of teaching assistants: HLTAs (or Higher Level Teaching Assistants, sometimes referred to as Senior Learning Support Assistants). Their role is superior to teaching assistants and is to support the teacher further by covering lessons, and being more closely involved in children's learning. Becoming an HLTA requires a preparation course, in-school assessment, and a £450.00 fee. HLTA's in some schools may also take line management responsibility for teaching assistants in their areas, or take a particular school wide responsibility (for example, a subject area like EAL). Giving teachers time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) was also raised in this agreement. By September 2005, all teachers must be given 10% teaching time away from the classroom to plan, prepare and assess. This requirement is easily accommodated for in most secondary schools, but where there is only one class teacher per class the PPA time is covered by normal teaching assistants, not just HLTAs, as originally planned. This has led to some concerns being raised.


Professional development

There are nationally recognised qualifications for teaching assistants. * NCFE Initial Training for Classroom Assistants, Stages 1 and 2 *
City and Guilds The City and Guilds of London Institute is an educational organisation in the United Kingdom. Founded on 11 November 1878 by the City of London and 16 livery companies – to develop a national system of technical education, the institute has ...
award for Teaching Assistants (7327) (also Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Learning Support (7321)) *
NVQ National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are practical work-based awards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are achieved through assessment and training. The regulatory framework supporting NVQs was withdrawn in 2015 and replaced by the ...
Teaching Assistants Level 2 and 3 *
CACHE Cache, caching, or caché may refer to: Places United States * Cache, Idaho, an unincorporated community * Cache, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Cache, Oklahoma, a city in Comanche County * Cache, Utah, Cache County, Utah * Cache County ...
Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools * BTEC Level 2 and 3 Certificates for Teaching Assistants *
Open University The Open University (OU) is a British public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off- ...
Specialist Teacher Assistant Certificate * CACHE Specialist Teacher Assistant (STA) Award * Foundation Degree (usually in
Education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...
Studies, but shaped to meet the needs of the teaching assistant) * HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) status


Scotland

In
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
the term 'teaching assistant' is not formally used. Staff who work alongside teachers to support the learning of children are referred to as classroom assistants or pupil support workers. In addition to the above list of qualifications classroom assistants in Scotland may also earn: * City and Guilds award for Classroom Assistants in Scotland (7328) * Professional Development Award in Early Years Care and Education, for classroom assistants in Scotland In addition there is no HLTA status in Scotland and Classroom Assistants do not cover classes.


Common progression routes

Despite the many qualifications available for teaching assistants, many do not have any formal training, and instead build up experience over many years. Those that do study often choose the NVQ Level 2 and/or 3 qualification, as it is the most widely studied in the profession. Those that want to become a teaching assistant often come from nursery backgrounds and have qualifications in
childcare Child care, otherwise known as day care, is the care and supervision of a child or multiple children at a time, whose ages range from two weeks of age to 18 years. Although most parents spend a significant amount of time caring for their child(r ...
. These are seen as good starting points for those new to the occupation.


Professional publications

''Learning Support'', a professional magazine for primary school teaching assistants, is published six times a year.


Statistics


University of Plymouth and the DfES, 2002

A survey carried out by the
University of Plymouth The University of Plymouth is a public research university based predominantly in Plymouth, England, where the main campus is located, but the university has campuses and affiliated colleges across South West England. With students, it is the ...
and DfES gives an outline of who usually takes the role of the teaching assistant.


Gender

97% are female, 3% are male.


Age

59.8% in
primary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary e ...
s are aged 35 to 48. 50.4% in
secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...
s are aged 35 to 48.


Qualifications

39.4% in primary schools have no qualifications. 34.2% in secondary schools have no qualifications.


DfES, 2002

In a separate survey, the DfES found that in January 2002, there were 216,000 full-time equivalent support staff in schools. This is an increase of over 50% since 1997. Whereas the number of teachers only went up by around 10,000 over a period of five years (1998 to 2002), the number of teaching assistants went up by around 60,000. * You will not be allowed in a school until you have been DBS (formerly CRB) checked.


References

* Tyrer, R. et al. (2004). "A Toolkit for the Effective Teaching Assistant", pp. 11–13. London: Paul Chapman Publishing. * Department for Education and Skills (2002). "Consultation on Developing the Role of School Support Staff". London: DfES


External links


CACHE - Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education website

Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) website

National Remodelling Team website

Teaching assistants on Teachernet

learndirect.co.uk

Teaching Assistant Focus

Teachers Financial Planning
{{DEFAULTSORT:Teaching Assistant (United Kingdom) Education and training occupations Education in the United Kingdom Assistant