ABSTRACT
The National Occupational Standards for Teaching Assistants say that teaching assistants should help to prepare the learning environment and monitor and maintain it. Teachers will welcome the support in such tasks as setting out play equipment for young children, preparing the resources for particular lessons, perhaps cutting paper to size, sharpening pencils, arranging equipment ready for children to use, photocopying, seeing that things go back to their right places after use and generally looking after materials and equipment, perhaps involving children in some of these tasks. It will also be important to know about safety issues, particularly in a subject like technology where you will need to help children to use equipment safely. You should be familiar with the school health and safety policy, the drill in case of accidents and the whereabouts of the first-aid box.
