ABSTRACT

Drawing on the lessons from one of the world’s leading research and development efforts involving teaching assistants (TAs), this book is the authors’ most authoritative text yet on how to design a whole school plan to improve TAs’ deployment, practice and preparedness, and put it into action. The authors use robust theories and original research to explore an innovative and integrated approach to making the most of TAs, and recognising the valuable contributions they make to the classroom and the school.

Structured around a unique and empirically sound conceptual framework, this book provides essential principles, practical tools and workable strategies, developed through collaboration with hundreds of UK schools. It focuses on ensuring TAs can thrive in their role, and presents the tools and techniques needed to do so accessibly, and is illustrated with case studies on school and classroom practices.

Essential reading for all primary school leaders and SENCOs responsible for training and managing TAs, this book is also a useful resource for teachers and teaching assistants looking to optimise the TAs’ contributions.

Used in combination with The Teaching Assistant’s Guide to Effective Interaction, Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants in Primary Schools is a comprehensive and unrivalled guide to supporting school workforce improvement.

chapter |11 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|12 pages

The case for change

Why primary school leaders need to rethink the role and contribution of TAs

chapter 2|10 pages

Setting your vision

chapter 3|15 pages

Implementation journeys

The most important chapter of this book

chapter 4|5 pages

Reviewing current practice

chapter 5|22 pages

Supplementing, not replacing, the teacher

Deploying TAs differently

chapter 6|16 pages

TAs’ interactions with pupils

Scaffolding for independence

chapter 7|17 pages

The preparedness of TAs

Improving their readiness for the role

chapter 9|9 pages

Conclusions