ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews relevant research in regards to what is seen as best teaching assistant (TA) practice and to outline recommendations in a form that is both easy to understand and implement. Recommendations are great, but in order for recommendations to become reality there is a need to understand what each recommendation looks like in practice. Recommendations are seen to address past criticisms where the most vulnerable and needy pupils were seen to be supported by staff with the least qualifications. It is the role of the teacher to ensure that TAs are fully prepared for their role in the classroom and that teachers need to create opportunities for themselves and TAs to plan, prepare and feed back on learning activities. The role of a brilliant TA is to support the pupil to develop their thinking and learning skills so that the pupil can learn how to learn and how to be an independent learner.
