ABSTRACT

Teaching assistant, classroom assistant, higher level teaching assistant (HLTA), behaviour support assistant, parent helper and learning support assistant are just some of the posts that have appeared in schools over the last few years. Some of these posts have caused confusion for teachers, parents and students alike. The role of the support worker and the perceived hierarchy in the classroom are often difficult to understand and are often ill-explained. The teacher who feels uncertain of or threatened by the presence of another adult in the classroom, will invariably under-use that person's skills, fail to form an effective working relationship with them and, in the process, confuse students. Students who are confused will test boundaries and exploit inconsistencies between staff members. If a teacher feels negative about their assistant, this is certain to be picked up by the students and lead to a breakdown in behaviour.