ABSTRACT
The ultimate responsibility for a pupil’s access to the D&T curriculum is that of the classroom teacher. Support staff facilitate the delivery of an appropriately differentiated curriculum under the direction of the D&T teacher. (Appendix 7.1 gives advice on how to make the most of your support staff.)
In a recent Ofsted report, the valuable role of support staff is highlighted and praised, ‘The teaching assistants seen generally made well-judged interventions to guide pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and/ or disabilities, but they did not stifle the pupils’ independence and creativity by doing pupils’ work and thinking for them’(Ofsted, Meeting technological challenges? Design and technology in schools 2007-10)
When working with classroom support staff on a regular basis, the D&T teacher should:
• Give the support staff clear instructions for specific tasks. • Provide guidance to support staff on how to successfully carry out tasks
and maximise the independence of the pupils
Both teachers and classroom support staff should share the following resources:
• the school’s policy for D&T; • the correct way of using tools and equipment; • health and safety guidelines; • where to find materials, tools and equipment; • where to find other resources for D&T; • practical classroom routines.
