Teaching assistant (United Kingdom) 2113052 215729769 2008-05-29T13:18:24Z Bladeboy1889 4960174 /* External links */ added link :''This article is about teaching assistants in UK schools. For teaching assistants in higher education, see [[Teaching assistant]].'' A '''teaching assistant''' or '''educational assistant''' (often abbreviated to '''TA''' or '''EA''') in [[United Kingdom|British]] [[school]]s is a person who supports a [[teacher]] in the classroom. Duties can differ dramatically from school to school, though the underlying tasks often remain the same. ==Role== Teaching assistants are often used to take small groups of children out of a class that need extra support in an area, such as [[literacy]] or [[numeracy]]. This can also include work with children with [[special education|special educational needs]] (SEN), which the teacher cannot always accommodate in a normal class. They are also mostly responsible for listening to children read, and reporting back to the teacher if any issues arise. Helping teachers prepare for lessons by [[photocopying]] resources, or putting out equipment at the start of a lesson is another main role of the teaching assistant, and one which is becoming increasingly common, due to the National Workforce Agreement (see below). Teaching assistants are not qualified teachers, and as such, are lead and guided by teachers. The [[Department for Education and Skills|DfES]] (Department for Education and Skills) stated in the Consultation of 2002 that: :Most teaching requires the expertise and skills of a qualified teacher; but some teaching activity can be undertaken by suitably trained staff without QTS [qualified teacher status], provided they are working within a clear system of leadership and supervision provided by a qualified teacher. Qualified teachers must have overall responsibility for effective teaching and learning. --DfES, 2002, p.5 The occupation is constantly changing and evolving with the rest of the education workforce in the country. Teaching assistants are being given more and more roles within schools, and it remains to be seen how this "remodelling of the workforce" will alter the occupation. ==HLTAs and the National Workforce Agreement== On 15 January 2003, unions and the DfES signed the [[National Workforce Agreement]], which began a reform of raising school standards and tackling workloads. [http://www.remodelling.org/what_na.php] (Full document: [http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/3479/Agreement%20to%20reform%20school%20workforce.doc]) This agreement created a "new breed" of teaching assistants: HLTAs (or Higher Level Teaching Assistants). Their role is to support the teacher further by taking some lessons, and being more closely involved in children's learning. Giving teachers time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) was also raised in this agreement. By September 2005, all teachers must be given 10% teaching time away from the classroom to plan, prepare, and assess [http://www.remodelling.org/what_ppa.php]. Classes will be covered by normal teaching assistants, (not just HLTAs, as originally planned [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2924717.stm]). This has led to some concerns being raised. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4499229.stm] ==Professional development== There are nationally recognised qualifications for teaching assistants. *[[NCFE]] Initial Training for Classroom Assistants, Stages 1 and 2 *[[City and Guilds]] award for Teaching Assistants (7327) (also Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Learning Support (7321)) *[[National Vocational Qualification|NVQ]] Teaching Assistants Level 2 and 3 *[[CACHE]] (Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education) Level 2 and 3 Certificates for Teaching Assistants *[[BTEC]] Level 2 and 3 Certificates for Teaching Assistants *[[Open University]] Specialist Teacher Assistant Certificate *CACHE Specialist Teacher Assistant (STA) Award *Foundation Degree (usually in [[Education]] Studies, but shaped to meet the needs of the teaching assistant) *HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) status ===Scotland=== In addition to the above list, Scotland has: *City and Guilds award for Classroom Assistants in Scotland (7328) *Professional Development Award in Early Years Care and Education, for classroom assistants in Scotland ===Common progression routes=== Despite the many qualifications available for teaching assistants, many do not have any formal training, and instead build up experience over many years. Those that do study often choose the NVQ Level 2 and/or 3 qualification, as it is the most widely studied in the profession. Those that want to become a teaching assistant often come from [[Nursery school|nursery]] backgrounds, and have qualifications in [[childcare]]. These are seen as good starting points for those new to the occupation. ===Professional publications=== ''Learning Support'', a professional magazine for primary school teaching assistants, is published six times a year.[http://www.learningsupport.co.uk] ==Statistics== ===University of Plymouth and the DfES, 2002=== A survey carried out by the [[University of Plymouth]] and DfES gives an outline of who usually takes the role of the teaching assistant. ====Gender==== 97.7% are female, 2.3% are male. ====Age==== 59.8% in [[primary school]]s are aged 35 to 48. 50.4% in [[secondary school]]s are aged 35 to 48. ====Qualifications==== 39.4% in primary schools have no qualifications. 34.2% in secondary schools have no qualifications. ===DfES, 2002=== In a separate survey, the DfES found that in January 2002, there were 216,000 full-time equivalent support staff in schools. This is an increase of over 50% since 1997. Whereas the number of teachers only went up by around 10,000 over a period of five years (1998 to 2002), the number of teaching assistants went up by around 60,000. * You must have at least NVQ level 1 in teaching assistants or class room assistants qualifications * You will not be allowed in a school until you have been CRB checked. ==References== {{refstyle|date=February 2008}} *Tyrer, R. et al (2004). "A Toolkit for the Effective Teaching Assistant", pp. 11–13. London: Paul Chapman Publishing. ISBN 1412900611 *Department for Education and Skills (2002). "Consultation on Developing the Role of School Support Staff". London: DfES. (A brief overview of this publication can be found at [http://www.remodelling.org/what_na.php] and [http://www.schools.co.uk/dfes.htm] ==External links== *[http://www.hlta.gov.uk/ Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) website] *[http://www.remodelling.org/ National Remodelling Team website] *[http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/teachingassistants/ Teaching assistants on Teachernet] *[http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile180/ Career Profile on learndirect Careers Advice] [[Category:Education, training, and library occupations]] [[Category:Education in the United Kingdom]]