88% of teaching assistants supported vulnerable & key worker children in school during the pandemic

A recent study shows that 88% of teaching assistants supported vulnerable and key worker children in school during the pandemic, seeing them manage a whole class or bubble on their own, allowing teachers to prepare and deliver remote teaching. *

The research highlights the important role teaching assistants have in school with supporting children’s learning.

Claire Binns, Office Manager for Yorkshire Education says: “Teaching assistant’s help in many ways as they can provide general classroom support for a teacher by going round the room reinforcing a teaching point or offering more targeted support by differentiating tasks to help individuals learn in an alternative way. For example, working one to one with a student, leading small group activities or being involved with a specific support plan.

Aside from education, teaching assistants provide pastoral care and pupil wellbeing which is very valuable.

The teaching assistant role is varied and allows people to experience first-hand life inside a classroom and take extra responsibility along the way.

During the pandemic, teaching assistants learnt new skills as 44% had picked up a new proficiency using digital technology.

There is also an opportunity for teaching assistants to become a cover supervisor, who are suitably trained school staff that supervise pupils by carrying out pre-planned exercises when teaching staff are on short-term absence.

The cover supervisor role provides teaching experience to support teacher training applications. As they understand what it is like as a teaching assistant, it means once they become qualified teachers, they are more likely to be effective in managing teaching assistants in the classroom, using them in a way that supports the teaching and learning.”

Yorkshire Education is seeing an increase in the demand for teaching assistants in primary and secondary school and is encouraging people to explore the wonderful opportunities a teaching assistant role can provide. By working for Yorkshire Education, it provides a greater exposure to many schools, helping people receive regular work.

Book your registration with Yorkshire Education today.

* maximisingtas.co.uk/assets/unsung-heroesfinal.pdf