Teaching Assistants

Maggie Balshaw is an independent freelance consultant and researcher in staff development and school improvement. Peter Farrell is Professor of Special Needs and Educational Psychology at the University of Manchester.

• Part 1 Background to the development of the Good Practice Guide: recent developments in the work of teaching assistants; the origins of the Good Practice Guide; managing developments and review in practice; defining responsibilities clearly; providing clear deployment within a flexible framework; creating partnerships with teachers; working with others involved in education; developing assistant teams; reviewing performance and promoting development. Part 2 Strategies drawn from experiences in schools and LEAs: developing clear job descriptions and accountabilities; exploring flexible strategies; planning for teamwork with teachers; drawing parents, governors and others into the work of assistants; creating opportunities for team development; devising induction, professional development reviews and records of achievements; working effectively with teaching assistants - the next steps.