Making best Use of Teaching Assistants My Top Ten Tips for successful implementation
Top Tip 1: Know the research and Trust the research!
Be at the heart of that change- become the expert! Top Tip 2: Don’t lose sight of the fact that implementing the evidence is about CHANGE management! Be at the heart of that change- become the expert!
Our guiding principles are that: Teaching Assistants help break down barriers to learning and ensure EQUITY for all children- social justice. Teaching Assistants can and do have a significant impact on pupils learning and are central to our journey to outstanding. Effective use of TAs depends upon high quality and meaningful deployment and highly skilled TAs and Teachers. Development of the use of TA support within school requires the full involvement of senior leaders to drive forward new developments.
Top Tip 3: Win Hearts and Minds through direct involvement - keep checking everyone is on board.
What are your principles and beliefs that you won’t compromise on?
Top Tip 4: Think about what you know and check it out … Top Tip 4: Think about what you know and check it out …. You are probably wrong! Decide what you don’t know but want to know and check it out next. (Audit provision thoroughly)
SO WHAT? WHAT IS IT TELLING US? WHAT NEXT?
Never assume! “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.” ― Isaac Asimov
Top Tip 5: Know where you want to be: Be realistic but aim high Top Tip 5: Know where you want to be: Be realistic but aim high! Share this and make it compelling. Make it matter.
If this element of your work is outstanding list the most important thing you would… See happening… Hear happening…
Top Tip 6: Know YOUR barriers to change before hand and address them: Do you have a Toxic Culture?! Skills? Quiet resistance? Time?
What are your barriers?
Top tips 7: PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! PLAN------------PILOT--------------DEVELOP-------------EVALUATE----------IMPLEMENT Good communication will: - support all staff and will impact on learning show value to the views and opinions of all staff - support all staff to be self evaluative and reflective - improve practice in the classroom support subject knowledge - help focus all staff and maximise use of learning time
Top Tip 8: Place professional development for teachers and teaching assistants at the heart of the project: Make quality time for it! Skills and knowledge development through training and in class support and observation.
Top Tip 9: There is no one size fits all! Make it unique to your school. What we did: Deployment model: the Pye Bank Way! Training model Communication strategies: SMART time Interventions Performance management.
6. TA structures
Top Tip 10: Monitor and review and always refer back to your vision Top Tip 10: Monitor and review and always refer back to your vision! How will we know we have been successful?
ENJOY THE JOURNEY