Joe Murray Consulting Working effectively with teaching assistants Annual Secondary Mathematics Conference National STEM Centre, University of York Thursday 21 st June 2012

Objectives Examine what TAs currently do in school / in mathematics lessons? Examine TAs’ impact children’s learning? To enable teachers to improve their ability to manage and use teaching assistants effectively To identify good practice in the management and deployment of teaching assistants. To identify priorities and formulate actions to address them. Joe Murray Consulting

Institute of Education report (2009) “invaluable resource” more time was spent supporting the school than pupils secondary TAs “roved around the class”; primary level support staff tended to “work with groups of pupils”. Prompted more-active and sustained interactions with pupils offer specialist help, allowing more teaching, affecting HTs and maths SLs: subject knowledge training, regional networks and training for HLTAs & teachers to work together more efficiently Joe Murray Consulting

NCETM portal: HLTA forum Subject Leaders: “subject input they offer” “knowledge of pupils’ progress” HLTAs: “support needed from maths SLs”, “improved acceptance” “Pedagogy CPD: courses aimed at KS4” Joe Murray Consulting

What do we want TAs to do? Help slow learners Teach small groups “mind” difficult children Maintain wall displays Printing & copying Cutting out / laminating materials Extra tuition for more-able Supporting assessment Joe Murray Consulting

How effective are TAs in mathematics? Group task / discussion [5 minutes] Joe Murray Consulting

Sutton Trust duties differ dramatically from school to school, main tasks tend to be working with small groups of children who need extra support helping teachers’ preparation [photocopying, sorting equipment, etc] very small or no effects on attainment [though pupils’ perceptions and attitudes more positively affected] positive effects in terms of teacher morale and reduced stress implication is that if teaching assistants are used with the intention of improving the learning of pupils, they should not undertake the tasks they are routinely assigned. greater impact when TAs are given a particular pedagogical role in specific curriculum interventions..... particularly with training and support Joe Murray Consulting

Sutton Trust Joe Murray Consulting Low costHigh cost Low impact Parental involvement Ability grouping Block scheduling and timetabling School uniforms Learning styles Summer schools Assessment for learning Reducing class sizes Teaching assistants High impact Effective feedback Meta--‐cognition & self- regulation strategies Peer tutoring / peer‐assisted learning Homework Early intervention One‐to‐one tutoring ICT

TAs in mathematics: the future? It is essential that their skills and talents are used to the full and deployed in the best ways. Is school fully matching maths department’s needs with skills of TAs; especially where TAs managed by SENCO. A key priority is to develop consistent, effective deployment practices to make the most of the department team Specialist maths TA?? Training??? Joe Murray Consulting

Developing effective TAs in mathematics Line management? Audit provision Subject knowledge Pedagogy NCETM support “Other Adults.....” micro-site Self-evaluation tools Joe Murray Consulting

“TAs and Other Adults..” micro-site NCETM portal Resources Micro-sites “Teaching Assistants and Other Adults.....” Advice and resources Case studies Video case studies CPD activities Joe Murray Consulting

Self-evaluation tools NCETM portal Personal Learning Self-evaluation tools Subject knowledge PedagogyEmbedding Tick-box assessment Competency graph Advice and sources Joe Murray Consulting

Personal Learning the Self Evaluation Tools Content knowledge Pedagogy Embedding in practice enhanced ‘next steps’ hundreds of pages of steps to explore if teachers identify that they need work in understanding some aspect of mathematics or mathematics pedagogy

Action planning Identify 3 key actions that you and/or Maths SL to enhance teaching assistants work:  teaching and learning  planning  assessment  approach providing CPD for TAs? Joe Murray Consulting

Possible actions immediately Some actions you may wish to take immediately: Ask your subject leader to put the role of teaching assistants on the agenda for the next departmental meeting. Talk to the lead intervention teacher for English about their use of teaching assistants. Ensure that the department has copies of the relevant extracts of documents relating to teaching assistants Audit provision Joe Murray Consulting

Possible actions within a term / year Action plan based on the audit in collaboration with your subject leader Lead other key staff in the department through ideas from this workshop Discuss the role of teaching assistants with your lead intervention manager and secure support for the action plan Manage the implementation of the action plan in collaboration with your subject leader. Meet the lead intervention manager regularly to update him/her on progress Joe Murray Consulting