Today we’re celebrating the National Teaching Assistant Day

Teaching assistants are one of the most valuable resources in schools, they dedicate their time to supporting children in daily routines, scaffolding tasks, providing a role model and supporting our teachers to meet the diverse needs within their classes.

The TA profession also plays an important role in the recruitment of teachers. Many experienced TAs choose to progress their own careers by qualifying as teachers. We have had a great pleasure of training a number of Teaching Assistants over the years and find that they arrive so very well prepared for our post-graduate programme. Those we have worked with demonstrated a clear passion for helping children to reach their potential and found the role incredibly rewarding. Teacher training was a next step in their development.

On the other hand, observing and sharing the work and interactions TAs have with children in schools and settings provide fantastic learning opportunities to teacher trainees - especially those with very little prior experience and those who switch career to become teachers. TAs know individual children in their classrooms well, know what their needs are and have experience of interacting with children’s families, too. TAs also support the trainees’ day to day with preparation, planning and classroom management.

Thank you to all the Teaching Assistants out there but especially those working in our partner schools, for their passion and commitment to developing and educating our youngest children. And thank you for all the support you provide daily to trainee teachers out there, learning from and working alongside you and your classroom teachers.