It has been four years since the DfE published its research report looking at the deployment of teaching assistants in classrooms. Since then, the landscape has changed quite significantly. High inflation rates suppressed school budgets and the attractiveness of hybrid working have both conspired against developing this workforce in a way that offers sustainable and reliable support for children in classrooms. Camden schools have struggled to employ to posts with the competition of less demanding jobs in the service industry paying more.

In every school there are examples of classroom support staff who are going beyond the limits of their working day to offer more for children. They often represent trusted figures from local communities and are named by young people as those they would approach first when problems arise. However, there is no luxury of classroom support staff offering a purely pastoral role, and this is a role that demands a knowledge of how children learn. Evidence points to the obvious fact that it is teaching assistants who are trained and developed that have the most impact. With growing levels of pupil need and busy timetables, providing professional development is not straight forward. It can be difficult to release support staff as a group, with many schools opting for a staggered series of sessions rather than one necessitating a greater draw on leadership time. It is in this environment that the provision of CPD for support staff also needs to be flexible and accessible in different ways.

The EEF guide to making the best use of Teaching Assistants was generally well received when it was published in 2021 with 7 key recommendations. This guide contains useful tools and videos to support the development of effective classroom support. Professional development, careful timetabling to create opportunities to liaise with teachers, alongside accessible structured curriculum planning are all factors that can make a difference. Classroom teachers, particularly those new to the profession, need guidance and support over how to deploy this additional resource most effectively. It is worth reflecting on current offers, as this area can sometimes be an afterthought or a rushed process and there has never been a more important time to demonstrate to classroom support staff that they are valued professionally.

We are now only a week away from December, and I am sure you are feeling the stretch of the term. Make sure you recharge at the weekend and take some time for yourself. You deserve it.

Stephen Hall

Chief Executive Officer, Camden Learning