A2009 report by the Institute of Education found that, in many instances, ‘The more [teaching assistant] support pupils received, the less progress they made.’ However, there is now ‘compelling evidence’ that TAs can improve outcomes for children, according to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).
Its report, Making Best Use of Teaching Assistants (2015), found TAs can help children make an additional two to four months’ progress over an academic year when delivering structured interventions. The impact, though, is seen only when TAs are provided with high-quality training and support. Trust, time to liaise and working in partnership with teachers are essential if schools are to make the most of the £4bn spent annually on support staff.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
