Learning Forward

Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.

Menu

TAs join the team

By Learning Forward
Categories: Teacher leadership
June 2011
Vol. 32 No. 3
 Teachers in the United Kingdom are often supported in the classroom by teaching assistants (TAs) — paraprofessionals whose roles have changed significantly in the last several years. The 2003 National Agreement: Raising Standards and Tackling Workload, known as the workforce remodeling initiative (DES, 2003), was designed to raise standards in schools in England and Wales by reducing unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy for teachers. The National Agreement was intended to allow teachers to devote more time to teaching and learning, and at the same time open up more roles for teaching assistants to support teachers.   These changes have had an impact on classroom teachers and the leadership roles they play. UK government figures show that the number of support staff working in schools in England more than

Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

Log In
   
Forgot password? Click here to reset
New User? Click here to register

Authors

Jill Morgan and Betty Y. Ashbaker

Jill Morgan (jill.morgan@smu.ac.uk) is senior lecturer at Swansea Metropolitan University, Wales, United Kingdom. Betty Y. Ashbaker (betty_ashbaker@byu.edu) is associate professor of counseling psychology and special education at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. 

References

Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Martin, C., Russell, A., & Webster, R. (2009, August). Deployment and impact of support staff in schools. London: Department for Children, Schools, and Families. Available at www.schoolsupportstaff.net/DISSpubs.html.

Department for Education and Skills. (2003, January). Raising standards and tackling workload: A national agreement. London: Author.

Estyn. (2007, March). The impact of workforce remodelling on pupils’ learning and raising standards. Cardiff, Wales: Author. 

Giangreco, M.F. (2003, October). Working with paraprofessionals. Educational Leadership, 61(2), 50-53.

Morgan, J. & Ashbaker, B.Y. (2011). Teachers supervising teaching assistants: Reflections from the United Kingdom. DISES Newsletter, 21(2), 4-6.

Sergiovanni, T. & Starratt, R. (1993). Supervision: A redefinition (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Steckelberg, A. & Vasa, S. (1998, March 31). Preservice and inservice training programs to prepare teachers to supervise and work more effectively with paraprofessional personnel. Paper presented at the meeting of the Council of Exceptional Children, Washington, DC.

Vincett, K., Cremin, H., & Thomas, G. (2005). Teachers & assistants working together. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Weller, R. (1971). Verbal communication in instructional supervision. New York: Teachers College Press.

Image for aesthetic effect only - Learning-forward-logo-square
+ posts

Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.

Categories: Teacher leadership

Search
The Learning Professional

Published Date
Reset

CURRENT ISSUE

    • Recent Issues

    EVALUATING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
    February 2024

    How do you know your professional learning is working? This issue digs...

    TAKING THE NEXT STEP
    December 2023

    Professional learning can open up new roles and challenges and help...

    REACHING ALL LEARNERS
    October 2023

    Both special education and general education teachers need support to help...

    THE TIME DILEMMA
    August 2023

    Prioritizing professional learning time is an investment in educators and...

  • © Copyright Learning Forward
    • Skip to content