The Ultimate Teaching Assistant Career Guide – Part Two

CPD – A BRIEF LOOKS AT WHO, WHAT AND WHY

CPD = Continual Professional Development. This term spans all industries and job sectors, but for teaching assistants it means one thing – non-stop learning and progressing in their vocation.

The CPD Certification Scheme was set up over two decades ago to serve as an official mark of professionals who commit to developing their skills in a chosen profession. At its core, this body aims to act as a certified benchmark for individuals who train to meet certain standards.

There are thousands of CPD training courses, events, e-learning programs, conferences, workshops and seminars, and the education sector is one of the richest and most diverse in terms of the breadth of learning available.

 THE CPD COURSE + TEACHER ASSISTANTS = CAREER PROGRESSION

Each teaching assistant focused CPD course is made up of knowledge-based tests, the participation in forum discussions and the development of 3 SMART goals. They are designed to provide actionable knowledge that makes a very real difference to your role.

Many other bodies and training providers offer an array of CPD courses for teaching assistants (such as TES and charities that include Dyslexia Action). Currently the CPD courses listed on the official CPD website include:

• Attachment and trauma
• Positive playgrounds – positive classrooms
• Anaphylaxis training for schools and early years level 2
• Understanding; assessment; interventions and case studies
• Speech; language and communication needs
• Dyslexia
• Multi-sensory impairment
• Vision impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Understanding; assessment; interventions and case studies
• Speech; language and communication needs
• Dyslexia
• Multi-sensory impairment
• Vision impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Autistic spectrum disorder
• An introduction to teaching in the UK
• Teaching assistant; dyslexia support and behaviour management level 3
• Introductory teaching assistant level 2
• Introductory teaching assistant level 2

Visit the CPD Website and view CPD Courses for Teaching Assistants

CPD COURSE FROM TES – ‘EFFECTIVE USE OF TEACHING ASSISTANTS’ – CPD COURSE

This course is not for teaching assistants, and is instead designed for teachers – with the aim of helping them in making better use of the invaluable teaching assistants in their classroom.

Based on the Education Endowment Foundation’s (EEF) guidance report – ‘Making Best Use of Teaching Assistants’ – this course is entirely free and involves a step-by-step approach.

CPD COURSE MODULES…

• Introduction to the EEF guidance report – ‘Making Best Use of Teaching Assistants’
• Your School’s Context
• Teaching Assistant Deployment- School Level
• Teaching Assistant Deployment- Classroom Level
• Preparing Teaching Assistants
• Structured Interventions
• Linking Learning
• Next Steps

Enrol now on the TES website

 WHICH BRINGS US TO A CRUCIAL POINT…

Gaining support from your school in your efforts to undertake further professional development is critical, as there are several challenges entwined with being given the green light to pursue CPD courses, namely:

• Teaching assistants are often on hour-restricted contracts, which makes finding time for professional learning more difficult and/or requires costs in addition to your salary.
• Many teaching assistants are the only person in their role, so opportunities for collaboration are sometimes limited.
• Career routes for teaching assistants are less clear than that of a teacher.
• Sadly, many schools do not prioritise or manage professional learning for support staff.

Next time, we’ll complete our teaching assistant career series by examining the role of the Higher Level Teaching Assistant. We’ll explain how to get there, why you should consider making this your focus, and what you can expect once qualified as a HLTA.