Role of a teaching assistant

ROLE OF A TEACHING ASSISTANT 1. Duties and responsibilities: – To provide educational, emotional and physical support to pupils. – To work with individuals and groups of children under the direction of a class teacher. – To support the class teacher in developing and preparing specific activities and programmes of support for the children. – To organise the availability and care of class room resources. – To ensure health and safety of the children and to report all concerns to the head. – To contribute to, and implement, the schools behaviour policy. – To assist with the supervision of the children at the beginning and end of the school day and at breaks. – To keep classrooms and other areas tidy. – To assist with playground supervision. 2. Support for the teachers: – To report the children’s progress to the teacher, keep written records as necessary. – To liaise with parents as directed by the teacher to foster good links between home and school. – To accompany teachers and children on school visits. – To operate equipment for the teachers. – To supervise groups of children as requested by the teacher/head. – To establish routine contacts with other professional staff e. g., head. 3. Support for the school: – To attend relevant in-service training. – To attend school meetings as directed by the head. – To develop social interaction at in class and during play times. 4. Support with the curriculum: – To support the individual and group work in any curricular area under the guidance of the teacher. – To prepare materials, deliver and record progress under the guidance of the teacher. 5. General advice to advance children’s learning: We can; – Interest and motivate children. – Help them understand how to do an activity. – Hear them rehearse skills. – Give them confidence to work something out on their own. – Listen to their problems when they are doing something difficult. – Ask them questions to get them thinking. – Help them to be sociable. – Allow them to investigate. – Support them in practical activities. And above all; – Give them a chance to discuss whatever they are doing.