Posted by: CTC Training
Learning support assistants (or learning assistants) help children in the classroom to get the most out of their learning. As a teaching support assistant, you might be there to offer support in a bigger large classroom, but more often than not, this role exists to provide 1:1 support for a young person with special educational needs (SEN). In some cases, this role is called a special needs teaching assistant.
There is a range of reasons that a young person may require additional support in the classroom. They may have a disability, health issues, behavioural issues or difficult external circumstances that make classroom learning a highly challenging experience. A learning support assistant offers care to help with these factors.
Most likely, learning support assistants can also support the teacher with maintaining a congenial classroom environment by putting up displays, tidying, or even helping smooth over a disagreement amongst students.
To be a learning support assistant you need to be empathetic and aware of the external challenges that children may be facing that impacts their learning. As well as this, you must be fair and able to be authoritative when it’s necessary.
What does a Learning support assistant do?
In a learning support assistant job role, you’ll find the following responsibilities or something similar:
- Offering support for children with educational needs
- Helping with general classroom maintenance
- Assisting a teacher to set up for classes
- Supervising children
- Supporting activities
Training and development
Individual schools have their own entry requirements and decide what qualifications and experience they need. Once working as a teaching assistant you should complete an induction programme. As an experienced teaching assistant, you can expand your knowledge by taking other qualifications such as:
- Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
- Level 3 Certificate Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
- Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools
Enhance your skills and knowledge with the range of learning support teaching assistant courses available from CTC Training and Development Limited. Contact us to book a course.
