A call for evidence has been launched today by the Department for Education (DfE) to support the development of a new set of professional standards for teaching assistants.
As reported earlier this month, the DfE said the new standards would help in the assessment of teaching assistants’ performance, and help steer their professional development.
The review is being led by Kate Dethridge, principal of Churchend Primary Academy, Reading, with support from a panel of teachers and teaching assistants, and with representation from charitable foundation the National Education Trust.
To help the panel develop the new standards, teaching professionals, unions, parents and other interested parties are being invited to submit their views.
The call for evidence says that the review panel aims to draw up standards which:
– are unequivocal, clear and easy to understand
– can be used to assess the performance of teaching assistants
– steer the professional development of teaching assistants at all levels
– are designed to inspire confidence in teaching assistants and ensure that schools use their skills and expertise to best effect
– focus primarily on the key elements of their professional relationship with teachers to ensure that all pupils attain the highest possible standards
Responses will be accepted until November 21 and can be submitted online.
The review is expected to report back to the Secretary of State for Education in spring 2015.
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