Working as Part of a High-Impact Teaching Team
Week 1 – Effective Communication with Class Teachers
Strong communication between teachers and teaching assistants is essential for effective classroom support. This series explores how clear expectations, purposeful information-sharing and collaborative working can help TAs understand the learning, respond to pupils’ needs and ensure support is consistent, focused and has the greatest possible impact.
Week 2 – Understanding Roles and Shared Responsibility for Pupils
Effective support begins with a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities. Teachers and teaching assistants each bring valuable expertise, but responsibility for pupils’ learning, progress and wellbeing must remain a collaborative effort. In this session, we’ll explore how clear roles, strong communication and shared expectations can create a consistent approach that supports every pupil to succeed.
Week 3 – Sharing Useful Observations About Learning
Teaching assistants are often well placed to notice how pupils approach tasks, respond to support and overcome difficulties. Sharing these observations effectively can provide teachers with valuable insight to inform future teaching. In this session, we’ll explore how TAs can communicate concise, meaningful observations that focus on pupils’ understanding, misconceptions, independence and next steps.
Week 4 – Planning and Preparing Together Efficiently
Effective teacher–TA collaboration doesn’t require lengthy meetings or additional workload. Short, purposeful communication can ensure teaching assistants understand the learning, key vocabulary, potential barriers and the support pupils may need. In this session, we’ll explore practical ways for teachers and TAs to plan and prepare efficiently, creating a shared understanding that makes classroom support more focused and effective.
Week 5 – Professional Challenge and Constructive Conversations
Strong professional relationships allow teachers and teaching assistants to communicate openly, ask questions and respectfully challenge practice when needed. In this session, we’ll explore how constructive conversations can help staff share different perspectives, address concerns and make better-informed decisions, while keeping pupils’ learning, wellbeing and best interests at the centre.
Week 6 – Reflecting on teamwork and collective impact
Effective teamwork between teachers and teaching assistants can have a powerful impact on pupils’ learning, independence and experience in the classroom. In this final session, we’ll reflect on how communication, shared responsibility and consistent practice work together, considering small changes that can strengthen collaboration and maximise the collective impact of the classroom team.