Working Effectively With Your Teaching Assistant

An absolute gem! It’s a book that every teacher should read if they want to get the absolute best from their TA. Full of practical strategies which can be easily implemented. -- Carmel Martin, Deputy Headteacher and SENDCo
Whether you are a newly qualified teacher or an educator who has been teaching for many years, this book is for you. This book provides this valuable information for senior leaders and teachers and every school should purchase a copy. -- Aimee Durning MBE. Co-Founder of the UK TA Network Hub & Director of Inclusion & Community at the University of Cambridge Primary School
Sara uses her wealth of experience to share a solution focused approach to working with TAs. There is great insight into how to positively develop practices that support the efficacy of TAs in schools. -- Kenny Wheeler, SEND, Inclusion and Leadership Consultant - @KennyInclusion
A comprehensive and accessible guide to support anyone in gaining the most from their support staff. I enjoyed the many practical strategies and case studies to support and inspire! -- Andy Taylor, Senior Lecturer at University of Worcester @MrTs_NQTs
A must for teachers, SENCOs and TAs alike. Whilst clearly EYFS and Primary focused, it works for Secondary schools too. The advice, guidance and examples are practical, realistic and accessible. -- Dr Hélène Cohen - lecturer, SEND consultant, tutor/supervisor for NASENCO/iSENDCO Masters awards. @EdPleaseMiss
Practical, highly relatable advice for new and experienced teachers with brilliant personal stories and case studies that really brings this book alive. The key takeaways at the end of each chapter are succinct and support teachers with knowing exactly what to do next to consolidate and improve outcomes in their class. Teachers learn to teach; nobody teaches teachers about managing TAs, this book gives a superb step by step guide to support best practice. -- Kiren Bennett, SLE SEND, Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion at Ulverley School, part of Robin Hood MAT
This well-informed book is an important must read for anyone teaching alongside an assistant. This relationship can be confusing, so this book unpicks issues through a case study approach and common sense thinking. -- Dr Sue Allingham. Consultant, Author, Trainer @DrSue22
Packed with tried-and-tested advice from a life of coordinating SEN, Sara's book is my new “go-to”. Highly recommend. -- Ben Slater, Founder and Lead Consultant, Fiveways Devon, Twitter: @DevonFiveways
School librarians work with staff across the whole school and any teaching assistants (TAs) assigned to students will accompany them to library lessons thus the role of the TA in the library is no different to that in the classroom; one of supporting learning, using various interventions, and sharing planning and feedback. Many school librarians will immediately identify with the introductory chapter which presents the challenges of working with TAs including roles being unclear and developed by stealth as well as a lack of job security. The book focuses on support for students with SEND, and highlights the need to establish working relationships and using the strengths of individual TAs. Each following chapter has key points, a list of things that work and things to think about, and there is a comprehensive glossary and index. Although aimed at primary teachers, the wealth of practical advice, strategies for working with TAs, case studies and personal stories make it an extremely useful additional for staff libraries at both primary and secondary levels. -- Barbara Band, Chartered librarian
Getting the relationship between teacher and TA right is so important for the success of pupils in the classroom, and I think this book will be a helpful tool to teachers, especially those new to the classroom, in forging strong relationships with the teaching assistants they work alongside. * Hannah Harris, Twinkl *
This is a useful book that synthesises a large amount of expertise and information into succinct and easy to understand advice and support for newly qualified staff and as a professional boost for more experienced practitioners. * SEN Magazine *
A valuable resource. This book offers a wealth of knowledge and ideas about creating a good working relationship among staff, with case studies providing a personal touch. I enjoyed the sections titled ‘if this isn’t working… try this’, which give practical advice on a variety of scenarios that will no doubt be familiar to all of us. * Educate Magazine *