Well, another school year is drawing to an end, accompanied by all the usual tears and trauma. Year six will soon become small fish in a much bigger pond. End of year assemblies will leave us all feeling like wrung out wash cloths and we’re definitely looking forward to that chilled glass of something special at the end of the final day.

OK, I know that many of us will be in school at some point over the holidays, sweeping, sorting and generally preparing for next term, but we will still feel mentally liberated.

So, what will you do next year? Will you be working with the same year group? Or are you moving on to pastures new? I expect there will be mixed feelings here. Many of us embrace change, but some people find the prospect of unfamiliarity quite daunting. Even a bit scary.

Whatever your role is to be next term, enjoy it.
I’ve decided to change the blog slightly next term to focus on TA training and development needs.
I intend to take a good look at the courses on offer and choose different topics that match the course criteria.
That way, I hope, the blog will be of some use.

I know that, for some people, formal training courses aren’t an option. Whether due to time constraints, lack of cash, resources, accessible venue…whatever…sometimes it just isn’t going to happen for some TAs. So, in a small way, I’ll be able to help.

Next term, look out for the headings. These will link to units of the Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools qualifications. I’ll try to explain the units in a straightforward way.

I hope you will let me know if there are specific units you’re finding tricky. I’ll do my best to explain them clearly and to point you in the direction of training books and websites that you may find useful.

Together, we can decode the gobbledegook and clarify exactly what some of the standards mean.