The broad purpose of the occupation is to support the education of learners by providing specialist support.
Specialist teaching assistants plan, implement, and adapt activities in order to advance learning.
They draw on research to develop a critical understanding of their specialist area.
They establish relationships with learners, families, other professionals and external agencies to support the education of the learners they work with.
They contribute to developing a sense of inclusion and belonging for the benefit of the learners within the communities that they serve.
They draw on their specialism to contribute to the evaluation of learning and assessment activities, sustainability in their educational context.
Specialist teaching assistants both reflect on their own practices and support the training and development of others within their specialist area. They will specialise in one of three options:
- SEND specialist teaching assistants support the implementation of SEND policy, processes, and procedure. They will advance learning for those learners with SEND
- Social and emotional well-being specialist teaching assistants support the implementation of policy, processes, and procedure in this area. They will focus on learners social and emotional well-being, to advance learning
- Curriculum provision specialist teaching assistants provide support for learners and advance learning in a specialist curriculum or subject area of expertise. This may include, but is not limited to, supporting with advancing learning through early reading or early maths interventions, or supporting a specific subject area
