Working in Leicestershire Schools & Colleges
Classroom support staff make a valuable contribution to children's learning, supporting the work of teachers in a variety of ways to create an educational environment in which pupils' all round development is in accordance with the school/college development plan.
| Learning Support Assistant (LSA) | Works under the direct supervision of a teacher to provide support for teaching and learning and associated activities in accordance with school policies and procedures. This may include providing general support for whole class learning activities, or supporting individuals or small groups of pupils |
| Teaching Assistant (TA) | Works under the direction and supervision of a teacher to assist with teaching and learning and associated activities in accordance with school policies and procedures. This may include: assisting with planning, delivery and evaluation of learning activities; supporting in whole classes; and working with individuals and small groups of pupils. |
| Senior Teaching Assistant (STA) | Fulfils the same duties as a TA and in addition routinely undertakes additional responsibilities such as: cover supervision; coaching and mentoring; and contributing to policy development. |
| Cover Supervisor | Provides supervision of classes across the curriculum in the event of the absence (planned or unplanned) of the teacher, ensuring that pupils are engaged in pre-set work, managing pupil behaviour and ensuring a safe environment. |
| Nursery Nurse | Works as a professional in partnership with the class teacher to provide quality care and education to promote the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of children, creating an environment that is safe, stimulating and challenging. |
| Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) | Works under the direction and supervision of a teacher to contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of learning activities for whole classes, groups and individual pupils. Specified work may be delivered to whole classes, without the presence of a teacher, on an ongoing basis as part of routine timetabling (e.g. PPA provision) and/or on a more ad hoc basis as part of the schools strategy for planned absences of up to 3 days. HLTAs may also undertake day-to day management responsibility for TAs, LSAs and classroom volunteers; and contribute to policy and strategic development. |
| Senior Higher Level Teaching Assistant (SHLTA) | Fulfils the same duties as a HLTA and in addition routinely undertake additional responsibilities such as: full line management responsibility for classroom support staff; lesson planning (in consultation with teachers); assisting in report writing; and contributing to strategic development as a member of the senior leadership team. |
Each school/college establishes their own staffing structure and determines the precise duties and job titles to suit their particular circumstances.
For more information about Higher Level Teaching Assistants, click here.
A central list of all support staff roles is not held, though many support staff vacancies are advertised at www.leics.gov.uk/jobs as well as in the local press (e.g. Leicester Mercury, Loughborough Echo, Hinckley Times etc).
Guide to Accredited Professional Development for School Support Staff (Word Doc, 531Kb)
This manual has been produced to provide information about qualification training programmes and development pathways for school support staff. Follow the link above to download the manual.
The website www.skills4schools.org.uk also gives information about training routes for a wide range of support roles in schools and colleges.
As well as formal qualifications, various short courses are offered in areas such as:
- Classroom management
- Behaviour and attendance management
- Social and emotional aspects of learning
- ICT for learning
- Ethnic Minority Achievement
- Teaching Assistant Induction Training
- Delivery of specified work
Details of short courses are provided by the service/department responsible for the delivery of the course, and are sent directly to schools and colleges over the duration of the academic year.
Page Last Updated: 4 January 2011
