Upskilling Classroom Teaching Assistants at Knebworth Primary and Nursery School
Knebworth Primary School is a two-form school situated on the outskirts of Stevenage. Since 2022 five members of staff have completed the Level 3 Teaching Assistant with SEND training, with one more currently studying for their Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship.
Knebworth TAs are called Inclusion Assistants (INCAs for short) because they are responsible for the inclusion of all pupils within the class, making sure that both lower and higher attainers are supported and they can form strong relationships with pupils in both groups. Many also run specialist interventions for children with special educational needs.
Headteacher Sim Bains says apprenticeships have had a positive impact on staff and pupils alike, describing the impact as “just amazing.”
Overall impact of apprenticeship training
- Provision for children is much more inclusive with improvement being seen in children’s work, as well as their confidence and engagement in class
- TAs have developed their ability to adapt activities in the moment, support children with SEND, support different lessons across the curriculum, and help with social and emotional support and behaviour management
- Staff who have completed apprenticeship programmes have now started to mentor new TAs
- TAs now have a career pathway and staff turnover is incredibly low
“Staff have relished the opportunity to engage in fortnightly professional development and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They are so keen to share ideas, tips and good practice and the difference it has made to their confidence and our pupils is just amazing.”
– Sim Bains
SEND Masterclasses, access to experts and networking with other TAs
As part of the course TAs have access to live workshops and SEND masterclasses. Sim explains how inclusion assistants have benefited from the rich content and course structure.
A robust training programme, recommended by other headteachers
Sim says that ESF Apprenticeships came highly recommended by other headteachers in her local area. In the video below she describes what made the ESF offering stand out.
“ESF Apprenticeships came highly recommended by other headteachers in my local area and for us it’s been a really successful working partnership.” – Sim Bains
Managing logistics – not as bad as you might think!
Sim says the impact far outweighs the release time, which, while an investment, she found to be very manageable. Here’s her advice:
Looking to the future – a great tool for staff retention and development
Sim describes how apprenticeships have helped with staff retention and given Inclusion Assistants a sense of pride in their roles.