Support Staff Case Studies

Woolgrove School , Letchworth

School No: 628
Primary School for Children with Moderate Learning Difficulties

Woolgrove has 110 pupils from reception age to Year 6.  The classes are small, ranging in number from a maximum of 8 in the lower school to 14 in the upper school.  There are three Teaching Assistants in each year group.  Woolgrove also has a bank of regular supply TAs who cover staff absences as and when required.

The Autism base accommodates up to 8 pupils from Reception class and Years 1 and 2.  The children work in the base with a higher ratio of TAs to support them until they are ready to go into the main class setting. 
Teaching Assistants are involved with class teachers in setting pupil targets and behaviour plans and marking and assessing pupils work. Many Teaching Assistants have taken the opportunity to act as cover supervisors when the class teacher is not present.

Induction

All new support staff are inducted when they start their new roles in the school.  Induction for TAs is undertaken by Senior TA.  This is done over three sessions, normally within the first half term of employment, where various procedures and policies are explained.

New staff members are issued with a copy of the staff handbook and Woolgrove’s A to Z of school information. During the first week, new staff members are allocated with a Mentor who is usually a colleague who works in a different part of the school.
The site manager carries out induction for all new Domestic staff during the first week.
The Senior Teaching Assistant carries out the induction for MSAs who are also given guidance on Child Protection, First Aid and are privy to critical information on specific children’s diagnostic medical needs, fears and obsessions and strategies for dealing with behavioural issues.

Performance Management

Performance Management is carried out by the SLT for all support staff and starts in the Autumn term. The senior TA is part of the SLT and she conducts Performance Management for some of her team.  When teachers are observed for their Performance Management, brief observations of the Teaching Assistants are recorded, which are then used at the Teaching Assistant’s appraisals.  This is a very positive activity and seen as an acknowledgement of achievement for the past year.  At this meeting objectives are reviewed and new ones set, practice is re-evaluated and change of location within the school considered. TAs at Woolgrove can request to work in different areas of the schools to gain more experience, knowledge and skills.  Continuing Professional Development opportunities are discussed at this time.

CPD

Training is very much encouraged at Woolgrove and relevant courses are suggested to all support staff.  After attending courses, staff are welcome to share outcomes with the rest of the teaching and learning team.TAs and MSAs are invited to attend inset training and are paid for their time.

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