Teaching Assistant CPD

Delivering Effective Professional Development for Teaching Assistants

Teaching assistants play a vital role in improving pupil outcomes. Our TA CPD sessions have been specifically designed to translate whole-school teaching strategies into practical approaches that can be used immediately in interventions, small groups and classroom support.

Before the Session

Prepare:

  • TA CPD Guide

  • TA Implementation Guide (one per TA)

  • Optional CPD Snapshot

  • Whiteboard or flipchart

  • Pens

Read through the session guide before delivery and familiarise yourself with the structure and discussion prompts.

Understanding the Session Structure

The session is designed to last approximately 20 minutes and follows five clear phases.

Phase 1 – Hook

Introduce the central principle and explain why it matters in intervention and small group teaching.

Phase 2 – Strategies

Introduce the practical strategies that TAs can use during interventions and classroom support.

Focus on clear, manageable techniques rather than overwhelming participants with too many ideas.

Phase 3 – TA Scenarios

Discuss realistic classroom situations.

Encourage TAs to think about:

  • what they would do

  • why they would do it

  • how the strategy supports learning

Phase 4 – Calibration

Help TAs identify what effective practice looks like.

Explore common mistakes and misconceptions before they develop into habits.

Phase 5 – Close

Finish by asking every TA to commit to one strategy they will use consistently over the coming weeks.

Using the TA Implementation Guide

The TA Implementation Guide is not designed to be completed during the session.

Instead, it becomes the TA's coaching document over the following weeks.

Each weekly section helps TAs:

  • choose one strategy

  • apply it consistently

  • reflect on impact

  • identify successes

  • recognise misconceptions

  • plan their next improvement

Using one strategy consistently has a far greater impact than trying several approaches once.