Why join this course for Teaching Assistants?
This programme will ensure that TAs are equipped with the knowledge, skills and strategies which are required to support Quality First Teaching and enable pupils to get back on track.
The course consists of 10 sessions that will cover a wide range of topics that will enable TAs to effectively support learning in both English and Mathematics and to facilitate the learning of SEND pupils across the curriculum.
Teaching assistants will have access to a bank of useful supporting resources for each unit to allow personal learning to turn instantly into professional practice.
What topics will be covered?
Session 1
Supporting Phonics
Session 2
Supporting Reading Comprehension
Session 3
Supporting Writing
Session 4
Supporting Vocabulary Instruction
Session 5
Assessment for Learning Strategies
Session 6
Understanding the 4 SEND areas of needs
Session 7
CPA in Maths
Session 8
Questioning in Maths
Session 9
The TA as a facilitator to support the learning of SEND pupils in the classroom
Session 10
Supporting calculation
What are the training objectives?
- To enable TAs to effectively support learning in both English and Mathematics
- To enable TAs to effectively facilitate the learning of SEND pupils across the curriculum
- To understand how to use questioning and formative assessment strategies to identify gaps and to check that gaps are closing.
- To understand how SEND barriers to learning are manifested and strategies to use when working with SEND pupils to maximise their learning.
What are the expected outcomes of this course?
- With the support of Teaching Assistants, pupils will become more proficient in English and Mathematics
- Through effective support by Teaching Assistants, SEND pupils will be able to self-regulate better and increase their readiness for and focus on learning
- Intervention sessions provided by Teaching Assistants will be sharply focused on addressing gaps in learning and will enable pupils to catch up with their peers
- Intervention sessions for SEND pupils provided by Teaching Assistants will be effectively targeted at their barriers to learning so that the gaps in learning are closing
- SEND pupils supported by Teaching Assistants will know more and remember more and achieve more independent working as a result of effectively facilitated learning
How and when will this course be delivered?
- The sessions will be delivered via Zoom across the Summer term.
- A bank of useful supporting resources will be available for each unit to allow personal learning to turn instantly into professional practice
- Practical and experiential gap tasks will be set and reviewed with the programme tutor and peers, creating a learning network
All sessions will be held from 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Summer '22 Cohort Dates
- Thursday 21 April
- Thursday 5 May
- Monday 16 May
- Wednesday 25 May
- Monday 6 June
- Thursday 16 June
- Wednesday 22 June
- Wednesday 29 June
- Thursday 7 July
- Wednesday 13 July
Who will deliver this course?

Emma Adcock
Emma is a former headteacher, system leader and advanced skills teacher. She regularly provides additional leadership capacity for schools. This additional leadership has previously included: acting head positions, part-time assistant head roles and she has worked across schools as a teaching and learning coach to support Quality First Teaching. Emma is also an experienced trainer who regularly provides training for VNET schools on the following: curriculum design, subject leadership, Reading, Writing, Spelling and the explicit teaching of vocabulary.

Becky Clinton
Becky has worked in primary education for over 20 years, teaching from EYFS to year 6 and has led a number of middle leadership and management roles. She has previously worked for Norfolk County Council (NCC) as a maths advisor and has also worked as a leading maths teacher and SLE. Becky is NCETM professional lead accredited and has worked for the Angles Maths Hub. She is currently a KS1 Lead moderator for NCC and works as an education advisor part-time for a local MAT. Becky has worked for VNET as a maths associate for a number of years and has created a successful maths professional community as well as providing bespoke maths support in schools.

Jan Martin
Jan specialises in working with primary and secondary schools, PRUs, Local Authorities, and independent school groups on a range of school improvement activities with a particular focus on SEN provision. Jan has many years experience as an independent SEN consultant, an Ofsted inspector, and during her time in schools as Head of School Improvement, SENCo and Manager of Special Provision in a wide variety of settings.
How do I take part?
- The member price is £600+VAT or 6 credits per school, for one TA to attend the series.
- For additional delegates the price is £50+VAT per delegate for members
- For non-members the price is £700+VAT (for one delegate) and £100+VAT for additional delegates
- Access to the project includes access to an area on VNETCIC.com with all resources and gap tasks