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What is a Classroom Assistant?
They are people who support fully-qualified teachers, taking on non-teaching tasks. They were put into schools by the Scottish Executive to:
Help raise attainment in schools
Free up teachers time
What do Classroom Assistants do?
Classroom assistants undertake a wide range of tasks, many within the classroom, but also elsewhere in the school. Out-of-class tasks may include those with an emphasis on care, such as first aid, playground supervision and those with a more administrative emphasis, such as taking responsibility for a library or other resource areas. Individual schools determine the balance of tasks, but the following example illustrates a typical range.
Most classroom assistant are timetabled to work in different classes. Teachers complete planning sheets, which indicate lesson type, activity and resources required. The assistant can be asked to prepare resources, support groups of children with reading or within other areas of the curriculum. Key roles are:
First Aid
Support the class teacher
Keeping children on task
Consolidate learning
Promote positive behaviour
Read with small groups
Support activities in literacy and numeracy with an emphasis on practical application
Support information technology
Conclusion
Therefore it is hoped that a classroom assistants helps by relieving teachers of routine tasks and providing extra support for pupils. Together these contributions are believed by many to have the potential to help raise pupil attainment.
However, tensions exist because of the wide remit and competing demands on classroom assistant time. These factors need to be addressed in order to make the role of a classroom assistant more effective. This could possibly be done by providing continuing training and support for assistants and those working with them.
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