Five-a-day for SEND: How does it transform the TA role?

There are over 275,000 Teaching Assistants (TAs) working in English schools. As 28% of the education workforce, it is essential that TAs are supported to work alongside teachers to ensure high quality teaching and learning for all pupils, but particularly those with SEND.

Helpfully, the evidence base for maximising the impact of TA practices has developed over the past decade. We know that focusing on task completion or excessive removal from the classroom is likely to be unhelpful. Additionally, we know that TAs can make a real difference when delivering interventions and that effective classroom deployment involves supporting pupils to learn with greater independence.

The EEF’s guidance report highlights five teaching approaches – a ​‘Five-a-day’ – that can support pupils with SEND to make increased academic progress.