The Effectiveness of Teaching Assistants and Supply Teachers: A Teachers View

The Effectiveness of Teaching Assistants and Supply Teachers: A Teachers View

1. History

   • How long have you been teaching?
   • Have you ever been a teaching assistant or a supply teacher?

2. Teaching Assistants

   • Have you had support from teaching assistants in any of your lessons?
     • Were they always there to support pupils who had a statement?
     • If no, do you think it would have been beneficial for you to have a teaching assistant in your lessons?
   • Do you think teaching assistants hinder the attainment of a child or groups of pupils?
   • How are teaching assistants used within your school?
   • How often are you able to meet with the teaching assistant(s) who support(s) you?
     • Would you say this is enough time to see them?
     • Do you think this helps them with carrying out their duty?
   • Who line manages Teaching Assistants in your school?
   • Do you know what is expected of the Teaching Assistant in your class based on the reason they were hired?
   • What are the first four words which come to mind when you think about Teaching Assistants?

3. Supply Teachers

   • Can you recall a time in which a supply teacher had to take your lesson?
     • Did you get any feedback from the pupils in regards to how the lesson went? If so, what was it?
     • Having looked at the work you set, approximately what percentage of the class completed the tasks?
     • Did you get any feedback from other members from your team in regards to how the lesson went? If so, what was it?
   • What are your views on supply teachers?
   • What do you know about the role of supply teachers?
   • How much relevant subject knowledge do you think supply teachers should have?
   • Are there any ways in which you feel the use of supply teachers could be improved?
   • What are the first four words that come to mind when you think of supply teachers?

4. Why this research question?

   • Teaching Assistants and Supply Teachers both support children in school
   • Aim
     • To be able to get an understanding of the way in which teachers view how effective Teaching Assistants and Supply Teachers are in schools.

5. Effectiveness

   • How would you define an effective teaching assistant?
     • Why have you given this as a definition?
   • How could a supply teacher be used effectively?
     • Why do you say this?
   • What does it mean to you for a member of staff to be effective in relation to the learning of a pupil?