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Support staff development

Advancing Learning - small groups and 1:1

This two day programme is for classroom based support staff who take responsibility for advancing the learning of individuals and small groups. There is a clear focus on what effective teaching and learning look like, the need to develop a child's independence and how this can be achieved.

Cover Supervisor Summer Workshop

This half day workshop explores key features of current educational policy, OFSTED recommendations and up to date research on effective practice and deployment of support staff.

Effective Communication with Parents

This 2 day programme is suitable for school staff or early years practitioners who wish to develop and extend their communication skills and gain a deeper understanding of the processes involved. If you are working towards Early Years Professional Status (EYPS), this training will link to EYP Standards 29, 30, 31 and 32.

HLTA Preparation for Assessment

Best Practice Network has been delivering the programme since its inception and we have developed a strong team of expert trainers who are able to provide preparation to candidates in many areas across the South East, South West, West Midlands, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber regions. Our programmes are flexible and can be contextualised to meet the particular needs of each group. The locations, dates/times of all our training sessions are selected to minimise travel and take into account other possible commitments of our candidates.

HLTA Summer Workshop

This half day workshop provides an update on key national developments for HLTAs and classroom based support staff. It explores key features of current educational policy, OFSTED recommendations and up to date research on effective practice and deployment.

HLTA Whole Class Teaching

This programme is for HLTAs who lead whole class learning with no teacher present and for experienced teaching assistants who are leading whole class sessions as training or preparation for HLTA status.

ILM Level 3 Award in First Line Management

The Award in First Line Management is a concise qualification which gives an introduction to the basic skills, knowledge, and understanding required by today's first line manager. The mandatory unit in 'Solving Problems and Making Decisions' is designed to develop practical techniques for tackling managerial problems and decisions from gathering and interpreting information through to the effective communication of outcomes.

ILM Level 3 Award in Workplace Coaching for Team Leaders and First Line Managers

This three day programme spread over six months is accredited via the production of an assessed portfolio which must be completed within a year. It introduces candidates to the principles and concepts underpinning effective coaching and mentoring, enables them to practice and get feedback on a range of coaching and mentoring styles and examines in a practical way different applications to lead and support others.

Introductory training for support staff

The Training and Development Agency (TDA), now known as the Teaching Agency (TA) stated recently that ‘Support staff essential training can make a major contribution to pupil welfare and raising standards in schools by ensuring that all support staff are confident and capable of carrying out their responsibilities.’ The support staff essential training materials replace the introductory training materials previously developed by the TDA.

Move on Up

This three day programme is for school support staff who want to move towards further qualifications, a professional status and/or a promoted post. The programme creates opportunities for participants to develop their confidence in their own skills and abilities and to identify development opportunities.

Promoting Positive Behaviour

This programme has been designed for all support staff to who wish to improve their confidence and competence in effectively managing and promoting positive behaviour and for HLTAs or aspiring HLTAs wishing to develop or extend their area(s) of expertise.

Teaching Assistant Summer Workshop

This half day workshop provides an update on key national developments for classroom based support staff, including HLTA. It explores key features of current educational policy, OFSTED recommendations and up to date research on effective practice and deployment.

Where Next - progression for HLTAs

Gaining HLTA status is a recognised progression route for support staff working with teachers to personalise provision, raise standards, promote inclusion and help each learner fulfil their potential. Having gained the status, many HLTAs are interested in extending their professional development still further. Our popular 3 day Where Next?' programme is the ideal vehicle for this.

Working in partnership – workshop for support staff and teachers

This workshop is for classroom based support staff and teachers who would like to develop further still, a collaborative and productive partnership to achieve best possible outcomes for the pupils they work with.