TA College visit the Far East – 1st-12th January 2012

Published on January 26th, 2012

The Teaching Assistant College were delighted to return to Vietnam and Malaysia to continue with the training of the Teaching Assistants in the British International Schools Ho Chi Min City and Kuala Lumpur. This trip was the third visit to Ho Chi Min and the second visit to Kuala Lumpur for Eva Cartwright who provided training for the teaching assistants and teachers.

British International School Ho Chi Min City

Eva spent three days in Ho Chi Min training teaching assistants across the three school campuses, the training focused on: fostering independence; managing playground behaviour and activities; supporting learning activities; supporting special needs; group work and TAs in the Early Years. Eva also spent time with the four students who are undertaking QCF Level 3 Diplomas.

British International School Kuala Lumpur

Eva then travelled to Kuala Lumpur to deliver two days training to the teaching assistants, the training focused on enquiry based learning and constructivism and working with groups. The teachers then joined the teaching assistants to work together on the 5 Rs: relationships; resilience; readiness; resourcefulness and reflectiveness.

Training Resource file – for Schools

Published on October 26th, 2011

 

 

 

The Teaching Assistant College is proud to announce the launch of a unique product that offers schools the opportunity to purchase a complete in-house training package.

This training resource contains everything needed to teach over 50 hours* of lively and engaging training sessions by the schools own staff.
Containing guidance notes for easy delivery accompanied by Powerpoints, handouts, CD Roms, group activities and case studies.

If you would like to know more please follow the link: Training Resource file

 

*dependant upon individual delivery style

 

BSME -Abu Dhabi 2011

Published on February 7th, 2011

The Teaching Assistant College exhibited at the BSME (British Schools in the Middle East) conference held at the Rotana Beach Hotel in Abu Dhabi on the 1st - 4th February 2011.
The conference proved once again to be extremely successful with very positive interest in the new suite of QCF qualifications for Teaching Assistants/Classroom Assistants and in particular for those involved with Early Years.

CPD training also proved very popular with a number of schools based in a wide range of locations expressing a desire for further training opportunities.
Whilst in the region team members held training sessions at schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for delegates based in the UAE. The Play & Learning in the Early Years  subject proving extremely popular.

It looks like the college is set to have another busy year with a record number of enquiries and bookings from international schools for  Teaching Assistant/Classroom Assistant INSET training and the newly created TA Resource packs that will enable staff in school to deliver ongoing training.

The TA College visits Jakarta

Published on October 1st, 2010

           British International School- Jakarta

We were delighted to visit the school to undertake training on the 20th & 21st Spetember 2010.
All of the school’s Learning Support Assistants from the Foundation Stage to Year Six joined with those employed within the Student Services Faculty for this intensive two day professional development programme, focussing on a variety or areas relating to the role of a LSA.

The sessions were a mixture of lecture, tutorial and practical application and afforded all delegates the opportunity to discuss and question key components of their role in a professional context. The LSAs received specific training in how to work as an effective Learning Support Assistant, how to support bilingual learners and how to provide additional challenge for our most able students.
The Foundation Stage and Year One LSAs also received specific tuition in the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum document and how they can effectively support the assessment process. 
During the sessions the LSAs were informed of the core competencies relating to current UK legislation alongside the key occupational standards for an LSA.

The TA College are delighted that BIS value highly the role which their LSAs play in supporting learning within the classroom. 
To further develop our partnership, a staff development meeting was held for all the teaching staff providing an opportunity to learn about how best they can utilise the skills of their LSAs.

  ‘The workshop made me realise the importance of my role in school and has given me confidence to work more closely with the teacher’ 

The school advise us that the two day training event is just the beginning of a process of investment in the individual development of each of their LSAs and the invaluable contribution they make to the learning of all their children. The CPD is a central component of the school improvement planning and they aim to raise standards of attainment and achievement for all their students.  

Some other reactions we received:

‘ I learned a lot, I thoroughly enjoyed the training’ 

‘The workshop made me realise the importance of my role in school and has given me confidence to work more closely with the teacher’ 

‘I received lots of ideas and information of how to be a more effective LSA’

Thoughts on A New Start

Published on September 8th, 2010

A new term, a new class, a new teacher, maybe a new school or even your first time in a new setting. All these new experiences have an effect on us and affect how we apportion our time, we are all eager to create a good impression and hope we will receive acknowledgement from other people.

Do we take for granted that new day first time feeling? You may have worked or been part of your setting for a long time and perform your role without thinking, lucky you (butterflies I think shows we care how people will perceive us).

Spare a thought for the new person who ever they maybe, but particularly the new teacher possibly straight from University.  They will be very keen to lay their foundations and quite rightly so, but you as their TA will have to do a little role reversal; they will need your support and guidance to help them through their first week. To create a good professional working relationship is so important for the well being of all staff, children and young people.

Keep an open mind and never assume different is wrong.

If you are the new person do not be afraid to ask, clarification is better than calamity.

 If all else fails Smile

Drop-in session announcement!

Published on September 7th, 2010

We are delighted at the response and the eagerness from our 4th October OPEN DAY visitors to find out more about studying with the college. In response to requests for alternative opportunities to visit the TA College we are pleased to announce that the college will be open for drop-in visitors  every Thursday afternoon from 2pm - 4.00pm.

These sessions will be an opportunity for an informal chat with our tutors and assessors to discuss the QCF qualification options available to you, and view the student area of the website.
So whether you are new to working in schools, looking for a career change, or wish to improve your existing qualifications, if you can spare a short time to pop in we would be delighted to see you.

Directions to the TA College:
Approaching from the North or South on the M6 motorway.
Exit at junction 14 (Stafford North)
From the motorway island exit onto the A5013 sign-posted ‘Eccleshall’
Follow the road through the village of Great Bridgeford, then continue for 2-3 miles
Approach a sharp left bend indicated by the post mounted chevron signs and Walton Hall Community Special school situated on the right hand side just prior to this bend
Continue on the A5013 for approximately 1/4 mile and you will approach a crossroads, turn right here signposted; Stone – Norton Bridge (for reference there is a white house on the corner).
Follow the lane which narrows somewhat and proceed to the T junction
Turn right and rise up the hill with Hilcote Hall retirement home on the left.
On the right hand side at the top of the hill there is a picket fence displaying the TA College signs.
Enter the car park and park in front of the single storey building. 

Please note: (Sat Nav directions tend to be unreliable for the latter part of the journey as they send you away from our location, in case of mis-direction please contact us on: 01785 851251)

COBIS London

Published on May 18th, 2010

 

The Teaching Assistant College attended the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) held at the Royal Horseguard’s Hotel on the 15th – 17th May 2010.
The conference proved to be extremely successful for us, with very positive interest in both the Teaching Assistant qualifications and our INSET training from schools based in wide ranging locations.

Teaching Assistant Training at The Sultan’s School Muscat

Published on December 12th, 2009

We were very pleased to bring Eva Cartwright, Principal of the Teaching Assistant’s College in the UK, out to Oman for some wonderful training opportunities for our Early Years and Key Stage 1 Teaching Assistants.  Eva’s background is Primary teaching, BEd (Hons) and she was also a curriculum manager and lecturer in a large college before founding the teaching assistant college 3 years ago. We also invited TAs from other schools in the local area; a total of 43 TAs from 6 schools attended the training.  Eva also ran a workshop for Early Years and Key Stage 1 Teachers at The Sultan’s School, who work with TAs on a daily basis.

The content of the 3 day TA program looked at: Supporting play, Behaviour management, Supporting group work, Supporting Pupils with English as an Additional Language and Differentiation. The training sessions were very interactive with lots of learning activities to get the TAs thinking about and discussing their role and considering the quality of the support they offer the pupils and the teacher they work with.

All handouts were translated into Arabic and the TAs received certificates of attendance for this course, outlining the work covered.  This course is an asset to their teaching portfolio and greatly enhances their CVs.  They can also go on from here to take NVQs to become qualified, internationally recognised Teaching Assistants.  (More information from www.tacollege.com)

Kate Gower

Head of Primary

12^th December 2009

We have won an award

Published on July 16th, 2009

The Teaching Assistant College have won UKTI Small Exporter of the Year Award. Click Here to see the video and details.