An online guide to help school leaders plan and implement training for their support staff in language, literacy and numeracy skills has been launched by the Training and Development Agency for Schools
Boosting essential skills: online help to develop school support staff
An online guide to help school leaders plan and implement training for their support staff in language, literacy and numeracy skills has been launched by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA).
The Skills for Life planner brings together, in one place, a wealth of easy-to-access training information for the first time. Available online at www.tda.gov.uk/sflplanner the planner is part of the Government’s Skills for Life strategy, which aims to raise literacy, language and numeracy skills among adults.
The planner is designed in a ‘dip in and out’ format, with printable checklists, template forms for skills analysis, suggested questions for training providers and advice on reward and recognition. It also addresses issues including raising awareness of Skills for Life initiatives, business benefits, securing funding and evaluating success.
The planner has been developed by a range of experts including teachers, school leaders and learners.
It is split into the following key sections:
- Get buy-in: support staff, school leaders and governors all need to know what’s in it for them
- Identify learning needs: finding out the skills needs of the school as a whole, and of individual staff
- Planning learning: deciding the programme that best suits learners’ and the school’s needs
- Evaluate contents: checking progress and measuring effectiveness to help plan next steps.
Each section contains advice, guidance and support, with downloadable checklists, links to key organisations and case studies.
Over half a million support staff now work in a range of support roles in schools, including teaching assistants, administrators, catering and premises staff and midday supervisors.
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