Assistants play an important role in the life of a school and in order to carry out their jobs effectively they need to be aware of their roles and responsibilities and have access to training as and when appropriate. In considering how best to support schools and all Assistants the Board’s Special Education Branch established a working group of officers, SENCO’s and Principals to consider relevant issues.
This group has now completed its work having compiled a number of documents which it is hoped will be useful to school staff who have line management responsibility for Assistants:
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Guidance for the Effective Use of Assistants in School;
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Assistants Induction Guidelines;
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Guidelines for Standardising Working Practices of Assistants in School;
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Training Opportunities for Assistants available within the NEELB.
The above documents are intended to guide schools on the induction, deployment and development of Assistants, as well as advice on their management. They should be customised to fit the specific needs of each individual school. They include an inventory of training which is available mainly free of charge, to Assistants employed in the Board’s area.
Other supporting documents which you may find useful and relevant to the employment of Assistants in school are:
