Supporting children in maths lessons programme: professional development for teaching assistants

This programme is open to all schools but if you are a Devon maintained school you can book one or more places at the subsidised rate of £50 per person.

Cost to all other schools is £240 per person.

Face to face PD programme across four half-days plus an in-school visit, aimed at teaching assistants who support mathematics learning both in the classroom and through intervention. 

Teaching assistants are often asked to work, in maths lessons, with children who are struggling with the mathematics. This is most effective if the focus is on supporting the children to notice things, use what they know and make connections. This programme is designed to stimulate thinking about how to support and challenge children in the classroom and will include:

• Engaging with the belief that all children can learn mathematics 
• A focus on understanding the connective model including how representation can be used to support understanding of structure
• Exploring strategies for developing children’s mathematical talk
• An examination of the five big ideas of teaching for mastery
• In-school work with children between sessions including a visit to support this work

Please note that schools and participators must be able to commit to the full programme. All dates are identified before the start of the programme and we ask that these are protected and any issues communicated before the first session. If a participant does not turn up for a session it will be assumed that they have withdrawn from the programme, unless there has been advance notification.   Participants should also be supported by their school leadership to explore outcomes from the project with other colleagues in their school.