Teaching assistants (TAs) play a vital role in supporting teachers and children in the classroom. However, their professional development is often challenging due to the difficulty of releasing them from class. The CPQTA programme balances in-person sessions, self-directed online learning and in-school support. The programme design maximises opportunities to connect with colleagues and observe great practice while minimizing disruption to normal classroom practice. It draws on content in the Early Career Framework and the EEF’s SEND in MainstreamGuidance Report and is structured across four units:

• Behaviour for Learning
• How Pupils Learn
• Effective Classroom Practice
• Adaptive Teaching for Pupils with Additional Needs

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Each unit comprises:

• A face-to-face workshop delivered in a Trust school including a learning walk.
• Two self-directed online modules.
• A meeting with an in-school mentor to discuss next steps and plan future actions.
• A short, manageable gap task between each module.