Course overview

Leading Professional Development for Teaching Assistants will equip you with the know-how and resources to deliver evidence-informed training sessions to your school’s teaching assistants and learning support staff.

> Length: One day conference followed by flexible scheduling
> Delivery: Online
> Cost: £795 + VAT
> Support: You will receive the practical training and adaptable resources

We know that, in many classrooms, teaching assistants spend lots of time working one-to-one with pupils who experience challenges with learning. Despite their vital role, it can be hard to find high-quality, context-based professional development for these staff.

This programme equips you to deliver evidence-informed training designed to target the persistent challenges faced by your teaching assistants. It will help maximise the impact of their work, to improve pupil outcomes.

What you’ll learn

This programme aims to grow your expertise in delivering professional development, while making an impact at your school through the sessions you deliver.

Learning from our experts, you will develop strong mental models for how to adapt and deliver great professional development in your context.

You will explore effective classroom strategies based on what is known about how pupils learn. The resources for the six sessions dig into the science of learning, covering:

Working memory
Pupil attention
Giving instructions
Effective questioning
Checking for understanding
Giving effective feedback

How you’ll learn

This programme is designed to flexibly suit your busy schedule. You will:

Attend a one-day conference, delivered online for your convenience.
Deliver the six training sessions according to your own schedule.
Engage in an implementation support clinic, which takes place online after you have delivered your second training session. Here, our expert facilitators are on hand to help you with any questions or thoughts raised by your first two sessions.

Am I eligible?

This programme is for teachers and school leaders in mainstream primary or secondary schools in England, in roles well-positioned to deliver training for teaching assistants and learning support staff.

Example roles include:

Senior leaders
SENCOs
Those with responsibility for staff development, such as heads of teaching and learning or heads of professional development.

How much does it cost?

The cost of this programme is £795 +VAT per participant. This cost includes the six delivery resources, which become yours to keep and use again in the future.

Please make sure you have budget holder approval when applying for this programme.

Why should I train with Ambition?

When you join this programme, you partner with us to improve the classroom experience of pupils who find learning the hardest.

As the largest lead provider of the Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualifications in England, we work with 1 in 10 teachers and leaders across state schools (February 2025).

That’s how we know that school context is important. So, because you know your school best, this programme empowers you to tailor, schedule and deliver the training according to your own school’s needs.

Benefits for you

To develop teaching assistants at your school, this programme focuses on equipping you with the know-how and resources to deliver high-quality professional development. You’ll get:

Evidence-informed learning about designing and delivering great professional development.
Effective strategies for tackling the classroom challenges faced by teaching assistants.
Six expertly designed training sessions to adapt and deliver to your school’s teaching assistants. These sessions become yours to keep and use again in the future.

Benefits for your school or trust

Using a train-the-trainer approach, the programme is designed to have school-wide impact. The programme aims to:

Improve outcomes for pupils, particularly those who find learning the hardest.
Support teaching assistants to use evidence-informed teaching strategies in the classroom.
Foster a sense of community and shared understanding among teaching assistants, centred on tackling the classroom challenges they encounter.
Empower participants to adapt the training to their school’s unique context.

How do I apply?

Applications are currently closed.
To be contacted when applications open, register your interest here.

Our application process in seven simple steps:

Step 1: On the programme page, Leading Professional Development for Teaching Assistants
Click ‘Apply now’.

Step 2: Set up your MyAmbition account
Create an account with your name, email address and password. Confirm your email to activate your account.

Step 3: Complete your application
Log in to MyAmbition, fill in your personal and professional details, and answer the application questions. Attach any required documents.

Step 4: Submit your application
Review your answers and click ‘Submit’.

Step 5: Application in review
We will review your application and contact you if we need more information.

Step 6: Place offered
If your application is successful, we will send you an offer by email.

Step 7: Place accepted
Accept your offer on MyAmbition to secure your place.