This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Greater recognition for classroom assistants
11/06/2003
A new professional qualification for classroom assistants was launched today, recognising the role they play in helping both teachers and pupils.
The launch of two new Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) will ensure assistants have the skills and knowledge to assist teachers and pupils to the full.
The introduction of classroom assistants has helped reduce the pupil:adult ratio in primary schools to 15:1.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"Classroom assistants have been an invaluable addition to primary schools and the benefits they bring have been recognised by headteachers, classroom teachers, parents and pupils.
"They help reduce the administrative burden on teachers, allowing them to spend more time teaching and planning classes. Children reap the benefits because they have more contact time with adults and research has also shown that the introduction of classroom assistants has helped improve pupils' motivation and behaviour."
Deputy Education Minister Euan Robson said:
"It is important that we recognise the contribution made by classroom assistants and ensure the adults that children come into contact with are as highly skilled as possible. Classroom assistants themselves have voiced concern at the lack of training opportunities and we gave a commitment in the Partnership Agreement to increase further education opportunities for them."
At 31 March 2002, local authorities had employed 4227 classroom assistants, helping ensure a pupil:adult ratio of 15:1 across primary schools. This is measured at local authority level.
A Professional Development Award for classroom assistants was launched by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in July 2000. The new SVQs (level two and three), which have been developed by and are available from SQA, are higher qualifications available to new and existing classroom assistants and will be done on an in-service basis.
The SVQs will be taken in further education colleges but will also take into account work done in the classroom.
Recent research into the role of classroom assistants found that:
- headteachers and classroom teachers believe that the most important contribution of classroom assistants is the flexibility with which they can support both teachers and pupils
- the majority of teachers reported that when a classroom assistant is present pupils spend more time on task and experience more practical activities and interaction with an adult
- headteachers and classroom teachers felt that classroom assistants had improved pupils' motivation and in some cases their behaviour
- pupils enjoyed working with classroom assistants and appreciated their help in the classroom and elsewhere in the school
- most teachers who worked with classroom assistants felt they had more time to spend on teaching, planning and managing learning
- teachers thought that classroom assistants enabled them to concentrate on teaching individuals and groups, to expect more from pupils and to spend less time on routine tasks and preparing resources.
A copy of the research report More Than an Extra Pair of Hands is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/insi-00.asp