Learning support staff researcher

Postdoctoral early career researcher focused on the roles and professional identities of learning support staff.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

I was recently awarded my PhD for my work on the roles and professional identities of learning support staff in secondary settings. When my thesis has been uploaded onto the repository I will update on here with a link.

Thank you to all who helped, particularly during the pilot.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@TGunson Thank you. Do you think they will be replaced?

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

Inspired by a post I've seen - are any teachers heading back to a school with less TAs than last year?

[The Undercover Teaching Assistant @GoodLordNowWhat]

CALLING ALL #TEACHINGASSISTANTS and #teachers etc who'd like to have their say about TA wages and their impact on your life etc. This is your opportunity to have a VOICE! Please complete, submit and share as widely as possible to make our voices HEARD at last #schools #edutwitter

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

Secondary school teachers - is anyone interested in taking part in a pilot interview either this evening or tomorroe over Teams? Approx. 20 mins and centred around perceptions of TAs. Thank you.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

I'm reaching out to secondary SENDCos in particular. I'm currently conducting research on TA professional identity and I'm looking for additional participants who might be interested in taking part. Research involves interviews and reflective writing. Please retweet. Thank you.

[Gabriella 🧠 @Gabs_Annandale]

🌟CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS🌟

Are you a primary caregiver of a child born between 2017 and 2022?

Do you want to participate in some research on attitudes towards childhood vaccinations (or know someone who might?).

Please follow (or share) the link below!

https://t.co/Jl6xIOWk4T

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@Bee4Otterley10 It looks great. Looking forward to seeing yours.
x

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

This looks like really unique and worthwhile research.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@GeoffLewis_ @EdReview @Hannah_Digest @UKTAHub @YorkshireTAs I was a TA. Now I'm a second year PhD and whilst amny aspects of the TA experience interest me, professional identity is something that I think has been neglected.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@GeoffLewis_ @EdReview @Hannah_Digest @UKTAHub @YorkshireTAs When you say ' a side of the TA role', may I ask what you have in mind?

In my own literature review, the period spanning 2010-present is dominated by DISS and associated works. I think that this is the period where policy makers have attempted to frame TAs as having zero agency.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@GeoffLewis_ @EdReview @Hannah_Digest @UKTAHub @YorkshireTAs Hi Geoff,

I've just finished the article and I think your conclusion touches upon my own research into how learning support staff perceive their own professional identities and roles. I would be interested to know what inspired your research. Thank you.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@Hannah_Digest I think it would be great of as many people as possible saw this.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

To my pilot study participants,
Thank you so much for your responses. There's good pilot data for me to look at and I appreciate your feedback. I'm not going to identify you and please don't identify yourselves, but thanks again.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@Will_Tanner @Samfr I hope that you read the responses to your tweet. A lot of people have managed to succinctly argue the case for not cutting support staff. It's worth doing further research into the area to look beyond the value for money vs. outcomes argument.

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@KateLBarber78 @YorkshireTAs @CoastOA That makes sense. Do you think that possessing such a qualification gave TAs an advantage in terms of salary etc?

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@KateLBarber78 @YorkshireTAs @CoastOA *the

[Learning support staff researcher @TeachingAssist6]

@KateLBarber78 @YorkshireTAs @CoastOA Thank you for that. I would imagine that for most TAs prior to workforce reform policies this was probably teh most commonly held relevant professional qualification.