Teaching Assistants

Precision Teaching for TAs and HLTAs: Maximising Small-Group Impact in Limited Time

Ever wondered how much more impact your small-group sessions could have if every minute truly counted? This course empowers TAs and HLTAs to maximise learning in short, focused sessions using precision teaching strategies, rapid micro-checks and structured reflection tools. You’ll learn how to plan and deliver interventions that are tightly timed, highly engaging and tailored to the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND and EAL learners. Practical templates, timing logs and exit-ticket strategies help you monitor progress in real time, adapt on the fly and ensure every session contributes to measurable pupil progress. By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills, tools and confidence to make every minute of small-group teaching count.
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Yiotina Achilleos-Dania,
Saleena Sandhu & Carly Watkins

2 hours

Online Course

By completing this course, you will:

understand how to audit time and structure sessions effectively – fitting meaningful learning into fixed windows, such as short intervention slots or assembly breaks;
collaborate with teachers to design concise small-group plans with clear learning objectives, success criteria and well-paced time allocations for each segment;
apply rapid launch and closure strategies to maximise engagement and focus from the first to the final minute of each session;
use adaptive pacing, questioning and feedback routines to check understanding efficiently and adjust activities in real time to meet diverse learner needs, including those with SEND;
develop a simple reflective toolkit – using timing logs, exit tickets and peer observations – to evaluate session effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.

Course Lessons

Written by: 
Yiotina Achilleos-Dania

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Yiotina has spent over a decade immersed in the world of primary education. Most of her teaching career, she juggled the roles of Science and Maths subject leader, while working across key stage 1 and 2 (mainly based in years 2 and 6). Armed with degrees in Marketing Communications, Business Analysis and Primary Education (plus a National Qualification of Middle Leadership), she’s been at the forefront of introducing new initiatives, reshaping curricula and championing practical, hands-on learning to ensure every pupil thrives.

From training staff to supporting long-term skill progression, Yiotina has always been passionate about helping both pupils and teachers grow. Now, as a Twinkl CPD Content Writer and Editor, she’s swapped the classroom for the creative space of professional development, using her expertise to craft engaging, impactful resources that continue to support educators and learners.

Presented by: 
Saleena Sandhu

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Saleena is a Video Content Creator on the CPD team at Twinkl. She has over 10 years of experience as a primary school teacher, having taught across the full primary range from EYFS to Year 6. Saleena has also supported and mentored trainee and early career teachers.

In collaboration with: 
Carly Watkins

Carly is the Quality of Education Lead at Twinkl PD, overseeing the development of Teachers' Standards courses. She is an experienced primary school teacher and senior leader with a MA in Education Practice and NPQ in Leading Teacher Development. Carly also facilitates the ECF, delivering training for current mentors and ECTs; she is passionate about accessible and actionable professional development for all educators at all levels.