Teaching Assistant

Routines That Work: A TA’s Guide to Consistency and Calm

This professional development course is specifically designed for teaching assistants (TAs), offering practical, research-backed strategies to enhance classroom consistency and calmness. The training emphasises how consistent routines are a powerful tool for positively influencing pupil behaviour and improving learning outcomes. By reinforcing these structures, TAs will help reduce pupils' cognitive load and significantly boost their self-regulation skills. TAs will learn to move beyond a passive support role by mastering and confidently applying effective routines across whole-class, small-group and one-to-one settings.

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Megan Wilson, Fiona Roberts & Carly Watkins

2 hours

Online Course

By completing this course, you will:

understand the importance of routines for supporting behaviour, emotional safety, smooth learning transitions, and contributing to an inclusive environment, especially for pupils with SEND or EAL learners;
know the research and evidence on how consistent routines benefit pupils’ wellbeing, independence and cognitive load, linking this to child development theory;
explore and apply strategies for supporting consistent, whole-class routines that promote a calm learning atmosphere;
develop and implement specific, workable routines for managing small-group work and one-to-one interventions;
reflect on current practice in supporting routines and identify opportunities to further develop routines that work.

Course Lessons

Written by: Megan Wilson

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Megan is a Content Writer and Editor on the CPD team at Twinkl. She is an experienced former classroom teacher and subject leader. She holds a First Class Honours Undergraduate Degree in Primary Education (5-11) with QTS and a National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership (NPQML). During her time as a classroom teacher, Megan led the development of multiple curriculum areas, serving as subject lead for computing, online safety, maths and science.

Presented by: Fiona Roberts

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Fiona Roberts is a Video Content Creator (VCC) for the Twinkl PD team. She has over ten years' experience as a primary school teacher and private tutor. Before completing her Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Fiona also achieved a MA (Hons) in Film and Television Studies. She has previously supported the development of her school’s English curriculum and is particularly passionate about this subject. Fiona has also thoroughly enjoyed acting as a mentor to trainee teachers and early career teachers during her time in the classroom.

In collaboration with: Carly Watkins

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Carly Watkins has over 20 years' experience as a primary school teacher, including several years as an Assistant Headteacher, with responsibility for whole-school curriculum development and overseeing pupil progress and attainment. She also holds a Master's Degree in Education Practice and a NPQ in Leading Teacher Development.

Carly has been a mentor for both student and Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and currently facilitates the Early Career Framework for ECTs and their mentors, delivering training at conferences and via online seminars. At Twinkl CPD, Carly heads up pedagogical professional development, a role which means she can support educators to develop their personal practice and pedagogy, something she is passionate about, on a national scale.