Teaching Assistants

Supporting Success for TAs: Using AfL to Build Independent Learners

Do you want to empower your pupils to become truly independent learners, reducing their reliance on adult prompts?

‘Supporting Success for TAs: Using AfL to Build Independent Learners’ is the essential professional development course for teaching assistants and support staff looking to master the principles of Assessment for Learning (AfL). This course goes beyond theory to provide actionable strategies that embed self-directed learning in the classroom, allowing you to build confidence, ownership and resilience in every pupil you work with.
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Adam Barrett, Hayley Wallace & Carly Watkins

2 hours

Online Course

By completing this course, you will:

understand the hierarchy of prompts: from self-scaffolding to direct modelling;
use diagnostic check-ins at the start of an intervention to pitch the level correctly;
encourage pupils to use peer-feedback stems to evaluate each other's work;
reflect on your own verbal cues and how they impact a pupil's ability to self-correct;
collaborate with the teacher to ensure AfL findings lead to tailored next steps for the next session.

Course Lessons

Written by: Adam Barrett 

Adam Barrett is an experienced teacher, academic and SENDCo. He has previously specialised in behaviour management, leading and reforming approaches to behaviour management in primary schools with the aim of creating inclusive environments for all. As well as a PGCE, Adam has an undergraduate degree in history and a MA in English literature.

Presented by: Hayley Wallace

Hayley is a Video Content Creator on the CPD team at Twinkl. She has over 15 years teaching experience as a primary classroom teacher and specialist science teacher in both primary and secondary. She has been a subject lead in science for over 12 years and successfully lead departments of experienced and trainee teachers. As well as completing a PGCE in Primary Education, she has achieved a BSc(Hons) in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a post graduate qualification in Forensic Science. Hayley has also held leadership roles in whole school wellbeing and is passionate about school culture and making education a positive experience for both pupils and staff. 

In collaboration with: Carly Watkins

Carly Watkins has over twenty years of 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 an NPQ in Leading Teacher Development.

Carly has been a mentor for both student and Early Career Teachers and currently facilitates the Early Career Framework for ECTs and their mentors, delivering training at conferences and via online seminars. At Twinkl PD, 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.