Teaching Assistant

Sustainable Support: Self-Care and Professional Boundaries for TAs

How can you continue to give your best support to pupils without constantly stretching yourself beyond your role, your capacity or your wellbeing?

‘Sustainable Support: Self-Care and Professional Boundaries for TAs’ is a practical, evidence-informed course designed to help teaching assistants recognise job creep, set and communicate professional boundaries with confidence and embed realistic self-care strategies into busy school environments. Grounded in research on emotional labour, burnout and role clarity, the course supports you to reflect on your values and responsibilities, develop assertive yet respectful communication, and create sustainable habits that protect your wellbeing while strengthening the consistency and quality of support for pupils, including those with SEND.
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Yiotina Achilleos-Dania, Ruth Wallwork & Carly Watkins

2 hours

Online Course

By completing this course, you will:

recognise the signs of job creep and understand its impact on role clarity, effectiveness and personal wellbeing;
understand the role of professional boundaries in sustaining effective support and protecting emotional and mental health;
explore practical strategies for self-care and emotional regulation in demanding educational environments;
develop assertive, respectful communication skills to set and maintain boundaries, including how to say ‘no’ with confidence and professionalism;
reflect on personal values, role expectations and wellbeing needs to create a realistic action plan that protects wellbeing and maintains focus on core responsibilities.

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 courses that continue to support educators and learners.

Presented by: Ruth Wallwork

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Ruth is a Video Content Creator on the CPD team at Twinkl. She is an experienced primary teacher, having taught across both key stage 1 and key stage 2. Ruth has worked as part of a music partnership, delivering high quality music lessons in a range of educational settings, including SEND and secondary schools. Ruth has also held leadership roles, including Head of Primary Music. She holds a degree in Music and Musical Theatre, a PGCE in Primary Education, and is currently working towards a qualification in Primary Music Leadership.

In collaboration with: Carly Watkins

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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.