Teaching Assistant

TAs Supporting Success: Wellbeing and Interventions for Year 6 SATs

How can teaching assistants (TAs) make a real difference to pupils’ confidence and achievement during the high-pressure SATs period? This course explores practical, evidence-informed strategies for TAs to support year 6 pupils’ wellbeing and learning. You will learn how to run effective, targeted intervention groups, recognise and respond to signs of stress or anxiety and adapt your support to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. Through hands-on approaches, such as active learning, retrieval practice and embodied strategies, TAs will gain tools to boost both academic performance and emotional resilience. The course also emphasises collaboration with teachers, effective monitoring and maintaining a positive, motivating environment, ensuring that every pupil is supported to approach SATs with confidence.
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Yiotina Achilleos-Dania,
Carly Watkins & Jess Hursit

2 hours

Online Course

By completing this course, you will:

understand the purpose and pressures of end of KS2 Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) for all pupils, including those with SEND;
recognise the impact of assessment stress on pupil wellbeing and how to offer support;
develop skills to run focused intervention groups that boost confidence and address learning gaps;
learn how to balance academic support with maintaining pupil motivation and resilience;
explore strategies to create a calm, positive and supportive learning environment, and strengthen collaboration with teachers to provide targeted, consistent support before and during assessments.

Course Lessons

Written by Yiotina Achilleos-Dania

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.

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.

Presented by Jess Hursit

Jess Hursit is an experienced teacher with a strong background in maths education. As a former maths lead, she worked closely with Maths Hubs and supported the development of her school’s maths curriculum. Jess has worked in a leading training school, where her teaching was regularly observed by visiting educators, and she served as a mentor to trainee teachers and early career teachers.