A blog for students on the FDLT and BALT courses at the University of Northampton

at Leicester and UON

May 13, 2014
by Jean
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Looking forward to the TA TeachMeet #TATMUN

Plans and preparations are well under way for what we think is the first ever TA TeachMeet, here at the University of Northampton next Thursday (22nd May). The list of presenters is just being finalised and includes students on the … Continue reading

April 30, 2014
by Jean
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the context…

When you are studying (ore preparing to study) education it can be useful to learn about the overall context. There was a useful review of the recent history of education last week on Radio 4. It was called Teachers vs … Continue reading

March 25, 2014
by Jean
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Introducing the first ever TA TeachMeet!

We will be holding what we think is the first ever TA TeachMeet here at the University of Northampton on Thursday May 22nd.   A TeachMeet is an informal and positive celebration of and sharing of resources and good practice. … Continue reading

March 19, 2014
by Jean
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National Debate on the value of Teaching Assistants!

Yesterday MP Alex Cunningham led a Westminster Hall debate on the value of teaching assistants in schools. The TES reported on this debate: “The government has “no plans or any powers” to cut thousands of teaching assistants’ jobs, education minister … Continue reading

March 16, 2014
by Jean
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National debate on the value of TAs!

On Tuesday 18th March Alex Cunningham, Mp for Stockton North, has been granted a 90 minute Westminster Hall debate on ‘the value of Teaching Assistants’. This will take place from 9.30 – 11am.           Westminster Hall, … Continue reading

March 15, 2014
by Jean
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An MP is training to be a TA!

John Woodcock, MP for Barnes and Furness, is working towards a Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification as well as being an MP. You can read his column here – Guardian 14th March 2014 In it he explains that his constituency … Continue reading

March 5, 2014
by Jean
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We are showing Project Wild Thing!

Have you heard or read about the film by David Bond called ‘Project Wild Thing’?       You can read more about Project Wild Thing on the website where it is explained that “Project Wild Thing is a film led … Continue reading

February 28, 2014
by Jean
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TAs all over the world!

Here at the University of Northampton we have a course for Teaching Assistants working in International Contexts (CITAC). It has been taught in Rome and is currently being taught in Romania. Wendy Yarnall has just returned from teaching the Mathematics … Continue reading

February 11, 2014
by Jean
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Their one-to-one support can result in significant student progress

The results of two randomised controlled trials  published by England’s Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) on the 7th February 2014 noted that ‘teaching assistants can improve literacy and numeracy when they are deployed well’. Deploying TAs well included using them to … Continue reading