When strategically deployed, research shows teaching assistants' contributions can significantly enhance student progress and achievement. These guidelines aim to help schools maximise the impact of teaching assistants. The guidelines provide practical, evidence-informed advice and include seven key strategies for schools to use to maximise the effectiveness of their teaching assistants.

Teaching assistants are dedicated school staff who provide valuable support for teachers and students generally at the classroom level. They support teachers with routine school duties, classroom activities and the care and management of students, including those with specific needs. Teaching assistants are known by a variety of titles in schools and educational systems and sectors across Australia. e.g. teacher aides, education assistants, integration or inclusion aides, school learning support officers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators.

The guidelines are designed to support a wide range of education professionals, including system and sector leaders, principals and other school leaders, as well as teachers and teaching assistants. 

Key strategies

• Ensure the deployment of teaching assistants is part of a strategy aimed at whole-school improvement.
• Establish clear role expectations.
• Provide ongoing opportunities for collaboration between teachers and teaching assistants to appropriately prepare teaching assistants for their role in the classroom.
• Equip teaching assistants with the necessary knowledge and skills.
• Actively position the work of teaching assistants in implementing the most effective evidence-based strategies with a particular focus on small-group interventions.
• Facilitate a shared understanding of teaching and learning approaches between teachers and teaching assistants.
• Consider how teaching assistants might take on tasks that are not explicitly the work of teachers.