Portsmouth's teaching assistant charter set to launch at jobs fair
An event to find Portsmouth's top teaching assistants for schools and academies will launch a charter designed to retain them. The Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair on Thursday 1 May from 10am - 2pm at Central Library will showcase training and employment opportunities in education.
The teaching assistant charter has been created using feedback from a survey and focus group. Teaching assistants shared their views which helped shape the charter into themed areas. Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:
"After the success of dedicated jobs fairs and taster sessions for recruiting staff in primary and secondary schools, we now need to tackle retention.
"While there are national challenges around retaining staff in education, we must respond on a local level by working together with different partners. The charter is a first step and sets out a series of principles, developed in conjunction with school staff."
Councillor Nick Dorrington
Teach Portsmouth has successfully recruited 18 school staff since launching these events with over 50 people going on to train with local providers. This includes subject specific courses as well as maths and English functional skills.
Hannah Chalmers, recruitment adviser at Thinking Schools Academy Trust joined teaching assistants and a head teacher in a session to develop the charter. Thinking Schools Academy Trust has six schools in the city and are exhibiting at the fair in May. Hannah said:
"The teaching assistant charter is based on what staff want when it comes to working in education. It sets out what is important to them and how schools can start meaningful conversations with this group.
"I was part of the focus group that developed a version of the charter. It was clear that attendees wanted their voices heard. The charter allows schools the freedom to adopt initiatives that will improve staff retention, ensuring those affected by the charter feel valued."
Hannah Chalmers
An action plan has been developed alongside the charter, using seven different themes that came from the survey. These themes include access to accredited training, feeling valued, trust and communication and career development opportunities.
Using these themes, specific initiatives have been identified within the action plan to support retention.
Examples include rewarding and recognising staff through the Teach Portsmouth Awards, developing an online training directory and sharing best practice with schools. Nisha Chacko, a teaching assistant at St Edmunds Catholic School who took part in the development of the charter, said:
"I am proud to work as a teaching assistant in Portsmouth supporting pupils in my school. I was involved in the creation of the charter.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for schools who sign up to impact how teaching assistants feel."I love my job and believe this charter will enable schools to both recruit and keep the very best professionals in the city."
Nisha Chacko
Councillor Nick Dorrington and Mike Stoneman, deputy director, education at Portsmouth City Council will co-sign the charter at an official unveiling at the Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair.
Find your future supporting pupils
The Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair on Thursday 1 May from 10am - 11:45am and 12pm - 2pm is the perfect place to find employment and training opportunities in education. You can also be part of the official unveiling of the teaching assistant charter. For more information and to get your ticket, visit the event page today!
Callum Murphy