All online workshops are 1245-1600. 

Workshop 1 - Tuesday  17th May -2022 - Overview and introduction to Number Sense

Workshop 2 - Tuesday 24th May 2022 - Number sense continued

Workshop 3 - Monday 6th June 2022 - Additive reasoning

Workshop 4 - Tuesday 14th June 2022 - Multiplicative reasoning

Workshop 5 - Monday 20th June 2022 - Fractions

Bookings are initially limited to two places per school for this Work Group.

Teaching Assistant Subject Knowledge

This series of connected workshops is suitable for TAs working with all age groups, including mixed age classes.  Participants may be experienced TAs or new to the role from September.  The sessions will focus on the structure of key mathematical concepts, language and representations, providing opportunities for TAs to deepen their knowledge and share good practice. 

The purpose of the programmes in this project is to support primary teaching assistants (TAs) in developing specialist knowledge for teaching mathematics enabling them to understand, teach and support pupils.

It has long been recognised that maths teaching is enhanced when the TA's are confident about the subject matter. Seabourne’s work over the period of 2004-06 found that Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) led to ‘improvements in subject knowledge, attitude, understanding and confidence’. Gibson, O'Toole, Dennison & Oliver’s (2013) report on SKE across all subjects in which SKE is offered finds that levels of subject knowledge and confidence in the subject are dramatically enhanced on completion of SKE.

Who will be leading the group?

Jo Makin-Isherwood

Jo has been Primary Teaching for Mastery Lead for CODE Maths Hub, progressing as an Accredited NCETM PD Lead and Primary Specialist. She worked with Early Years, KS1 and KS2 classes, including mixed age classes, before becoming Maths Subject lead and Senior Leader, including extensive SEND experience.  Jo has led SKTM Work Groups for TA's and teachers, as well as Years 5-8 Continuity for SHaW Maths Hub.

Who is it for?

These programmes are designed for primary teaching assistants who are supporting maths, and who would like to develop their specialist knowledge for teaching maths. This may be particularly relevant for new TAs or TAs that have not received maths-specific training.

Joining details will be sent by email approximately ten days before the first workshop and will be noted in the Basecamp community for the participants of this Work Group.

What are the intended outcomes?

Pupil outcomes

Pupils will:

• demonstrate a positive attitude towards maths, being willing to have a go, persevere, and share their mathematical ideas.

Practice development

• Participants will review their practice as a result of the sessions and make specific adaptations to support the pupils they are working with.

Professional learning

Participants will enhance their maths subject knowledge with an emphasis on the key structures in each mathematical area covered e.g.

• understand the key elements that form number sense, including precise language, structures, and representations
• understand the forms of addition and subtraction, including the precise language, structures, and representations
• understand the forms of multiplication and division, including the precise language, structures, and representations
• understand the forms of fractions, including precise language, structures, and representations.

What will it involve?

This year will see the launch of Primary Teaching Assistant specific materials (same areas as primary SKTM) and focus on the following mathematical areas:

• What is effective in the learning and teaching of mathematics?
• Number sense (part 1)
• Number sense (part 2)
• Additive reasoning
• Multiplicative reasoning
• Fractions.

What is the cost?

Free