Welcome to the support staff area of the WSGfL. This area provides access to information and strategies to support school workforce development.
The Training and Development Agency (TDA) have been given the brief by the Department for Children, Families and Schools (DCFS) to build on Workforce Reform initiatives and ensure that all Support Staff in schools – called the Wider Workforce - have training and development, because:
“Support Staff are making a difference to virtually every aspect of school life.” (TDA 2005)
Terminology
The term Support Staff is used by the DCSF to include all adults working in schools in any capacity and at any time of day or evening, who are not qualified teachers. This term covers what is also known as the Wider Workforce. This group of other adults, which includes Teaching Assistants, are divided by the TDA into 6 broad headings:
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Administration
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Catering
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Learning Support
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Pupil Support
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Site staff
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Specialist and Technical
An overview of all these roles and the attached qualifications may be found at www.sqf.org.uk and on the TDA's Career Development Framework pages.
Any queries please contact Lorraine Symons, General Adviser for Support Staff lorraine.symons@westsussex.gov.uk