New training academy aimed at helping supply teachers in the classroom

Select Education is to launch a new training academy aimed at supply teachers and teaching support s

New training academy aimed at helping supply teachers in the classroom

Select Education, the UK's largest education recruitment consultancy, is to launch a new training academy aimed at supply teachers and teaching support staff. According to Select Education, the academy will meet the specialist continuing professional development needs of the UK's supply teaching and support staff by offering up to date and effective training in a range of areas of particular interest and relevance to them.

The Academy's first range of courses will focus on Behaviour Management, a topic that Select Education says is most in demand amongst teaching and support staff. John Dunn, Select Education's Marketing and Projects Director comments, 'We talk to hundreds of teachers and teaching support staff each day, and it's clear that they feel that sometimes their CPD needs are ignored. It's much more difficult for them to access training and development resources than it is for directly-employed staff, so the Select Education Training Academy has designed courses around their needs which may be a little different in emphasis from their directly-employed colleagues.'

The courses, which will continue throughout the summer term, are due to take place across the country. They will be led by Linda Johnson, a specialist in the development of qualification programmes for teaching assistants and school support staff, who also works in close partnership with both the Teacher Training Agency and employers' organisations. More information is available from Select Education on 01582 400841 or by emailing marketing@selecteducation.com. The course will help education staff to promote positive behaviour, develop personal skills for effective behaviour management and manage difficult situations.

Bob Wicks, Executive Chair of Select Education says that ideally the Government should be helping supply education staff in this way. He comments, 'Around 10% of teachers work flexibly as supply teachers, yet the Government does little to help them in terms of professional development. We believe that this is an even more important area for investment than school buildings, bearing in mind that there is a move across the profession to work more flexibly and create a better work/life balance.'

John Dunn says that new topics will be introduced in the new school year to widen the scope of the professional development routes available. 'This is just the start of an extensive programme for supply teaching staff which Select Education will be introducing free of charge which will help them to take control of their careers and acknowledge the importance of continuing professional development for all supply teachers and support staff.'