1. Effective practice in the use of teaching/support assistants to support pupils with SEN in mainstream schools National Occupational Standards for Support Staff

2. Workforce reform in schools: has it made a difference? An evaluation of changes made to the school workforce 2003-2009. Ofsted, January 2010 In all but three of the schools visited, those involved in the induction, training and management of the performance of the wider workforce did not have a secure knowledge and understanding of the national occupational standards and the career development framework because they did not know where to go for information and guidance. This delays the development of the wider workforce as a coherent, fully trained professional body.

3. National Occupational Standards for Support Staff National Occupational Standards (NOS) are statements of competence describing good practice, and are written to measure performance outcomes. Essentially they describe what people need to be able to do, as well as what they must know and understand for their work.

4. National Occupational Standards for Support Staff NOS can help schools to make informed decisions about: the coverage and focus of job roles how well staff are performing the training and development needs of staff matching job roles to the overall aims and objectives of the school

5. Supporting pupils with special educational needs The national occupational standards for supporting teaching and learning in schools (STL NOS) include a range of standards for those working with pupils with special educational needs. These units reflect the different responsibilities that individuals may have for supporting pupils with SEN. They include:

6. Supporting pupils with special educational needs STL UnitWho is this unit for? STL 12 Support a child with disabilities or special educatonal needs This unit is for those working with an individual pupil with SEN (or separately with more than one named pupil with SEN) STL 38 Support children with disabilities or special educational needs and their families This unit is for those working under the direction of a teacher or SENCO to support pupils with SEN

7. Supporting pupils with special educational needs STL UnitWho is this unit for? STL 39 Support pupils with communication and interaction needs STL 40 Support pupils with cognition and learning needs STL41 Support children with behaviour, emotional and social development needs STL 42 Support pupils with sensory and/or physical needs These units are for those specialising in different aspects of SEN.

8. Supporting pupils with special educational needs STL UnitWho is this unit for? STL13 Contribute to moving and handling individuals STL 14 Support individuals during therapy sessions STL44 Work with children and young people with additional requirements to meet their personal support needs These units are for those providing personal and/or health care for pupils with additional needs.

9. http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/ careers/traininganddevelopment/staff/ standards