Teaching and learning support in schools: exploring the well-being of Teaching and Learning Support Assistants and the views of children and young people who engage with their support

Abstract

Education is a demanding sector with significant pressures placed on staff to support children in achieving academically and thriving socially and emotionally. Teaching and Learning Support Assistants (TLSAs) play a crucial role in helping schools meet these demands. However, despite their essential contributions, TLSAs receive variable training and support and enter the role with differing experiences. Additionally, the role of a TLSA has changed considerably over time, leading to a lack of clarity about their responsibilities. While research has examined the impact of the demanding education sector on the well-being of teachers, the well-being of TLSAs has been overlooked. Moreover, given the interdependent nature of TLSAs’ well-being and their effectiveness in supporting students, it is essential to understand children and young people’s perceptions of the support they receive from TLSAs.

This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of TLSAs in UK schools by exploring both the well-being of staff who provide support and students' perceptions and lived experiences of receiving that support. First, a systematic review of 19 qualitative studies was conducted to thematically synthesise individuals’ views of TLSAs’ support in primary and secondary schools. Second, 176 TLSAs responded to a UK-wide mixed-methods survey including the Workplace PERMA Profiler (Kern, 2014) and open-ended questions on their lived experiences as current employees in UK primary schools.
Additionally, peer support groups were piloted in two UK primary school settings to enhance TLSAs’ well-being and this intervention was evaluated using a mixed-methods approach.
Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for improving practice.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Hannah Jayne Godfrey: orcid.org/0009-0001-5720-2186

ORCID for Jana Kreppner: orcid.org/0000-0003-3527-9083

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