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After a long and refreshing summer break, the month of September quickly comes around and with it the return of students to the classroom. That means for new and returning SEN Teaching Assistant, a fresh start with brand new opportunities or a return to the usual routine with fresh objectives to be achieved. So how can SEN Teaching Assistants adapt from enjoying their summer break to getting back to the classroom and being active away and what do they do to prepare for the new academic year?
Renewed Motivation
One of the enjoyments of having a long summer break is that staff can use the opportunity to start fresh and look forward to the challenges that is ahead of them. For new staff, the summer break is used to prepare for the new surroundings and opportunities. Having some time spent away from the classroom allows staff to return with fresh ideas to better assist new and returning students with special educational needs and bring fresh motivation so that SEN Teaching Assistant staff can perform to their very best and allow students to reach their full potential early on.
New School Year Preparation and Collaboration
Whilst the summer break can be relaxing for most SEN TA staff, there is an element of preparing and planning for the new school year during the summer holidays. Before the school year begins, the SEN TA’s will collaborate and work with class and subject teachers to review the needs of the students to see if they are up to date and can allow them work to their needs and requirements which can best suit the teacher, Teaching Assistant, and the student. A key feature that all staff do during the summer holiday and ahead of the new school year is taking part in INSERT days which is dedicated to training staff ahead before the students return to the classroom. These INSERT days allow SEN Teaching Assistant staff to work with others to be trained on various topics that will help them develop further in the classroom and allow them to get the best out of them when working with other staff and students to create a thriving environment and continue personal development of themselves.
Building And Developing Relationships
One of the most warming aspects of returning to school as a SEN teaching assistant is reconnecting with students and building upon the relationships established in previous years. For new SEN Teaching Assistant staff, it is also about being able to develop brand new professional relationships and rapports with staff and students so that you and they can feel welcomed, and a strong connection can be built in the classroom. Whilst it is very important that SEN TA staff can continue to build on existing relationships, it is important to create new partnerships with other people that they may not feel familiar with so trust can be built and that everyone can maximise performance in the classroom.
Adapting To Changes
The start of a new school year often brings challenges with new students starting that have unique needs and challenges. One of the skills required for an SEN Teaching Assistant is to be adaptable and prepare for changes that could affect how you work with the students. Different students may have different needs so it is crucial that those new and experienced can adapt their attitudes and attributes to suit students with additional and different needs. Not everyone is perfect, and some mistakes may be made but by being able to adapt to changes quickly and effectively, you can overcome challenges and get into a rhythm quickly to make the most out of the skills you have and gain new ones along the way.
Small Achievements Can Lead To Big Things
You may not know this but one of the best things about returning to classroom after the summer break as an SEN TA is that you can create lots of goals and aims that can lead to short term and long term success. With changes comes new goals and opportunities and SEN TA staff should relish those challenges ahead of them. When SEN TA’s help students have a good day in school, it may seem like a minor achievement in the short term, but it can contribute to creating big victories and successes in the long term and help them reach their goals whilst meeting their needs. Using the summer break and the new school way is a good way to exceed expectations and create bright futures for SEN Teaching Assistants but also students with additional needs.
Returning to the classroom or starting out as an SEN Teaching Assistant in September after a long summer break can sometimes feel like a regular routine that you have known to do for a long time or feel like a fresh start into the unknown and you need to motivate yourself more to get into the routine. Whatever your circumstances, the new school year being an SEN Teaching Assistant allows the opportunity to develop renewed motivation for the academic year ahead, getting yourself prepared for the long term, developing new collaborations and relationships with students and other staff, being able to adapt to changes and challenges ahead and making sure you can make small achievements that can lead to bigger victories in the future.
From all of us at Inspire EHC, we hope you have a great start to the new school year!!