SKTM: Primary TAs - Teaching Maths With Confidence

Join the Waitlist for 2025/26

This programme is designed for primary teaching assistants in KS1 and KS2 who would like to develop their specialist knowledge for teaching maths. This is particularly relevant for new TAs or TAs that have not received maths-specific training.

What will you learn?

This project is designed to improve the subject knowledge and pedagogical knowledge for all practitioners teaching and supporting the learning of primary maths.

During this programme participants will:

• Enhance their own maths subject knowledge with an emphasis on the key concepts, the representations and the language used to help pupils develop the mathematical areas covered (e.g. number sense, additive reasoning, multiplicative reasoning, fractions);

• Identify common misconceptions and ways of addressing these to help pupils master important concepts;

• Identify pedagogical approaches that will enhance teaching and learning and know how to use these to support pupils in understanding maths;

• Develop an understanding of key principles and approaches associated with teaching for mastery;

• Explore and increase their use of a range of pedagogical approaches consistent with teaching for mastery;

• Increase their confidence in supporting pupils in mastering mathematical concepts.

In addition, it is intended that pupils supported by the TAs will positively engage with maths that challenges them, use appropriate representations to support their mathematical work and be able to explain their maths and their mathematical thinking using appropriate language.

What is involved?

The key structures of number sense, additive reasoning, multiplicative reasoning and fractions will be explored across four days of face to face training.

In addition to this, senior leaders and TAs will be invited to an online induction session prior to the face to face training where key messages regarding the programme will be shared.

Teaching Assistants will also be required to attend one online session at the end of the programme for final evaluation and review.

Participants and their schools must be able to commit to the full programme. In addition, participants will be required to:

• Keep a reflective journal that captures the impact of the work undertaken throughout the programme and back in school;

• Join and make regular contributions to an online community;

• Complete online evaluations requested by the NCETM;

• Undertake a range of gap tasks both individually and with learners, to deepen their thinking about the learning of mathematics. It is asked that school leaders support their staff to complete this work;

• Reflect on gap tasks within the online community, with colleagues at face to face sessions and with colleagues in school.

  
  

Please give careful consideration to the work involved when selecting participants from your school for this programme.

What is the cost?

The SKTM Primary Teaching Assistants Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.