National Teaching Assistants’ Day - 15th September 17 Posted on 6 September 2017 by Rebecca Taylor - Kent-Teach Advisor in General According to the National Teaching Assistants’ Day site, 96% of Headteachers believe Teaching Assistants (TAs) add value to their school and 244,000 are working in schools across the UK which has increased from 71,800 since 2002.National Teaching Assistants’ Day is on 15th September and aims to raise awareness of the valuable contribution TAs make to the education and support of UK school children. This campaign was created by teaching staff who want to encourage schools across the UK to join in the celebrations and recognise TAs’ valuable contribution. Here’s a list of why Teaching Assistants’ are wonderful assets to your team:1) Research has shown that when TAs are used in a focussed way to deliver structured, high quality support to small groups or individual students, pupils make additional two to four months’ progress.2) Teaching Assistants are appreciated by parents - and they can act as a bridge between home and school.3) They are an extra pair of eyes in the classroom.4) They support teachers' effectiveness.5) They can help pupils develop independent study skills and manage their own learning.As part of this campaign, every year there’s a chance to win the TA of the Year competition so if you have someone in mind for this then now is your chance to put them forward and nominate. Share with us in the comments box below and nominate them here via the National Teaching Assistants’ Day website; you have until 5pm on Monday 11th September 2017 so get nominating! Happy National Teaching Assistants’ Day for the 15th! How are you celebrating the day in your school?Sources: http://www.nationalteachingassistantsday.co.uk/ Check out our 10 Top Tips to a Successful NQT Induction.