The role of teaching assistants (TAs) is fundamental to the success of our schools
They provide essential support to teachers and students, ensuring that every learner, regardless of their needs, can thrive in the classroom.
However, over recent years, feedback has highlighted significant challenges faced by TAs, ranging from workload management to recognition and career progression.
In response, we conducted a comprehensive survey to better understand these challenges and to work towards meaningful improvements in TA retention and support across Portsmouth schools.
Following a review of the survey findings by the PEP Strategic Board, we are excited to announce the next step in this journey—the co-production of a Teaching Assistant Charter.
This charter will be a collaborative document, created with input from teaching assistants, headteachers, and HR leads.
Its purpose is to establish a shared set of values and commitments that schools can optionally adopt to enhance the working conditions and overall experience of TAs. Alongside using this as a tool to retain and recruit staff.
Why a teaching assistant charter?
The feedback we received through the survey made it clear that TAs need more than just incremental changes. They deserve a structured framework that supports their professional growth, ensures their wellbeing, and acknowledges the critical role they play in student success.
The Teaching Assistant Charter will be designed to address these needs, drawing directly from the themes identified in the survey findings.
The key themes that will shape the charter include:
- Pay and benefits: Ensuring fair and transparent pay and benefits that reflect the expanding roles of TAs. While challenging, we will review and discuss how best to incorporate this into the charter sensitively.
- Valuing and recognising TAs: Creating a culture where TAs feel appreciated for their contributions to school life.
- Training and professional development: Providing clear career development opportunities and ongoing training to enhance skills.
- Wellbeing: Prioritising the mental health and wellbeing of TAs within the school environment.
- Career progression: Establishing pathways for career advancement, with opportunities for leadership and specialisation.
- Communication: Fostering open and transparent communication between TAs, teachers, and school leadership.
- Resources and support: Ensuring that TAs have access to the necessary resources and support to perform their roles effectively.
- Workload management: Regularly assessing and managing TA workloads to prevent burnout and ensure a balanced work-life dynamic.
Shaping the charter
Teach Portsmouth’s work to develop a teaching assistant charter to support retention efforts began in December 2024. A draft charter was developed at a co-production session with teaching assistants, HR leads and a headteacher. During the session, the group used seven commitment themes drawn from feedback collected via a survey that was completed by 179 teaching assistants.
The charter was then circulated to key stakeholder groups for feedback, including members of the co-production group, schools and multi-academy trusts. A final version of the charter was shared with the PEP Strategic Board in February 2025 for further feedback.
The development of the charter is part of a series of actions to help address teaching assistant retention in the city which will be implemented over the next 24 months to ensure support staff feel valued and recognised.
Teaching Assistant Charter
DownloadLaunching the charter
The teaching assistant charter will be unveiled at the Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair on Thursday 1 May 2025, attended by council leaders who will co-sign the charter. A group of schools have been approached to trial implementing the charter before more are contacted. This will allow Teach Portsmouth to monitor the roll out and gain additional feedback.
Alongside the charter, a new visual identity and toolkit is being developed for schools who sign up to the charter. This can be used in their recruitment marketing which sends a strong message to both current and incoming teaching assistants.
Online training directory
As part of the wider action plan for supporting teaching assistant retention, an online training directory of free and paid for training courses will be published on the Portsmouth Education Partnership website. This online resource will include a mixture of courses that can be accessed for free by schools alongside those who have a specific traded service with Portsmouth City Council.
The resource aims to support teaching assistants’ professional development. The directory is set to launch in May with further updates planned every six months. This will be promoted in a future edition of the Portsmouth Education Partnership bulletin.
Milestones
- May 2024 – Survey launched and completed by 179 teaching assistants
- December 2024 – Co-production session held with teaching assistants and senior leaders
- January 2025 – Draft charter shared with stakeholders for feedback
- February 2025 – Final charter to be approved by the PEP Strategic Board
- April 2025 – Develop identity and toolkit for schools who sign up to charter to promote their involvement
- May 2025 – Launch charter at Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair
- May 2025 – Launch online training directory
If you have any questions about the charter, please email [email protected].