Disability conversations: The NCCD and education assistants in schools

This second season of the NCCD Portal podcast series focuses on how schools support students with either a diagnosed disability or an imputed disability, so they can be successful learners across different education settings reported in the NCCD.

In this episode, we discuss how teachers and education assistants (also known as teacher aides or learning support officers) can work together to support students with disability. We explore the day-to-day roles education assistants play in contributing to classroom achievements and look at ways they add value to a school’s NCCD team.

You’ll meet Leanne Hillman, a former teacher working on a project that’s looking into how education assistants and teachers can forge a more effective partnership for student success. Experienced education assistant Rochelle Miller then shares what that partnership involves – from case management to the daily tasks required to engage students and meet their needs – while middle school teacher Tamara Chesson outlines the benefits education assistants bring to the classroom.

Top five takeaways

Set clear roles and responsibilities between teachers and education assistants.
Use tools such as timetables, Google docs and a learning management system (LMS) to plan and collaborate – this will help build strong partnerships with and between education assistants and teachers.
Set up a process of ongoing review of classroom adjustments, where education assistants can share observations and feedback to support teachers in improving student learning outcomes.
Keep detailed notes about adjustments and modifications provided for a student. This will help deliver a whole-of-school approach to learning.
Explore the different ways education assistants can support the classroom teacher, including one-on-one support, group work and other types of intervention support. This will enable education assistants to collaborate effectively with teachers, and encourage diverse ways of working with students.

Discussion starters

How can teachers and education assistants work collaboratively in the classroom to support students with disability?
What tools can teachers and education assistants use to support the learning needs of students and provide targeted assistance?
How can teachers and education assistants ensure that communication is clear and effective?
What information do teachers and education assistants need to document to promote learner engagement and support the collection of data about adjustments?
How can teachers and education assistants give effective feedback to one another?