Course overview

Applications for our February 2027 cohort are open. Apply now.

Our Leading Professional Development for Teaching Assistants programme follows a train-the-trainer approach, which means it will equip you as the trainer with the know-how and resources to deliver evidence-informed training sessions to your school’s teaching assistants and learning support staff.

Length: From Spring until Summer 2027, with scheduled flexibility within this period for you to deliver your six training sessions to your teaching assistants.
Delivery: Online.
Cost: £795 + VAT.
Support: Take part in a one-day conference, receive the resources for your six training sessions, and join a expert-facilitated clinic for tailored support after delivering your second session.

We know that, in many classrooms, teaching assistants play an essential part in supporting pupil learning. Despite their vital role, it can be hard to find high-quality, context-based professional development for these staff.

This programme equips you to deliver evidence-informed training designed to develop your teaching assistants' knowledge of how pupils learn and effective classroom strategies they can use to support pupils. It will help maximise the impact of their work and contribute to improve pupil outcomes.

What you’ll learn

This programme aims to grow your expertise in delivering professional development, while making an impact at your school through the sessions you deliver.

Learning from our experts, you will develop strong mental models for how to adapt and deliver great professional development in your context.

You will explore effective classroom strategies based on what is known about how pupils learn. The resources for the six sessions dig into the science of learning, covering:

Working memory
Pupil attention
Giving instructions
Effective questioning
Checking for understanding
Giving effective feedback

Note: programme content is subject to change.

How you’ll learn

This programme is designed to flexibly suit your busy schedule. You will:

Attend a one-day conference, delivered online for your convenience.
Deliver the six training sessions according to your own schedule.
Engage in an implementation support clinic, which takes place online after you have delivered your second training session. Here, our expert facilitators are on hand to help you with any questions or thoughts raised by your first two sessions, reflect on what's working well, and identify any barriers to delivering the programme in your school. You will also have time to prepare and practise for delivering session three, which focuses on giving instructions.

Am I eligible?

This programme is for teachers and school leaders in mainstream primary or secondary schools, in roles well-positioned to deliver training for teaching assistants and learning support staff.

Example roles include:

Senior leaders
SENCOs
Those with responsibility for staff development, such as Heads of Teaching and Learning or Heads of Professional Development.

How much does it cost?

This programme follows a train-the-trainer approach, which means it will equip you as the trainer (participant) with the know-how and resources to deliver evidence-informed training sessions to your school’s teaching assistants and learning support staff.

The cost of this programme is £795 +VAT per participant. This cost includes the resources you need for six ready-to-deliver sessions for your teaching assistants. These also become yours to keep and use again in the future.

Please make sure you have budget holder approval when applying for this programme.

Why should I train with Ambition?

When you join this programme, you partner with us to effectively support pupils, particularly those who find learning the hardest.

As the largest lead provider of the Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualifications in England, we work with 1 in 9 teachers and leaders across state schools.

That’s how we know that school context is important. So, because you know your school best, this programme empowers you to tailor, schedule and deliver the training according to your own school’s needs.

Benefits for you

This programme focuses on equipping you with the know-how and resources to deliver high-quality professional development for teaching assistants in your school. You’ll get:

Evidence-informed learning about designing and delivering great professional development.
Effective strategies for tackling the classroom challenges faced by teaching assistants.
Six expertly designed training sessions to adapt and deliver to your school’s teaching assistants. These sessions become yours to keep and use again in the future.

Benefits for your school or trust

Using a train-the-trainer approach, the programme is designed to have school-wide impact. The programme aims to:

Contribute to improving outcomes for pupils, particularly those who find learning the hardest.
Support teaching assistants to use evidence-informed teaching strategies in the classroom.
Foster a sense of community and shared understanding among teaching assistants, centred on tackling the classroom challenges they encounter.
Empower you to adapt the training to your school’s unique context.

How do I apply?

Our application process in seven simple steps:

Step 1: On this programme page for Leading Professional Development for Teaching Assistants.
Click ‘Apply now’.

Step 2: Set up your MyAmbition account (5 minutes)
Create an account with your name, email address and password. Confirm your email to activate your account. Note: If you have previously participated in one of our programmes you can login to your existing account.

Step 3: Complete your application (10 minutes)
Log in to MyAmbition, fill in your personal and professional details, and answer the application questions.

Step 4: Submit your application
Review your answers and click ‘Submit’.

Step 5: Application in review
We will review your application and contact you if we need more information.

Step 6: Place offered
If your application is successful, we will send you an offer by email.

Step 7: Place accepted
Accept your offer on MyAmbition to secure your place.