Springboard 5: Catch-up programme for children in Year 5

Role of the teaching assistant

The teaching assistant supporting the Springboard 5 teacher will attend the main lesson each week to observe what has been taught and the mathematical vocabulary introduced. In order to gauge the progress the children are making, s/he will be able to listen to the children's responses to the teacher's questions and help them as they complete their work. Where schools receive funding to support Springboard 5, this should allow not only for the assistant to observe the lesson but also to spend time afterwards discussing the plan for the follow-up session with the teacher, mapping out exactly what is to be done and how to approach it.

Although the plans provided are detailed, the assistant and teacher will need to make adjustments in the light of the children's progress in the lead lesson. It will also be important for the teacher to receive information about the progress made by the children in the follow-up session. A good way to do this is for the assistant to make brief entries on the feedback sheet at the end of the session each week so that vital information is not lost.