Professional development for learning support assistants
Natspec has developed a set of materials to support in-house training for learning support assistants (LSAs) working with young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. LSAs play unique and important roles in learners’ FE journeys. Ensuring they are equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills will empower them to give learners every opportunity to grow and achieve.
Finding fit-for-purpose training materials for LSAs can be difficult. The complexity of the needs of learners, breadth of learning contexts and the time available for staff training all vary significantly across providers. We have therefore designed the materials in this resource so that you can tailor them to your context and for your learners and staff.
The resource is divided into three themes.
Theme one focuses on the LSA role in your setting. It covers how overarching values, principles and ways of thinking can positively affect practice and learner outcomes.
Theme two focuses on some of the learning challenges facing young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. You can use it to show how understanding these challenges enables LSAs to give effective support.
Theme three offers practical approaches and strategies to support the learning of young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.