The strategy has three objectives:
- to support schools as they develop new ways of training and deploying their support staff,
- to create a framework of standards and qualifications to enable schools to develop the potential of all support staff, and
- to extend training opportunities to meet the development needs of all support staff.
It's designed to provide a high-level direction for all SWDB partner organisations and networks, including local learning and skills councils and local authorities, who will use the document to set the context for their own planning and delivery. It builds on the priorities identified in the board's interim plan for 2005-06 Building the school team.
The strategy doesn't give detail about individual projects and programmes, but contains links to areas of the TDA website and partner websites that give more information about specific training and development opportunities and programmes.
During 2006 the TDA and SWDB partners will communicate the strategy's objectives to all stakeholders, including schools and support staff.
A professional development strategy for the children’s workforce in schools 2009-12 will be published by the TDA in the summer. The strategy replaces and builds on the existing strategies Continuing Professional Development: A Strategy for Teachers (2007-10) and A Skills Strategy for the Wider School Workforce 2006-09. It has been developed and supported by the TDA’s National Advisory Group (NAG).
