Towards a typology for conceptualizing the roles of teaching assistants

This paper examines the evolution of the role of Teaching Assistant (TA) in particular since Estelle Morris's seminal speech in 2001. It argues that, while the TA role is only one among many support staff roles in schools, it suffers from lack of precise definition. The paper uses research and literature to create a typology of TA roles with a view to clarifying the employment and training of TAs. It notes the shifts in government thinking on this contentious issue.