COBIS Diploma for International Teaching Assistants (DITA)

The course contains 6 units made up of 5 mandatory units and 1 optional unit.

Looking at the role of the TA, understanding the role in an International context, supporting and leading learning activities, behaviour for learning, promoting a positive attitude to learning and raising self-esteem. Communication and professional relationships.

Supporting the teacher in gathering useful information that can be used to support future learning, quality questioning, differentiation, building on children’s learning and understanding learning styles. Providing quality feedback to the teacher.

Understanding the safeguarding policy of the setting, understanding the challenges of safeguarding children in an International setting, actively promoting safeguarding within practice.

Understanding the difficulties children with EAL may experience, strategies to support children with EAL in the classroom with an emphasis on resources, speaking and listening.

Understanding the curriculum and programme of study for your setting, supporting literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, understanding children’s development to support numeracy skills and engaging children’s interest.

Covering lessons for a whole class, ideal for Teaching Assistants who also work as Cover Supervisors. Understanding and following planning, engaging the interest and engagement of all the children, monitoring children’s responses and supporting children whilst balancing the needs of the whole class. Using Assessment for Learning Skills and gathering information to feedback to the teacher.

Understanding the specific needs of the children you work with, looking for strategies to high quality support, focusing on what a child can achieve, utilising strengths to support weaknesses, engaging children, monitoring progress. Understand what is meant by inclusion and inclusive practice.

Understanding why children may underperform, removing barriers, supporting children working towards targets, identifying and developing gifted and talented children, promoting independence, the mentoring process.