This free online teaching training course covers the fundamental values and roles of Learning Support Assistants (LSAs).

A Learning Support Assistant (LSA) usually works with students with special needs, communication obstacles or significant academic difficulties. This teacher training course introduces you to the abilities needed to assist others in solving their problems as an LSA, thus freeing up the resident instructor to focus on their teaching. We start by defining ‘learning support activities’ and examining the factors that shape the learning needs of students.

The course explains how to promote independent learning and supporting learning activities for gifted and talented pupils. We then establish the importance of a learning environment and working in small groups. Effective monitoring is a skill that must be developed if learners are to fully benefit from activities, particularly those of the ‘information gap’ and ‘group interactive’ types. We describe the purposes and techniques of monitoring to help you prepare for work in the classroom.

The following section is related to assessing progress, evaluating performance and observation. We then explain why feedback is valuable and describe ways to make it effective and constructive. We study ways to improve literacy and numeracy skills and encourage responsibility in pupils. We finally discuss effective lesson planning, learning resources and methods used to encourage early language development. Enrol now to learn how to support a single child, a group of kids or an entire class with special needs by enrolling in this LSA training course.