Last Updated on: 9th April 2024, 06:50 pm
To combat the growing shortage of school support staff, Yorkshire’s education recruitment firm Principal Resourcing has rolled out its ‘Get Into The Classroom‘ initiative, welcoming applications for its latest cohort.
With current statistics from March 2024 indicating a vacancy in one out of every five teaching assistant roles in the UK, the challenge has become more pronounced, particularly in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where the vacancy rate is at 19%.
Principal Resourcing is tackling this issue head-on by offering gratis training programmes aimed at nurturing teaching assistants or cover supervisors, focusing on individuals from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire who may lack formal education credentials but possess applicable transferable skills.
Becky Scott, associated with Principal Resourcing, highlighted her transition from healthcare to education: “The transferable skills that I realised I had from being in healthcare were person-centred care, being nurturing, and being able to build positive, trusting relationships.”
This initiative seeks to supplement the school support workforce by endowing candidates with bespoke classroom skills, thereby addressing the acute need for more teaching assistants and cover supervisors.
Michelle Grassby, at the helm of Principal Resourcing, outlined the persistent demand for teaching professionals: “The need for qualified teachers in schools continues to be an issue, especially in certain subjects and in certain geographical areas.”
“While many teaching posts do get filled from schools’ own recruitment, the problems lie when sickness occurs and then certain subject specialists are not available. Maths, science and MFL continue to be a shortage area. Sickness can occur in any subject area and we, a supply agency, need to ensure we have a wide range of subject specialists available to cover in these cases.”
Principal Resourcing has two in-house trainers who collectively have 35 years of classroom experience. Training can be tailored to roles in SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) settings, to roles in primary or secondary education, or even to roles with specific schools.
To partake, individuals are required to engage in a minimum of ten hours of training, supplemented by homework and mentor guidance. Completing the programme integrates them into Principal Resourcing’s cadre of candidates available for school placements in Yorkshire and adjacent areas.
Kerry Holt, Principal Resourcing Candidate Development and Wellbeing Manager said: “There is a huge shortage in support staff for schools, especially for working 1-1 with individual students who have additional needs.
“Using the benefits of my 20 years plus experience in schools, I provide candidates with bespoke training in a wide range of subjects.They bring their skills, and I add to those skills, tooling them up for the classroom. This training provides schools with additional support staff and candidates with the real opportunity to enjoy a career in the classroom that they might not have thought possible.”
Those interested in helping to fill the labour shortage of teaching assistants should take a look at the ‘Get into the Classroom’ initiative. Enquiries submitted on Principal Resourcing’s website will be responded to within 24 hours.
