Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence

There has been a noted growth in the number of teaching assistants (TAs) in mainstream schools (DfE, 2013a). Research is inconclusive about their efficacy at changing outcomes for children (Alborz et al 2009; Blatchford et al, 2009) and has proposed more training for TAs (Russell et al, 2005). Gene...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Higgins, Helen J., Gulliford, Anthea
Format: Article
Published: Taylor and Francis 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3260/
_version_ 1848790988809568256
author Higgins, Helen J.
Gulliford, Anthea
author_facet Higgins, Helen J.
Gulliford, Anthea
author_sort Higgins, Helen J.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description There has been a noted growth in the number of teaching assistants (TAs) in mainstream schools (DfE, 2013a). Research is inconclusive about their efficacy at changing outcomes for children (Alborz et al 2009; Blatchford et al, 2009) and has proposed more training for TAs (Russell et al, 2005). Generic training models have suggested that enhancing self-efficacy in turn improves performance. This exploratory study investigated factors that may influence TAs’ sense of self-efficacy and its susceptibility to influence in training. Following two modes of mode of school-based training by Educational Psychologists (EPs) data were collected from 14 mainstream secondary school TAs using focus groups. A thematic analysis noted themes regarding self-efficacy, aligned with Bandura’s (1977) sources of information, outcome expectations and whole school support and norms. Review of the data is likely to be able to guide potential trainers to coach consult strategies which are self-efficacy supportive and which address contextual factors including the perceived status of TAs in schools.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T18:21:22Z
format Article
id nottingham-3260
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T18:21:22Z
publishDate 2014
publisher Taylor and Francis
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-32602020-05-04T20:16:51Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3260/ Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence Higgins, Helen J. Gulliford, Anthea There has been a noted growth in the number of teaching assistants (TAs) in mainstream schools (DfE, 2013a). Research is inconclusive about their efficacy at changing outcomes for children (Alborz et al 2009; Blatchford et al, 2009) and has proposed more training for TAs (Russell et al, 2005). Generic training models have suggested that enhancing self-efficacy in turn improves performance. This exploratory study investigated factors that may influence TAs’ sense of self-efficacy and its susceptibility to influence in training. Following two modes of mode of school-based training by Educational Psychologists (EPs) data were collected from 14 mainstream secondary school TAs using focus groups. A thematic analysis noted themes regarding self-efficacy, aligned with Bandura’s (1977) sources of information, outcome expectations and whole school support and norms. Review of the data is likely to be able to guide potential trainers to coach consult strategies which are self-efficacy supportive and which address contextual factors including the perceived status of TAs in schools. Taylor and Francis 2014 Article PeerReviewed Higgins, Helen J. and Gulliford, Anthea (2014) Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence. Educational Psychology in Practice, 30 (2). pp. 120-138. ISSN 0266-7363 Teaching Assistant Self-efficacy Training Coach consult Role School Effectiveness http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02667363.2014.896250 doi:10.1080/02667363.2014.896250 doi:10.1080/02667363.2014.896250
spellingShingle Teaching Assistant Self-efficacy Training Coach consult Role School Effectiveness
Higgins, Helen J.
Gulliford, Anthea
Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence
title Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence
title_full Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence
title_fullStr Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence
title_full_unstemmed Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence
title_short Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence
title_sort understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence
topic Teaching Assistant Self-efficacy Training Coach consult Role School Effectiveness
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3260/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3260/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3260/