2.3 Communication and Professional Relationships with Children, Young People and Adults

Teaching Assistants support classroom management and assist with general administration. They help manage pupil behaviour and support pupils’ health, safety and emotional/social development. Teaching assistants establish relationships with learners and help pupils to access the curriculum. They support the development and effectiveness of work teams, work with other professionals and liaise effectively with parents.

Children are social learners and it is crucial that all adults working with them need to model good communication through listening and speaking which will aid the development of the child’s friendships, confidence and self-esteem.

Unit 3.3.1 – How communication with children and young people differs across different age ranges and stages of development

Schools employ and have teaching assistants, to again, create the best possible learning environment for the pupils. As a teaching assistant I will work as part of a team working to make the pupils learning journey, a successful one. I will attend staff meetings and continue to develop my skills through in-house training and other relevant courses. I will maintain and contribute to school policies and procedures, and work in partnership with parents and carers on behalf of the school.

A teaching assistant plays an important role for the standards of behaviour expected in the classroom.

Body Language Positive body language is important, and if with young children it is best to come down to their level. Smile and use positive gestures like a ‘thumbs up’. Often I will have to remind the pupils of their behaviour, this can be done with a simple glance or folding of the arms.

It is essential to establish respectful and professional relationships with children and young people in the role of Teaching Assistant. There are certain strategies which enable such a valued and trusted relationship be established. A relationship in which a child trusts and respects their TA and feels comfortable in their company, allows the TA to offer a supportive and caring environment in which the child can learn and develop.

Communicate with children and young people in a way that is appropriate to the individual, using both conventional language and body language

In a role as a professional adult working with children you will need to remember that you need to be a positive role model for children,this means you will have to show them how to communicate and get along with others at all times through your own relationships and communications with other adults and children.It is very important for children to see adults behaving appropriately and proffesionally in schools.We build relationships with others daily in a diffrnt number of ways children will always respond positively to positive communication and realtionships they are more likely wanting to be in schools and to learn if they have good relationships and are supported by adults around them who get along with each other.

When working within a school environment you have to have effective communication and also show you have strong communication skills to convey to the other people within the environment that you are approachable. You need to make sure all the individuals feel valued and secure. However you also need to set clear ground rules for effective communication and this will develop a mutually effective relationship. The best forms of communication are as follows:

Communication with children and young people is very important. When a child is new to the setting you would want them to feel comfortable and safe in your

Communicate with children and young people in a way that is appropriate to the individual, using both conventional language and body language.

Effective communication, and respectful relationships are vital when talking with children, young people, and adults as they both allow accurate gathering of information and feelings and the subsequent passing along of any issues that may need to be followed up on.

When communicating with children, it is important to talk at their level while maintaining eye contact and use positive body language. We must give them time to understand and absorb what is being said to them. This will make the children feel respected and develop trust and thus they will feel confident to communicate with us. The child’s learning and development will benefit if the adults in their life can communicate effectively about them.

you have the child’s full attention and that they are listening to you. It also shows that what you are about to say is important.