Education support is a crucial part of the student learning experience. From tutoring to open use computer labs, these services can help students with their academic goals.
However, there are differences in how schools provide and define academic support. This article looks at some of these nuances and how they can impact the student learning experience.
Educational Support Officer
This is a support role that works in school environments to help students who need some extra care. These can be physical disabilities, behavioural issues or emotional problems. Often education support workers will work with small groups of children rather than a whole classroom.
They might be asked to organise resources, equipment and teaching materials; create lesson plans and assist teachers with delivering instruction. They can also help with planning excursions and incursions. Administrative duties like photocopying and managing student records might also be on the agenda.
A key aspect of this job is to supervise students, monitor their behaviour and record data for teacher reports. Then they can provide feedback on student progress, give encouragement and guidance for overcoming obstacles. They can liaise with education management and the support team (teaching assistants, school counsellors or academic advisors) to discuss issues related to students
Instructional Support Staff
Instructional support staff is composed of paraprofessionals who work closely with students. Also referred to as aides, paraeducators and teacher assistants, they are responsible for classroom tasks such as monitoring student behavior, handing out supplies and grading papers. They may be specialized in areas such as PE, music or language teaching and have professional experience.
Specialized instructional support personnel provide social, emotional and mental health prevention, intervention and follow-up services to students to remove barriers to learning. This includes school counselors, psychologists and nurses, but also occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and library media specialists.
SISPs often come to the district from diverse educational backgrounds and with differing levels of preparation. Therefore, schools need to clearly articulate their roles and expectations and be prepared to adapt induction supports based on the functions that an individual SISP will perform in your system. This also includes providing specialized training for SISPs, as well as teachers, that addresses the unique challenges they face in their classrooms.
School Support Staff
Often referred to as Teaching Assistants (TA’s) or LSA’s, school support staff aren’t qualified teachers but work alongside them and assist with students. They may carry out specific tasks set by the teacher or help students with additional needs such as behavioural issues.
Some school support roles include ICT technicians who monitor all software within the school and ensure there aren’t any problems. Exam officers (also known as invigilators) oversee any examinations taking place and are on hand to solve any technical questions that arise. Attendance officers are responsible for monitoring attendance across the school and addressing any pupils who have low attendance. Site managers or caretakers look after any maintenance issues and are also in charge of health and safety.
Studies show that out-of-school factors such as medical, social and emotional distress can seriously affect a student’s ability to learn. School support staff can help address these issues before they reach the headteacher’s office.
Administrative Support Staff
Administrative support professionals complete various clerical and office duties within the workplace. They utilize skills like customer service, data entry, and organizational skills to complete daily tasks. However, administrative support specialists differ from executive administrators, who generally earn a higher annual salary.
Managing administrative staff helps supervisors focus on core business operations and client relationships. Whether answering phones, running reports, or abating concerns, administrative support staff can be critical to the success of a company.
Strong communication skills are crucial for administrative support specialists to have. Often, they need to relay information between departments, clients, and management. They also use these skills when interacting with employees. Additionally, they need to be able to solve problems that arise during their workflow, such as determining the best way to handle a project or obtain office supplies. This type of decision-making may require them to consult other personnel for guidance. Typically, this position requires a high school diploma or equivalent experience.