Friday, 27th September, is National Teaching Assistant’s Day, recognising TAs’ invaluable work today and everyday, in support of our young people, our teachers and schools. We are especially grateful to those who are supporting Holocaust teaching and learning in our classrooms, schools and communities, ensuring all learners have a full entitlement to quality Holocaust education.
Today we recognise the contribution TAs make in our Beacon Schools network across the country, and we share some of their top tips, strategies and engagement in their respective settings. We are especially honoured to share a very special tribute by Dominic Townsend, to a much-missed, much-admired TA, friend and colleague, Jackie Tutin:
Jackie Tutin, Nottingham University Samworth Academy
It is with great sadness that Jackie Tutin passed away in August 2024 and this piece is dedicated to her legacy and memory and, by kind permission of her family, shared nationally in partnership with University College London.
“In our world of education, longevity and stability are often words scarcely echoed in the echelons of our profession, but our beloved Jackie Tutin represented that and so much more during her career at Nottingham University Samworth Academy.
Jackie epitomised what it means to be a teaching assistant, devoted to her cause and shaping and transforming the lives of so many young people who passed through our doors.
The support I received from Jackie during my decade at NUSA has been immeasurable and the influence she had upon my History and Holocaust education at school was tremendous, not calculated by the multitude of pupils within the classroom but by the impact she had upon our most vulnerable pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.
Jackie’s love of education and social justice was immense and this was portrayed fondly through one particular pupil whose love of history and Holocaust education was sparked into life by Jackie, not only supporting him within the classroom but empowering him to share his love of History outside of it, alongside having an incredible impact upon his life.
Jackie enabled the pupils to have a voice, to share their thoughts and feelings and instilled them with the confidence to succeed and learn. Teaching assistants like Jackie are a scarce commodity within education today and we are all so grateful to have graced our corridors alongside her.
Jackie’s impact has been tremendous at her beloved NUSA alongside the colleagues and fellow teaching assistants she called a true friend. Our collective love of the past and learning meant so much to me and to the pupils within my classroom and I shall always be thankful for every ounce of her heart and soul that she put into education.”
Domonic Townsend
Lead Teacher, Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA)
Clare Hegarty, E-ACT Venturers’ Academy
Clare has supported Beacon School Lead Teacher Laura Morgan with the delivery of Holocaust education over the past few years as a teaching assistant at E-ACT Venturers’ Academy – the first state funded all age specialist provision in Bristol for children with a primary diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and who have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).
In Clare’s TA experience:
“I would say that the most important way to support our students is to be actively engaged in the learning myself which fosters a positive learning environment.
I ensure I know the students I am supporting well and am well attuned to their emotional responses, providing a safe and supportive space if and when needed.
I often support students one-on-one to ensure they are able to connect to the material they are learning and any misconceptions can be addressed.
I have also helped students engage in creative projects, such as art or writing, as part of our growing cross-curricular Holocaust education, supporting teachers to deliver meaningful and impactful lessons that are accessible to all.”
Jodie Ellis, Highfields School
Jodie Ellis (front, left) and Jemma Tappenden (back, left)
“I have a wonderful TA, who not only keeps me smiling, but has been an invaluable support to me over the years. She has played a central role in the #HtFMeUs project – you will have seen her virtually at both the launch meeting and online Q&A with Angela and Rob. She is also photographed in our HMD local newspaper report in the Express and Star. She has assisted me with the running of History Book Club since its launch in 2016, giving up her own time after school to support students with their reading. She has read every book we have read, and as we used the club to launch #HtFMeUs in school she has been part of the project since the beginning, supporting students with their research, ideas and discussions. She also spent many hours with me preparing the ‘thought tree’ in reception for HMD reflections.
She is a keen historian, despite this not being her chosen degree. She has supported me on school visits to Berlin and Krakow. She spent hours roaming the streets of Krakow with me as planned and developed our own walking tour of the area to incorporate pre-war Jewish experiences. I cannot put into words how supportive and valuable she has been to me. She has even completed all of the UCL online CPD sessions for her own interests and to support students in school.
She is marvellous!“
Jemma Tappenden
Lead Teacher, Highfields School
Here, Jodie reflects on her contribution to quality provision for and experience of Holocaust Teaching and learning:
“My support of the Holocaust Education carried out in Highfields has evolved and takes on many forms. It has included Y9-11 in class curriculum support, KS3 History book club, school trips to Berlin/Krakow (Jemma & I wandered around Podgorze one evening and designed our own walking tour), and most recently #HtFMeUs – which is just amazing. Alongside this has been much personal reading and the invaluable UCL CPD sessions.
Holocaust education is valuable and an area of great personal interest, and I am fortunate to work in a department that is supportive, includes, invests and values my contribution.
I think my top tip for TAs would be the importance and value of personal investment. Read the books, watch the documentaries, do the CPD. The more subject specific knowledge you have, the more support you can offer to both your History department and the students – passion for a subject is contagious, as Jemma evidences every single year.
Seeing the understanding, growth and change in students as a result of their Holocaust Education is always a pleasure.”
