Unsung Heroes: The Role of Teaching Assistants and Classroom Assistants in Keeping Schools Functioning During Lockdown

This report is based on a survey of 9055 teaching assistants and classroom assistants working in primary, secondary and special schools, and early years and pupil referral unit settings in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The survey was conducted by UCL Institute of Education between 20th January and 5th February 2021, while schools were under lockdown in all parts of the UK, with access only for vulnerable children or children of key and critical workers. In this report we use the term teaching assistant and classroom assistant (TA/CAs) to refer to all support staff in pupil and classroom support roles.