Collaboration Between Teachers and Special Needs Assistants in Mainstream Primary Schools
Keywords:
special needs assistant, mainstream, role of teacher, role of SNA, communication, collaborationAbstract
The provision of large numbers of special needs assistants to support pupils
in mainstream classes has become a trend in Irish education. In the absence
of research in Ireland into the deployment of such additional personnel, the
author discusses research carried out in Britain. She concludes that effective
work practices must begin with clarification of the complementary roles of
the teacher and the assistant and must develop through ongoing
communication and collaboration.
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