Q: What is your role?
A: In my day to day role as a Teaching Assistant at Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, I support our pupils in lessons and deliver a targeted phonics intervention. You’ll mainly find me in the English Department, which is my favourite subject, but I do enjoy working across the school in all subject areas.

Q: You were identified for Team Talks by your colleagues. Why is this work important to you?
A: Being inclusive to all students is important to me because I believe that when students feel included and understood, they are more likely to engage in their learning and develop confidence in their own abilities.

“When students feel included and understood, they are more likely to engage in their learning and build confidence.”

Q: What motivates you to keep pushing this work forward?
A: I’m motivated by seeing pupils grow in confidence and ability. Knowing my support makes learning accessible keeps me looking for new ways to keep students motivated. This creates a positive impact by boosting progress, and we have a strong team environment where everyone feels supported and valued.

Q: What has shaped your approach? What have you learned along the way?
A: Ongoing collaboration and support within our team and the wider school community is invaluable. Building strong relationships with pupils and meeting them where they are is key. Along the way I’ve learned the importance of patience, adaptability and supporting individual needs so that students can make progress.

“Building strong relationships and meeting pupils where they are is the first step in helping them progress.”

Q: Which MET value connects most strongly to your work and why?
A: Work Together is important to me, because without a strong team my job would be much harder.

Q: What advice would you give to colleagues interested in similar work?
A: Stick with the students. With warmth and consistency they do come round.

Q: Any final reflections?
A: Thank you to whoever nominated me. I’d also like to thank my team, my manager Kirsty King and our SENCO Claire Ashley for their constant support and encouragement.

Thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your work with us in this Team Talk.

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