An Extra Pair of Hands? Evaluation of the Classroom Assistants Initiative says that classroom assistants encourage children's good work practices and enable teachers to concentrate on teaching and lesson planning. Their presence has allowed pupils to be offered a wider range of learning experiences including more interaction with adults, increased practical activities, games and reinforcement of learning.
There are currently 2,600 assistants in classrooms around Scotland. The Scottish Council for Research in Education, commissioned by the Scottish Executive Education Department, is almost 18 months into its assessment of classroom assistants with the aim of exploring the association between their presence and pupils' attainment.
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