Portsmouth’s teaching assistant charter set to launch at jobs fair
An event to find Portsmouth’s top teaching assistants for schools and academies will launch a charter designed to retain them.
The Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair on Thursday 1 May 2025 from 10am – 2pm at Central Library will showcase employment and training opportunities in education.
The teaching assistant charter has been created using feedback from a survey and focus group. Teaching assistants shared their views which helped shape the charter into themed areas.
Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:
“After the success of dedicated jobs fairs and taster sessions for recruiting staff in primary and secondary schools, we now need to tackle retention.
“While there are national challenges around retaining staff in education, we must respond on a local level by working together with different partners. The charter is a first step and sets out a series of principles, developed in conjunction with school staff.”
Teach Portsmouth has successfully recruited 18 school staff since launching these events. Others have started training with the Community Learning Service, completing functional skills in maths and English.
Hannah Chalmers, recruitment adviser at Thinking Schools Academy Trust joined teaching assistants and a head teacher to develop the charter. Thinking Schools Academy Trust has six schools in the city and are exhibiting at the fair in May. Hannah said:
“The teaching assistant charter is based on what staff want when it comes to working in education.
“I was part of the focus group that developed the charter. It was clear that attendees wanted their voices heard. The charter allows schools the freedom to adopt initiatives that will improve staff retention, ensuring those affected by the charter feel valued.”
An action plan has been developed alongside the charter, using seven different themes that came from the survey. These themes include access to accredited training, being recognised and career development opportunities.
Using these themes, specific initiatives have been identified within the action plan to support retention.
Examples include rewarding and recognising staff through the Teach Portsmouth Awards, developing an online training directory and sharing best practice with schools.
Nisha Chacko, a teaching assistant at St Edmund’s Catholic School said:
“I am proud to work as a teaching assistant in Portsmouth supporting pupils in my school. I was involved in the creation of the charter. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools who sign up to make a difference.
“I love my job and believe this charter will help schools recruit and retain the very best professionals in the city.”
Councillor Nick Dorrington will co-sign the charter at an official unveiling at the Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair.
For more information about the event and to get your ticket, visit www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/TA.