The next step in the learning journey for international teaching assistants
New Advanced Learning Programme for 2026/27
Deepening Practice: Scaffolding Langauge and Learning through Play
Only 500 GBP per school for up to 25 teaching assistants for all three sessions
BOOK PLACES
THIS EXCEPTIONAL VALUE GUIDED LEARNING PROGRAMME WILL TAKE INTERNATIONAL EARLY YEARS TEACHING ASSISTANTS BEYOND THE BASICS INTO THE MORE COMPLEX MOMENT-BY-MOMENT DECISIONS ADULTS MAKE WITHIN PLAY WHEN WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
Over three engaging sessions throughout the first term of the 2026/27 academic year, teaching assistants will deepen their understanding of scaffolding in play - when to step in, when to step back and how to support learning without taking over. This is about refining practice and taking interactions to the next level. As always, I will bring the sessiins to life using photos, and videos, while also drawing on participants’ own reflections from their school settings, using their learning journals.
WHAT TO EXPECT
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A deeper focus on the TA's role in high-quality interactions in play.
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Practical strategies for recognising and responding to teachable moments.
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Strengthening understanding of how to scaffold without over-directing.
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Opportunities to reflect, practise and embed learning through learning logs, in-school gap tasks and feedback time
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Certification upon completion
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A natural progression for schools whose teaching assistants have already engaged with the Partners in Play Foundational 10 part Child Development course, but also accessible to those joining the programme for the first time.
Overview of Sessions
Session 1: Scaffolding Independence for Young Learners
Wednesday 9th September 2026 1500-16.30 Bangkok Time
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Supporting children to become confident, capable learners.
This session will explore:
- How to avoid over-supporting or stepping in too quickly
- Practical ways to scaffold problem-solving and persistence
- Using prompts, cues and modelling to move children forward without taking control
The focus will be on helping TAs develop the confidence to hold back when needed, and step in with precision when it matters most.
Session 2: Scaffolding Language in EAL Learners
Wednesday 7th October 2026 1500-16.30 Bangkok Time
Extending children’s communication, vocabulary and thinking through interaction.
This session will explore:
- Simple strategies to build vocabulary and support sentence development
- How to turn everyday moments in play into rich opportunities for language development
- How to use modelling, repetition and sentence expansion to move language forward
The emphasis will be on how to support back-and-forth interactions, even with limited English
Session 3: Scaffolding Play for Children with Additional Needs
Wednesday 11th November 2026 1500-16.30 Bangkok Time
Ensuring every child can access, engage in and benefit from play.
This session will explore:
- Engaging reluctant communicators
- Interacting with ‘own agenda’ children
- A model for teaching play skills without overwhelming the child
The focus will be on creating genuinely inclusive play experiences, where every child can participate and succeed.
About Partners in Play
Teaching Assistants make an invaluable contribution to children’s learning, yet they often lack access to the external professional development they deserve and are eager for. I’ve witnessed first-hand the extraordinary commitment of Teaching Assistants in South-East Asia, sacrificing evenings, weekends, and enduring long commutes just to attend my training events. This inspired me to create a more accessible, tailored, and impactful solution - one that goes beyond traditional one-off webinars that can overwhelm participants with too much information in a single session.
Partners in Play is an ongoing guided learning programme designed specifically for International Teaching Assistants and delivered online with me as facilitator. Throug live online sessions over the course of a year, participants will gradually build their knowledge of early childhood pedagogy in a way that is manageable and embedded in their everyday practice. These sessions provide a safe, collaborative space to revisit key concepts, reflect on practice and experiment with new ways of supporting learning in school.
Supporting Progress and Impact
To help school leaders track progress and ensure meaningful application, participants will have access to:
✔ Simple learning logs to support reflection and practical application.
✔ Gap tasks to reinforce learning within the school environment.
✔ Certification upon completion of each session.
More than just training, Partners in Play is a transformative professional learning experience - one that ignites passion, challenges perspectives, and equips Teaching Assistants with the skills and confidence to make a lasting impact on young learners.