LEADING local supply teaching agency First Class Supply has helped to fund over 70 supply teachers in the region to complete their ‘Team Teach’ training, a specialist programme which teaches approved de-escalation and restraining techniques required in schools across the UK.
The course, which can prove to be expensive for some delegates, has been highly subsidised by First Class Supply, enabling supply teachers and teaching assistants in the area to be able to afford the training and benefit from the essential mental and physical skills taught.
By November 2019, First Class Supply aims to have key members of their team trained so they are qualified to be able to run their own accredited courses, which will enable even more supply teachers and teaching assistants in the North East to gain the qualification through the support of the agency.
Stephanie Boulton, director at First Class Supply, said: “We can’t stress how important Team Teach is, to schools as well as teachers and pupils. The course focuses on teaching de-escalation techniques as well as spotting the signs of potential situations that may arise.
“We have helped to fund many of our supply teachers and teaching assistants so far in order to increase the number of teachers who have this skill, making the classroom a less stressful environment for pupils who require additional support in schools.”
Eric Yates, principal Team Teach trainer at Inter-Face, said: “Team-Teach is a UK wide training scheme which has been run by licensed provider Inter-Face since 1996, and I have been involved with Team-Teach training since its launch.
“Through running Team-Teach learning sessions, I help to provide tools to support pupils with challenging behaviours, which aids in safeguarding the pupils themselves as well as teachers. Both physical techniques and ways to de-escalate situations are taught which is vital to keeping schools safe environments.”