Institute of Education London

Deployment and impact of support staff in schools (DISS) project

Summary
DISS was designed to obtain up to date and reliable data on the deployment and characteristics of support staff and the impact of support staff on pupil outcomes and teacher workloads.
The study covered schools in England and Wales. It involved three large scale biennial waves of surveys (Strand 1), followed by a multi method and multi informant approach (Strand 2). It provided detailed baseline data by which to assess change and progress over time. It sought to devise a categorization of support staff and to understand the processes in schools which lead to the effective use of support staff.
For dissemination of the DISS project and news of follow up work conducted by members of the research team, please visit our new website http://www.schoolsupportstaff.net/

Findings
A press release on the findings of the DISS Project - as reported widely in the media and at a Keynote Symposium at the BERA Conference (September 2009) - is available here: Teaching assistants boost teachers' productivity but not pupils' progress

References
Journal papers and articles
Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Martin, C., Russell, A. and Webster, R. (in press)  'The impact of support staff on pupils' positive approaches to learning' and their academic progress.'

Rubie-Davies, C., Blatchford, P., Webster, R., Koutsoubou, M. and Bassett, P. (in preparation)  'Enhancing student learning?: A comparison of teacher and teaching assistant interactions with pupils.'

Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P. and Webster, R. (2009)  'The effect of support staff on pupil engagement and individual attention.'  British Educational Research Journal, 35(5) pp. 661-686

Webster, R., Russell, A., Bassett, P., Blatchford, P., Brown, P. and Martin, C. (2009)  'Preparedness: improving teachers' ability to work with TAs and cover supervisors.' Curriculum Briefing, 8(1) pp. 24-29

Webster, R., Russell, A. and Blatchford, P. (2009)  'A help or a hindrance?' School Leadership Today, 1(5) pp. 59-62

Webster, R., Russell, A. and Blatchford, P. (2009)  'A help or a hindrance?' Every Child Journal, 1(2) pp. 64-67
 
DCSF research reports
Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Martin, C., Russell, A. and Webster, R. (2009) The Deployment and Impact of Support Staff project: Research brief (DCSF-RB148). London: Department for Children, Schools and Families 

Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Koutsoubou, M., Martin, C., Russell, A. and Webster, R., with Rubie-Davies, C. (2009) The impact of support staff in schools. Results from the Deployment and Impact of Support Staff project. (Strand 2 Wave 2) (DCSF-RR148). London: Department for Children, Schools and Families 

Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Martin, C., Russell, A. and Webster, R. (2009) The deployment and impact of support staff in schools: Characteristics, working conditions, job satisfaction and impact of workforce remodelling. Report on findings from the three national questionnaire surveys of schools, support staff and teachers. (Strand 1 Waves 1-3 – 2004, 2006 and 2008) (DCSF-RR154). London: Department for Children, Schools and Families 

Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Martin, C., Russell, A. and Webster, R., with Babayigit, S. and Haywood, N. (2008) The deployment and impact of support staff in schools and the impact of the National Agreement: Results from Strand 2 Wave 1 – 2005/06 (DCSF-RR027). London: Department for Children, Schools and Families 

Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Martin, C., Russell, A. and Webster, R. (2007) The deployment and impact of support staff in schools: Report on findings from the second national questionnaire survey of schools, support staff and teachers (Strand 1 Wave 2 – 2006) (DCSF-RR005). London: Department for Children, Schools and Families 

Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Martin, C., Russell, A., Webster, R. and Haywood, N. (2006) The deployment and impact of support staff in schools: Report on findings from a national questionnaire survey of schools, support staff and teachers (Strand 1 Wave 1 – 2004) (DfES-RR776). London: Department for Education and Skills