5 Post-Lockdown Tips for TLAN Teachers

Coming out of lockdown can be hard for learners with additional support needs (ASN). Here’s everything you can do to smooth the transition as a teacher!

Routine is important for children and adults with additional support needs. So the slightest disruption can make learning difficult. With the recent pandemic, education has been completely turned upside down, and teachers and their students must now navigate the road to recovery.

If you’re interested in working as a Teaching Learners with Additional Needs (TLACourseN) teacher, patience is key. Here are some tips to ensure post-lockdown success:

1. Have a period of recovery

For teachers returning to an ASN school or those returning to work experience, it’s important to allow for an adjustment period. As students come back to the classroom and adapt to the ‘new normal’, processes will need to be in place to support this.

Learning time may be dramatically cut for the first few weeks as everyone gets used to being back in a class environment. And any learned positive behaviours may need to be re-trained once again.

Working with a variety of different learners with additional support needs means understanding that each individual is different. Some may have been affected by the pandemic more than others, and some may be battling issues such as heightened mental illness or social anxiety.

2. Re-establish routines

Structure is absolutely necessary when you’re a TLAN teacher. Whether you’re in full-time work or doing PGCE training, having solid lesson plans, regular routines and a systematic approach is vital to performance in an ASN school.

But disruption can mean having to re-establish all of the rules, regulations and schedules again. During this time, take a step back from academic focus and work on the basics to ensure seamless teaching going forward.

Working with your pupils to build their self-confidence can be much more advantageous than jumping straight back in to previous achievement levels. Don’t set the bar too high, and allow students to catch up to where they were before.