Just over nine years ago now, something called PPA time was introduced into UK schools. This, in short, allows teachers to spend a minimum of 10% of their scheduled classroom teaching time away from lessons to be given time to plan, prepare and assess (PPA). The goal, initially, was to give teachers time in school to be able to carry out tasks which they were previously finding themselves carrying out at home. A teacher should never have to do all of their planning and preparation outside of school time and back in 2005, this was finally recognized!
Of course, when a teacher is on PPA time, the class still needs teaching and common solutions to this include utilising either regular supply teachers or to bring in external help in the form of a company who offers PPA cover. In particular, we’ve heard great things about Bradford based Junior Jam who offer a whole host of packages to schools in the area. Wherever you’re based, however, utilising external PPA cover options makes perfect sense and offers great opportunities for the children as well as giving the teacher time to plan, prepare and assess.
Whilst PPA cover was originally introduced as a way to give teachers time within the school setting to plan, mark and carry out other such tasks, as far as we’re concerned, the children benefit from this time just as much! Going back to Junior Jam, mentioned above, you’ll see that they offer PPA cover which includes:
- Dance & Drama
- Martial Arts
- Sports
- Computing
- Music
- Photography
- Animation
- Film Making
- Drumming
- Modern Foreign Languages
- & More
As you can see from the above, PPA cover in this form allows children to experience something completely different to that which they cover in normal lessons and gives them opportunities to develop a whole range of new skills. As far as we’re concerned, this benefits children no end and is a huge plus point of PPA time. Whilst teachers need their planning time, it’s equally as important that children learn new skills and have their own time doing something a little bit different.
PPA time may well be intended to benefit teachers, however if utilised in the best possible way, it’s a way for children’s learning to be enhanced and for everyone to benefit from a couple of hours a week away from a traditional classroom setting!
The post PPA Time – Why It’s As Important For The Kids As The Teacher appeared first on Seasonscom | Tips for Students and Teachers.