Support staff: performance management

You're not required to conduct formal appraisals for school support staff including teaching assistants (TAs), but it is good practice. Read guidance on how to manage this process, including appointing appraisers and handling underperformance.

Last reviewed on 22 December 2021
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 1504
Contents
  1. Formal performance management of support staff isn't a requirement
  2. Check whether any local requirements apply for support staff appraisal
  3. Decide who will appraise your support staff
  4. Handling underperformance: set clear expectations and rely on previous targets

Formal performance management of support staff isn't a requirement

However, it's considered good practice to have formal procedures in place. 

A DfE representative told us this. 

Formal performance management processes are useful for all staff

This is because they:

  • Give the employer and the employee a chance to discuss the employee's work
  • Allow the member of staff to raise any issues that may otherwise go unmentioned
  • Treat all members of staff equally by providing access to the same appraisal processes and opportunities

An adviser from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) gave us this advice.

Check whether any local requirements apply for support staff appraisal

The standards aren't statutory, but were agreed between local authorities and unions, so may apply in your school. If you're not sure, check with your local