In order to continue to improve the quality of training and development available to support staff, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) has commissioned an impact assessment of the Support Work in Schools (SWiS) qualification. The SWiS qualification is a flexible, tailored qualification for support staff from a range of roles which is currently funded by the TDA.

The objective of the research is to assess how closely the qualification meets the needs of learners and schools, and to identify areas for improvement. It will also provide the TDA with key feedback on its funding, communications and training strategies.

Pye Tait Limited, an independent research company, is carrying out this study and will soon be contacting schools where SWiS learners are based to ask them to encourage their learners to fill in the online survey, as well as inviting a line manager from the school and member of the school leadership team to complete their own survey. The survey will be open until the end of June 2008.

If your school is participating in the SWiS qualification and you would like to feedback your views, you can gain access to the surveys by email.

Please include your job title and a brief description of your relation to or experience of the SWiS qualification in your email.