How teachers in cash-strapped schools can cope without teaching assistants is among the topical issues being explored at a TES event starting in London today.

Kate Aspin, senior lecturer in education at Huddersfield University, will lead a seminar entitled “No TA? Don’t panic!”, which will explore how, as austerity measures begin to bite, schools may begin to view teaching assistants more as a luxury than a necessity.

Ms Aspin’s seminar is one of 48 taking place at the TES Resources Show, which runs on 9-10 December at the Business Design Centre in Islington, north London. Another is a workshop on the “helicopter technique” - an approach to storytelling in which teachers write down pupils’ stories and get the class to act them out.

For senior leaders there are seminars on whole-school transformation. Sir Mark Grundy, executive principal of Shireland Collegiate Academy in the West Midlands, will explain how his school went from special measures to being rated as outstanding by Ofsted in the same year.

The main focus for many visitors to the show will be finding new resources. More than 180 exhibitors are due to demonstrate their wares, from education company Pearson to the Dogs Trust.

The TES Resources Show is free to attend, with seminars costing #163;14.40. For more details, visit www.tes.co.ukresourceslondon

SOME OF THE 48 SEMINARS

Friday 9 December

12.30pm, Children who can speak, but don’t. Strategies for supporting pupils who are reluctant to speak at school.

2pm, The helicopter technique. Storytelling.

2pm, From special measures to outstanding in one leap. Shireland Collegiate Academy.

Saturday 10 December

11am, Using nature’s resources to stretch your budget. A practical workshop.

2pm, No TA? Don’t panic! Coping with a large class on your own.

3.30pm, Inspire, lead and manage? A framework for managers in schools and colleges.