Bracknell

A group of teaching assistants from Bracknell Forest Borough Council's schools are celebrating success in national qualifications.

Some eleven Bracknell teaching assistants gained Higher Level Teaching Assistant status while a further 27 passed NVQ Level 3 Teaching Assistant or Administration qualifications.

Tony Eccleston, Director of Education, Children's Services and Libraries presented each of them with a certificate to mark their achievement last week (September 7).

Higher Level Teaching Assistant status is similar to a quality accreditation and is given to teaching assistants who demonstrate their work meets the highest standards set by the Teaching and Development Agency.

To achieve it the Bracknell teaching assistants were assessed againts criteria including professional values and practice, knowledge and understanding, teaching and learning activities.

Each candidate had to complete a portfolio of work and be interviewd by an assessor.

The NVQ students were also assessed as they worked in their schools and on a portfolio of their work.

Tony Eccleston said: "Well done to all the successful teaching assistants who have put in a good deal of hard work to achieve these qualifications.

"The skills and knowledge they have gained make them a huge asset to our schools.

"Their support for our teachers is invaluable and I hope their success will inspire them to continue learning and developing their skills."

There are no mandatory qualifications for teaching assistants but all those working in Bracknell Council's schools are encouraged to undertake professional training towards a formal qualification. Grants are available for some courses.

Any teaching assistant who wants to find more about the qualifications they can take should contact Susan Alcock on 01344 354087, email: susan.alcock@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Teaching assistant roles are advertised on the Council's website at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/jobs

The successful students are:

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Clare Leahy, College Hall Pupil Referral Unit, HLTA

Carolyn Smith, Holly Spring Junior School, HLTA

Kay Fawkes, St Michael's CE Primary School, Sandhurst, HLTA

Charlotte Moore, St Michael's CE Primary School, Sandhurst, HLTA

Judith Sturgeon, College Town Infant School, HLTA

Stephanie Weber, Cranbourne Primary School, HLTA

Ann Burdett, Whitegrove Primary School, HLTA

Rosemary Wood, Whitegrove Primary School, HLTA

Heather McClumpha, Cranbourne Primary School, HLTA

Diane Owens, College Town Infant School, HLTA

Samantha Ben-Galia, Cranbourne Primary School, HLTA

NVQ Level 3 Teaching Assistant

Tamsin Quantrell, Whitegrove Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Narrinder Berg, St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Lorraine Clark, Sandy Lane Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Julie Daley, Sandy Lane Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Sylvia Ewart, Crown Wood Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Tracy Kirkwood, Crown Wood Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Alison Ledermann, Crown Wood Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Susan Jackson, Crown Wood Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Lynn Molyneux, Whitegrove Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Alison O'Reilly, Kennel Lane School, NVQ L3 Teachng Assistant

Samantha O'Connor, Kennel Lane School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Maxine Hellier, Kennel Lane School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Clare Coombs, Kennel Lane School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Joanne Bishop, Kennel Lane School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

David Brown, Kennel Lane School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Margaret Champion, Kennel Lane School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Lynne Dooner, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Sarah Miles, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Susie Court, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Lesley Spiller, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Cindy Henn, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Catrin Powell, Uplands Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

Natasha Bye, Whitegrove Primary School, NVQ L3 Teaching Assistant

NVQ Level 3 Administration

Liz Best, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Administration

Mary Earle, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Administration

Sue Woodhouse, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Administration

Sheila Mellors, Easthampstead Park School, NVQ L3 Administration

Bracknell Forest Borough Council