Bracknell

A group of teaching assistants from Bracknell Forest Borough Council's schools are celebrating gaining their Higher Level Teaching Assistant status.

Some 17 Bracknell teaching assistants gained Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status and a further nine Teaching Assistants are expected to gain their status this term.

HLTA status is given to teaching assistants who demonstrate their work meets the teaching standards set by the Teaching and Development Agency.

Bob Welch, Chief Adviser, Learning and Achievement, presented each of them with a certificate to mark their achievement.

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

Each Bracknell candidate had to plan, deliver and evaluate lessons with whole classes, groups and individual pupils as well as completing a portfolio of work which evidenced how their work met the other standards.

They were also interviewed by an assessor, before successfully gaining their HLTA status.

Bob Welch said: "Well done to all the successful teaching assistants who have put in a good deal of hard work to achieve this.

"Working towards this status and gaining these skills and knowledge make them a real asset to learners in the borough’s schools."

Alan Kendall, Executive Member for Education, said: "I would like to congratulate these teaching assistants on their success.

"As a teacher myself, I know their support 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

The successful students were:

Lyn Arpino: Harmans Water

Lisa Nutsford: Harmans Water

Julie Gillis: Harmans Water

Anna Crowley: St Michael's Sandhurst

Helen McComish : St Michael's Sandhurst

Susan Brooks: Ascot Heath Junior

Clare Groom: Garth Hill College

Susan Wilson: Garth Hill College

Juianne Cahill: Meadow Vale

Sally Watson: Meadow Vale

Irene Richardson: Holly Spring Infant

Lorraine Clark; Sandy Lane

Lisa Sandy; College town Infant

Angela Nicholas: Broadmoor

Claudia Matthews-Eve: Adastron House

Helen Jones: Fox Hill

Susan Maving: St Michael's, Easthampstead

Bracknell Forest Borough Council