Wokingham

Some 28 Wokingham teaching assistants were celebrating last week after they became the first to gain the higher-level teaching assistant (HLTA) status in the Wokingham district.

HLTAs are teaching assistants who have developed their skills against a set of national professional standards set by the Training and Development Agency for Schools and they have undergone assessment to attain the HLTA status. Achieving HLTA status demonstrates to headteachers, teachers, governors and parents that teaching assistants can make a positive contribution to pupils’ learning and achievement.

Wokingham Teaching assistants with HLTA status work in schools alongside teachers providing support for teaching and learning activities. They may be working across the curriculum or working on specialist subjects such as information and communication technology, music or helping those pupils with special needs. They are a key group in central government’s drive to raise standards in schools and to reduce teacher workload.

The assessment process is a rigorous one. To achieve the status, candidates are required to demonstrate they have sufficient knowledge and understanding to help pupils make progress with their learning. They have also been developed to support smooth progression to qualified teacher status if teaching assistants wish to become a teacher.

The teaching assistants from Wokingham district’s schools were presented with their certificates by David Hawthorne, corporate head of children’s services (education), at a celebration held on July 11. David said: “It is important that we recognise the achievements of these teaching assistants who have put in a lot of hard work so they can make an even more valuable contribution to improving standards in schools. I was delighted to be able to celebrate their success with them and present them with certificates for their achievements.”

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “Achieving the HLTA status is a celebration of the vital contribution teaching assistants make to the quality of teaching and learning in our schools. I would like to extend my congratulations to them all.”

Wokingham District Council