The first meeting of the Teaching Assistant network was successfully launched with 18 people attending. It covered national updates with a local delivery slant. The items included ELS, revised HLTA standards and changes to the secondary curriculum - please see presentation notes below for further content.
Teaching Assistants Network Meeting Presentation 25 February 2008 (517kb 12 page pdf)
The next meeting will be on Monday 28th April 2008 at the Development and Training Centre (DTC) 4.15 to 5.45 with meetings held half termly. Also covered was information about Teachers TV - see attachments below for useful programmes.
Teachers.TV for Support Staff - July 2007 (185kb 4 page pdf)
Support Staff Conference Flyer (81kb 6 page pdf)
Teaching Assistant and Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) Network Summer 2008
These cover :
- national and local updates
- sharing good practice
- training inputs
- gifted and talented
- 14-19
Teaching Assistant and HLTA Online Training Needs Analysis Tool
Access to this online tool will take place at drop in sessions at the DTC throughout the year. Literacy Matters staff and myself will be available to guide people through the process and offer professional development advice. Applicants will leave with an analysis of their needs which may prove useful in professional discussions with relevant line managers.
There will also be access to the HLTA TNA online tool for teaching assistants who may wish to see how their current work matches to the new revised HLTA standards and give guidance as to how they may need to develop before applying to the HLTA programme. We will run 2 Training Needs Analysis sessions each term.
Role of the HLTA
HLTAs work in the school alongside the teacher, providing valuable support for teaching and learning activities. You could be working right across the curriculum, acting as a specialist assistant for a specific subject or department or helping to plan lessons and develop support materials.
The TDA commissioned the NFER (National Foundation for Educational Research) to research the deployment and impact of HLTAs in 2006. NFER HLTA Report 2007 (946kb 132 page pdf).
The findings showed that HLTAs were frequently involved in:
- planning and preparing lessons
- managing pupil's behaviour
- providing feedback on pupils achievement and preparing teaching resources
- organising and managing learning environments and resources
- 40% reported themselves as specialists in SEN
Impact of HLTas on:
- positive contribution they had on pupils’ performance
- supporting pupil learning for PPA time and taking whole classes
Perceptions and experience of HLTAs:
- greater use of higher level skills
- greater responsibility for supporting teaching and learning
- increased their self esteem and confidence
Becoming an HLTA
The Higher Level Teaching Assistant programme is available to school support staff in England, who have sought the support of their headteacher and line manager.
HLTA Promotion Leaflet (1209kb 8 page pdf).
There are potentially four steps to achieving HLTA status, which are:
- applying for funding
- training
- preparation for assessment
- assessment
Qualifications HLTA Factsheet (321kb 14 page pdf)
Before you apply for funding from Bury Local Authority, it is worth reading through the 'Literacy and Numeracy requirements' guidance, as there are certain requirements you’ll need to meet in order to proceed to the preparation for assessment stage.
You should also refer to the New Standards Candidate Handbook (1625kb 100 page pdf) for more detailed information on the HLTA programme.
Professional Standards
These have been revised and are now in use for candidates going through assessment from January 2008. The professional standards for HLTAs set out exactly what is expected of teaching assistants who are working towards HLTA status. There are 31 standards, grouped under three headings:
- Professional values and practice
- Knowledge and understanding
- Teaching and learning activities
The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) has provided the Authority with a ring-fenced grant to fund Subject Focused training for Science and Mathematics in Secondary Schools.
Concordia Secondary Science (113kb 15 page pdf) and Maths (104kb 11 page pdf)
These courses are offered at no cost in association with Salford City Council, the lead Authority. Teaching Assistants and Technicians who wish to develop their skills and knowledge of the generic aspects of teaching and learning support may wish to apply. The 12 day courses also offer Secondary Teaching Assistants and Technicians the opportunity to further their knowledge and understanding of the secondary Science and Mathematics curriculum. Courses are running until May 2008. For further information please contact your school Strategy Manager. Applications to the Quality and Advisory Service 0161 253 5860 Fax 0161 253 5612 . The application form is to be found at the end of the Concordia document.
Primary 10 day literacy and numeracy training courses are also offered at no cost to Primary School Teaching Assistants and HLTAs, also in asssociation with Salford City Council, the lead Authority.
The application process for Higher Level Teaching Assistants is currently closed. The recruitment process will be repeated in late Spring/early Summer Term 2008.
For further information, please contact Children's Services Personnel at HLTA-Enquiries@bury.gov.uk.
Applications must be returned to:
Quality and Advisory Service
Athenaeum House
Market Street
Bury
BL9 0BN
Tel: 0161 253 5924/5860
Other useful information and websites
Support Staff Middle Managers Development Pack - Manager Support (295kb 30 page pdf)
This support staff middle managers pack was produced collaboratively by 15 Local Authorities in the North West. Its purpose is to provide support members of staff, other than teachers, who have been given new management responsibilities as part of their role. It is anticipated that this would be complemented with appropriate training. Included in the pack is:
- Model procedures for inducting new staff
- Coaching and mentoring guidance
- Performance Management materials
- Leadership skills questionnaire and self assessment tool
- Team building support materials eg role of a team leader and required skills
- Developing listening skills
- Principlesand practice of supporting colleagues
- Being involved in recruitment and retention of staff
Teaching Assistants Newsletter - November 2007 (163kb 2 page pdf)
To view career, training and development opportunities nationally, locally and within Bury Schools see the Bury Framework of Opportunities (345kb 3 page pdf)
Teachers' TV has programmes of interest to both HLTAs and TAs.
Coach Mentoring Framework (345kb 3 page pdf) produced by CUREE unpicks the different types of coaching and the difference between coaching and mentoring.
Training & Development Agency for Schools provides information on the TDA’s new role in training and support for TAs and School Support Staff, preparation for and assessment of the Higher Level Teaching Assistant Status and routes in teaching.
Qualifications & Curriculum Authority provides information on qualifications and the National qualifications framework.
Foundation Degree Forward provides information on Foundation Degrees.
For information on CACHE qualifications visit Council for Awards in Children's Care & Education.
Science Learning Centres provides information on courses for science technicians and those supporting the teaching & learning of science.
Every Child Matters Change for Children provides information on the changes to the way services for children are being implemented and information on the Common Core of Skills & Knowledge for the Children’s Workforce.
Children's Workforce Development Council provides information on training, qualifications, support and advice for those who work with children.
School Cove includes workshop presentations from the North West Support Staff Managers’ Conference held March 2007.
Get on at Work provides guidance on how to gain qualifications in English and Maths.
Affordable Housing Scheme
Bury has an Affordable Housing Scheme which is part of a Government initiative designed to allow individuals and families better access to housing and aid first time buyers in getting a foot on the housing ladder by providing low cost housing. Teachers can apply for this scheme after 6 months in post. To read more, look at this Affordable Housing Scheme document (33kb 2 page pdf).
Use these links to obtain further information about the Affordable Housing Scheme (42kb 1 page pdf) and a list of properties which are available through Affordable Housing (1065kb 1 page pdf).
