Case Study
Support Services at a large Secondary School on HLTAs
Gillian, Director of Support Services
Gillian says that the role support staff in supporting teaching and learning of is "absolutely crucial".
"We could not run many of our activities without the contribution from support staff, or offer our students the opportunities and experiences open to them", she said.
Wherever appropriate, staff are encouraged to achieve Higher Level Teaching Assistant status and are supported by the College throughout the process.
In the classroom, HLTAs, and those working towards the status, have helped teachers to support students in learning activities by observing and recording their achievements and implementing a range of learning strategies. They also support students in the use of ICT, help to prepare resources and maintain equipment as well as developing and implementing Individual Education Plans.
Teachers value the role of HLTAs and make best use of their expertise by encouraging them to give verbal and written feedback about students, ensuring that students who are not on track are quickly identified so that intervention strategies can be employed. Teachers make good use of their HLTAs specialist areas, by ensuring their expert knowledge and experience is used to support students.
The heads of department were delighted with the outcome of the projects and said that what had impressed them was the emergence of classroom leaders from TAs who had previously only had a supporting role in the classroom. They now had added confidence, challenge and job satisfaction as a result of the project and their work towards HLTA status."
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