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When I was taken on as an HLTA at Silvan First School in September, it was clear that the Head and governors had a very clear vision for its future.
The school has a varied catchment area with five percent of its pupils at the third highest level of deprivation nationally. But they wanted to organise the staffing structure to best support the Every Child Matters agenda and so decided to employ two HLTAs in clearly defined roles: to lead playtime opportunities, teach music during PPA time, teach Ruth Miskin literacy and give help where necessary to children with emotional behaviour difficulties. I was employed, in particular, to lead the nurture group, 'Sparkles' which provides special time for children with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.
These children have typically grown up in circumstances of stress and adversity, sufficiently severe as to have limited or disturbed the nurturing process of the earliest years. Some of the aims of the group are to improve the self-esteem and sense of self-worth of children, to help them explore their feelings and to make them feel nurtured, cherished and important. In turn this will help improve their relationship skills and teach them that talking and listening are both important.
We provide an environment which is comfortable and non-threatening. One of the most important events is the snack time when we will eat around the table as a 'family', sharing and interacting with one another, conversing and using good manners. The children will also be able to play with adult attention and learn to share and take turns, but most of all they will learn to be appreciated, listened to and experience the values of being in a caring environment.
Setting up the nurture group has been a very exciting time for me. I am currently attending nurture group training with the Nurture Group Network on an accredited course. In leading the nurture group, I liaise directly with the SENCO and class teachers on the progress of the children and plan the daily sessions using my own ideas. I have also been able to assist in the design and zoning of the nurture room and am fund-raising to buy more equipment. I am able to make decisions based on appropriate behaviour management structures within the school and make suggestions on the deployment of my own time when children need extra support.
I feel a great sense of achievement in attaining this position as, a decade ago, I was a single parent living on benefits. Through hard work, determination and the support of my family, I have been able to develop a career of my own and provide a hugely beneficial service to vulnerable children.
Janie Sharland
Silvan First School, Poole
Approx 360 pupils