HLTA Case Study: Lucy Jones

My diverse new responsibilities mean I have a much broader teaching remit and have recently taught the whole of Year 3 the recorder! I have worked as a teaching assistant for 16 years. Before gaining HLTA I supported across the primary age range focusing on year groups with specific targets. My role in school was to help raise standards in numeracy and literacy and the majority of my time was spent implementing the many numeracy and literacy strategies brought in by the government e.g. ALS, FLS and Maths Springboard Programmes.

Since gaining HLTA status my timetable has become extremely varied. I am fortunate in that I have a very supportive head teacher and senior management team who have given me ample opportunity to expand my working remit. I can be teaching Nursery Children in the morning and Year Six in the afternoon. I mark all the work I teach and have my own PPA time Monday morning. This gives me the opportunity to look to the week ahead and get the resources ready for the different subjects I teach.

Music became part of the Performing Arts Curriculum in September 2005 and since then I have been the Music Coordinator. More children now have the opportunity to play a musical instrument taught by the many Peripatetic Teachers that come into school. I have taught the whole of Year 3 the recorder, which has been both exciting and challenging! My current target is to have all children reading music and playing an instrument by the time they leave Year 6.

I have recently implemented a new music scheme and have liaised with and booked Theatre Companies to come into school and perform to the whole school and the Performing Arts Service to show the varied Music available to schools in Coventry.

I have now completed a school year as an HLTA and have thoroughly enjoyed my new role and its responsibilities.

Lucy Jones
Clifford Bridge Primary School, Coventry Approx 250 pupils