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"The confidence boost and professional development I have gained as an HLTA has enabled me to be able to take on more important roles within the school"

HLTA Graduate

Who is it for?

Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) Status is designed for Teaching Assistants who have some experience working in a school and have led a whole class with no teacher present on at least two occasions. 

All applicants must have:


HLTA Needs Analysis

If you are not sure if HLTA is for you, you may find it useful to refer to our HLTA Needs Analysis document. You won’t need to submit this as part of any application, it is purely for your own use in understanding what standards an HLTA typically demonstrates.

Key Information

Dates and venue

Face-to-Face

We are currently recruiting for two Face-to-Face groups in Essex. The  dates and venues are:

Billericay, The Billericay School, CM12 9LH

  • Preparation day 1: 4th July

  • Preparation day 2: 1st October

Harlow, Address TBC

  • Preparation day 1: 26th September
  • Preparation day 2: 6th November

Online groups

Individuals from Essex, Thurrock and Southend are also eligible to apply for Essex CC funding for the BPN national online cohorts. These run on a rolling basis throughout the academic year.

What you need to know:

  • The Face-to-Face groups are not exclusive to Essex schools, anyone can apply for this option, but only schools in Essex, Thurrock or Southend are eligible for the fully funded option

  • The costs and general outline of the course are the same as those promoted on our HLTA webpage

How is it delivered?

  • The two day Face-to-Face preparation course explains the HLTA standards and the HLTA assessment process and deep dives into how to put together the required portfolio of evidence. Guidance is provided on completing the required written tasks and explains the purpose and the set-up of the 2-hour assessment appointment.
  • Between days 1 and 2, you will engage in online activities to check your understanding.
  • The group returns for a Face-to-Face day 2 after approximately 5-6 working weeks to review progress and receive formative feedback on the tasks written so far. Further guidance and support is provided for the assessment appointment.
  • Your assessor will contact you to arrange the assessment appointment. The assessment will take place 4-12 weeks after the day 2 event. At least 10 days before the agreed date of the meeting, you will email your final written tasks to the assessor and upload your documents which support your written evidence to a secure e-portfolio. Assessment will be carried out remotely.

Assessment

The status is gained through an assessment of written tasks, a portfolio of evidence and interviews. You are not observed in class - we are currently only carrying out remote assessments until further notice.

In order to be accepted onto HLTA, prospective candidates must secure support from their Headteacher to:

  • Confirm they consider you to be suitable to undertake the HLTA status.
  • Confirm that you, the applicant, have undertaken whole class teaching with no teacher present on at least 2 occasions.
  • Confirms they have seen documentary evidence that you, the applicant, hold a level 2 qualification in English/literacy.
  • Confirms they have seen documentary evidence that you, the applicant, hold a level 2 qualification in Maths/numeracy.

Further details will be sent once your application to the programme has been processed.

Applications for these groups are open now and we encourage early applications to avoid disappointment as places and funding are limited.To apply click here.

When you apply, you must select ‘Billericay TSA’ from the drop down menu when asked ‘Did one of our delivery partners recommend the qualification to you?’. This will let us know that you are interested in the Face-to-Face option.

As part of the application, you will be asked to provide a Headteacher’s declaration to confirm their support.

Our standard declaration form is not applicable if you or your school are wishing to apply for Essex County Council funding. Therefore, you should use this declaration form, that can be downloaded here.

Within this declaration form your Headteacher will be required to respond to the following:

Please sign below to confirm that you agree with the following statements:

  1.  ‘I am aware of the total cost of preparation and assessment. The school is prepared to pay and this application is not subject to Essex County Council funding. We will not be seeking Essex CC funding.’

  2.  ‘I am aware of the total cost of preparation and assessment. We will be seeking Essex CC funding and understand that we must make a separate application to Essex CC for this funding, through a link that BPN will provide, however, the school is prepared to pay if funding through Essex CC is not secured.’

  3.  ‘This application is subject to receipt of funding from Essex County Council funding. I understand that the school must make a separate application to Essex CC for this funding, through a link that BPN will provide.’

  4. If the candidate is paying for the course themselves, please tick here.

Therefore, you will need to consider whether your application is subject to funding.

  • If the Headteacher states a. or b. above, we will process your application and if eligible and a space is available, we will add you to the group.
  • If the Headteacher states c. above, we will hold your application in a queue, on a first come first served basis.
We will then process the application, if and when funding is confirmed.

  • If you are self-funding, you will not be eligible to claim funding from Essex County Council therefore if this box is ticked, we will process your application and if eligible and a space is available, we will add you to the group.

How to apply

A signed headteacher declaration form must be uploaded as part of your online application. Applicants applying for the Essex County Council funded places, can download the form here.
Apply now