HLTA of the Year 2018: Time to nominate your unsung school hero

HLTA of the Year 2018: Time to nominate your unsung school hero

Schools across the south west, west midlands and eastern England are being urged to nominate an unsung colleague for the 2018 Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) of the Year awards.

A panel of judges put together by Best Practice Network, which runs HLTA preparation and assessment across these regions, will award the regional title to the nominee who best meets a range of exacting criteria. This includes demonstrating high aspirations for each pupil, showing a firm belief in pupils' abilities and a strong commitment to pupils' progress, as well as a commitment to their own professional learning and development.

The winners of each region will then go onto the national awards ceremony in Westminster in November where they and winners from six other regions will vie for the national HLTA of the Year 2018 title.

Nominations are now open until Friday 8 June 2018.

Liam Donnison, managing director of Best Practice Network, says: “HLTAs play a vital role in supporting children’s learning and development but very often they are the unsung heroes in our schools. These awards are all about raising the profile of teaching assistants who have gained HLTA status and who go above and beyond their remit.”

The award, now in its sixth year, is run by the HLTA National Assessment Partnership (HNAP), an organisation made up of the four regional assessment providers, including Best Practice Network, that work together to manage and quality assure the assessment of standards for HLTAs across England. Last year’s south west region winner, Rebecca Ward of Courtlands Special School Academy in Plymouth, went on to win the national title.

Nomination forms are available by contacting Best Practice Network at alisonpack@bestpracticenet.co.uk.