Congratulations to Josie Wilkinson, winner of the West Midlands regional award for Outstanding HLTA of the Year. Josie works at the Featherstone Primary School, Birmingham.

Josie is described by the Headteacher, Edris Gaibee, as a vibrant and active member of the whole school team. She plans and delivers high quality P.E. lessons and has promoted an active, healthy lifestyle, instilling self-confidence in children who showed no initial interest in participating in sport.

Josie was instrumental in helping the school achieve the award for Outstanding Change4Life Sports Club delivery at the SGO National Summit Awards 2014. She also played a proactive and lead role in securing the school’s recent national Leading Aspect Award.

Josie tells us that gaining HLTA has had a huge impact on her professional development and she has used all the experience to further drive sporting activities and promote health and well-being within the school and wider community. Furthermore, she delivers effective interventions and leads whole class teaching in English, maths, art and DT.

Josie provides differentiated intervention groups tailored to their learning styles. Resources are adapted and lots of motivation and praise is given. Children enjoy their interventions as their work is celebrated and strategies discussed with parents, class teachers and the Senior Management Team. She gives additional support for disadvantaged pupils and their overall progress has increased so now children are working towards more challenging targets.

Josie shows complete dedication and works with the NHS, ASDA Walmart and a local horticultural business to continue embedding health and wellbeing across the whole school to meet the school’s priorities and to improve outcomes.

As a role model, Josie shows commitment, dedication and integrity. She is always willing to help others and goes the extra mile over and above her role. Josie provides PPA and short term cover across KS1 and adult learners seek her advice to develop their own learning and skills. Josie is highly respected in school and by wider community professionals.

In summary Mr Gaibee states ‘Her enthusiasm and dedication in making a difference for the children is quite simply outstanding!’.

Congratulations to Jenny Boyce, winner of the South West regional award for Outstanding HLTA of the Year. Jenny works at the The Wey Valley School, Dorset.

Jenny is described by the school Principal, Sara Adams, as a quite remarkable individual who has that rare quality in a HTLA of consistently showing and delivering excellence rarely seen in others.

‘She makes a real difference to the lives of our most vulnerable students and gives up most weekends of her time freely be it Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, tall ships races, camping trips or school trips to our sister school in Nepal. The staff, students and parents of the school hold her in the highest esteem.’ 

Jenny has high aspirations for all students and can teach in a wide range of activities to a very high standard. She has ferocious energy which translates to the students and a true you can do it attitude; she has inspired many students especially those who have extreme difficulties to push themselves to succeed both in and out of the class room. She has a very outgoing and confident personality and she has the ability to light up any room. Her work ethic and high standards, including leading on various fundraising events, have made her a very well respected and invaluable member of staff throughout the whole school.

Jenny has progressed learning from Year 7 to Year 11 working with a wide range of students to raise attainment and whole school happiness. She works with the sole purpose to allow the student to feel safe, supported and inspired to do their very best.

Over the last 12 years Jenny has loved to learn and become qualified to support her role within the PE and Outdoor Learning Department. From being First aid trained she went on further so she could teach First Aid to students and just recently has attended a highly advanced course in wilderness medicine. She has become a very experienced HLTA and often advises teaching and non-teaching staff to help them improve.

In summary, Sara Adams states, ‘She is an amazing woman and truly deserves the recognition that this award brings.’

Well done to both regional winners for your success!