We’re proud to announce our regional winners of the 2016 Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) of the Year awards.

The winners in the South West, West Midlands and East of England regions - where Best Practice Network is the assessment provider for the HLTA programme - will now go to the national awards ceremony in London in November when the national winner will be chosen from nine regional finalists.

Many congratulations and best of luck to them all as we look forward to the national ceremony.

South West winner

The winner of the South West region is Alison Carpentier of Glenfrome Primary School in Eastville, Bristol. Alison teaches all classes from reception to Year 6. Headteacher Inger O’Callaghan says: "She leads a team of fifteen teaching assistants and models excellent practice and high expectations leading to improved outcomes for children. Alison lives and breathes our core values of aspiration, fairness, courage, respect and joy, and expects the pupils to do the same.

"Alison always treats all colleagues, parents and children with respect. She works tirelessly for the school, and has achieved a range of outcomes for Glenfrome, including leading our efforts to achieve our third Eco-Schools Green Flag award. She organises the pupil Eco Council, liaises with our business partners DAS to take the children on trips to complete an Eco Audit of their offices, and also to other places to find out more about environmental issues. Alison is also the staff link on our PTA committee."

East of England winner

The East of England region winner is Cindy McLeish of King’s Lynn Academy in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Assistant principal Elanor Westbury says that Cindy "goes the extra mile to ensure that students exceed all expectations, even their own."

"Cindy was a teaching assistant when we became an academy and has relished every new opportunity that has come her way since. She has been selected to become a form tutor and was promoted to HLTA in the English faculty where she has been an incredible support to the Head of Faculty and the entire team.

"She has learned the ins and outs of three GCSE specifications in the last five years to ensure that she is able to support all students to achieve their very best. In addition, when the role of Assistant Senco became available Cindy applied and was successful, she has worked in the team through challenging times of changing codes of practice and education, health and care plans and keeps herself up to date. Cindy is not afraid of challenge and rises each and every time something new comes along."

West Midlands winner

Lianne Tetsell of The Bridge School in Telford and Wrekin is the West Midlands region winner. Teacher Kate Parton says: "Lianne has worked as a HLTA in a Year 1 and Year 2 class for pupils with severe and complex learning needs for two and a half terms this year. She has fulfilled teaching responsibilities for this class during a period of long term absence, with the support of colleagues within the key stage and senior colleagues in school.

"She has effectively led a team of five teaching assistants and an apprentice. She has been an excellent role model to her team, who she has developed throughout the year. Lianne has high expectations and has ensured that her team are consistently following strategies to support learning and teaching. Lianne has worked at a consistently outstanding level throughout fulfilling this role, and in the many years in which she has supported teaching and learning within school."

The award, now in its fourth year, is organised 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.