The fourth annual Higher Level Teaching Assistant of the Year awards were crowned with a national ceremony in Westminster this week.

Lincolnshire Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) Sue Brown - the East Midlands region winner - was awarded the Outstanding HLTA of the Year title. She was presented with a trophy and a framed certificate by MP Andrew Mitchell.

A delighted Sue said: “It was very apparent after meeting the regional winners that we are a very diverse bunch and to have made the final at all was a great honour. I'm very proud to be an HLTA and in my opinion the work we do in school is invaluable. It has been so lovely for us all to receive recognition for the hard work we do in a job we all love so much.”

Outstanding HLTA of the Year national winner Sue Brown of Malcolm Sargent School, Stamford, with HNAP chairman Professor Richard Rose (left) and Andrew Mitchell MP.

Dean Boyce (left), Best Practice Network’s West Midlands regional manager with regional winners Alison Carpentier (South West), Cindy McLeish (East) and Lianne Tetsell (West Midlands), and Andrew Mitchell MP.

Everyone’s a winner: national winner Sue Brown (centre) with all the regional winners.

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The Outstanding HLTA of the Year Award is aimed at teaching assistants who have gained HLTA status and who go above and beyond the call of duty to demonstrate the vital role that HLTAs play within schools.

The awards are organised by the HLTA National Assessment Partnership (HNAP), an organisation made up of the four regional assessment providers that work together to manage and quality assure the assessment of standards for HLTAs across England. Best Practice Network is responsible for the South West, West Midlands and the East of England regions.

Sue attended the national ceremony with the eight other regional winners from across England, including our regional winners Alison Carpentier of Glenfrome Primary School, Bristol (South West), Lianne Tetsell of The Bridge School, Telford (West Midlands) and Cindy McLeish of King’s Lynn Academy (East of England), who all received framed certificates to mark their achievements.

Professor Richard Rose, chairman of HNAP, said: “Sue had to meet a range of exacting criteria set by the judging panel, including demonstrating high aspirations for each pupil, a firm belief in pupils' abilities and a strong commitment to pupils' progress, as well as a continuing commitment to her own professional learning and development.

“Without exception, the work of the candidates shortlisted for this award was praised by their professional colleagues who recognise the outstanding contribution which HLTAs make to their schools and to the lives of children, families and teachers.”

Visit our HLTA page or contact our team to find out more about gaining HLTA status.