We’re very proud to announce our regional winners of the 2019 Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) of the Year awards.

We’re very proud to announce our regional winners of the 2019 Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) of the Year awards.

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.

The winners in Best Practice Network’s regions will now go to the national awards ceremony in London in November when the national winner will be chosen from finalists from across the country.

Winner of the South West region is Sally McGauran of Keyham Barton Catholic Primary School in Plymouth.

Rachael Riley, Deputy Headteacher at Keyham Barton Catholic Primary School, said: “Sally is a fantastic member of staff who is always willing to go the extra mile for the children and the adults in our school family. She greets every day with a cheerful smile and an enthusiastic and positive attitude. No job is too big or too small for Sally: from greeting children every day with a high five, smile or a dance, to working late every night preparing resources and becoming a learning mentor – there is nothing she won’t do for our children and staff.”

East region winner is Claire Revans of Linton Infants School in Cambridge 

Kelly Harries, Headteacher of Linton Infants School, said: “Claire has fully committed to her role as HLTA and is a very valued member of the team. She has very high expectations of herself and others and is always looking for ways to develop her practice. She builds excellent relationships with the children, parents and colleagues and is incredibly flexible and able to step in at a moments notice – a real skill in a busy and sometimes unpredictable school environment!”

And the award in our West Midlands region goes to Jamie Hagan of The Martin Wilson School and Early Years Centre in Shrewsbury.

Christina Cubbin, Deputy Headteacher at The Martin Wilson School and Early Years Centre, said: “In her time with us, Jamie has gone from a volunteer to a first-rate HLTA, who is a real role model to her colleagues. Anything asked of her is done to the highest possible standard. At the heart of this is her permanently positive attitude for the school and towards the pupils. She takes time to get to know the pupils individually and they make good progress with her, both academically and emotionally. Because of the extremely positive relationships she forms with them, she works particularly well with our more challenging children, who like her, trust her and want to work with her.”

Dean Boyce, Director of CPD and Accreditation at Best Practice Network, says: “The award is aimed at teaching assistants who have gained HLTA status and who go above and beyond to demonstrate the vital role which HLTAs play within schools.

“All of the winners in our three regions 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. The award recognises the extremely valuable role HLTAs like Sally, Claire and Jamie play in children’s learning and they are very deserving finalists.”