Roles of a Hlta

In 2003, there has been a reform that was signed in order to reform the school workforce. Sets of National Standards’ were produced in order to reflect the production of Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA). The main purpose of posting HLTA’s is to provide a high level of classroom support to help ensure that teachers can focus on their teaching role. A HLTA post-holder will be expected to take on more involved roles in support of teaching and learning and may line manage other support staff (e.g. TAs, LSAs). The precise details of the role will be determined by the school/college.
HLTAs work strictly under the direction and guidance of a teacher, within the framework of management and supervision of their school/college. Responsibility for teaching and learning remains with the teacher (and ultimately the head/principal), who will exercise their professional judgment based on what is best for pupils.
The distinction between HLTA’s and TA’s is that HLTAs take on higher level roles than other TAs, including planning their own role within the classroom (in support of the teacher's planning) and undertaking some teaching activities within an appropriate system of supervision provided by a teacher. HLTAs may line manage other support staff, including TAs.
This paper shall discuss the impact made by HLTA’s on teaching and learning. This shall also look into the cost being incurred by posting HLTA’s as well as supply rates as opposed to covering of teaching assistants.
Impact of HLTA in Teaching Practice
The NfER 2007 report ‘Deployment and impact of support staff…’ cited in the cwd council e-bulletin no.06 August 2007 revealed “more than 90% of the senior leaders who responded believe Higher Level Teaching Assistants are having a positive effect within schools and on pupil performance.”
In some school localities the opportunity to use able TAs in community liaison and fund raising has been a real bonus, bringing very diverse communities closer together. Equally...