Induction

National Program for New Teaching Assistants

Target audience: This Induction Programme is for individuals newly appointed to their role as a Teaching Assistant with a developing knowledge and understanding of their role and responsibilities.

This is a national programme delivered through distance learning on a digital platform with supported seminar activities. Training may be completed at a time convenient to the teaching assistants and their setting. 

To support new Teaching Assistants to better understand the educational setting in which they work and their responsibilities as a professional in Welsh education. Individuals will develop the knowledge and skills needed to become a successful teaching assistant in their setting.

Event details:

All activities undertaken will be delivered in Welsh, English or bilingually.

A combination of activities, self-directed study, online support and webinars covering:

• The Welsh Education Context – my role and responsibilities. 

• Professional Standards for Assisting Teaching.

• The Curriculum for Wales and supporting frameworks.

• Pedagogy, developing my craft to support learners.

Register here

Heulwen Lloyd   Project Lead - Teaching Assistant Professional Learning            heulwen.lloyd@partneriaeth.cymru

National Programme for Practising Teaching Assistants

Target audience: Teaching Assistants who have been in post for two years or more.

A national programme for Teaching Assistants who would welcome an update on the changing context of the profession. This is available to all schools and settings, with activities delivered in Welsh, English or bilingually. A combination of activities, self-directed study, support, reflection and networking: 

• To raise awareness of the Professional Standards for Assisting Teaching, current relevant strategies to support practice and a range of ideas and strategies to inspire professionalism back in school. 

• To encourage establishing and improving professional Networks and collaboration among teaching assistants within and between schools.

Event details:

This national programme will be delivered regionally by Partneriaeth. A two- day face to face programme or 4 x two-hour virtual sessions.

The 4 modules will explore:

1.  The Welsh Education Context – my responsibilities as a professional in Welsh education

2.  Professional Standards for Assisting Teaching

3.  The Curriculum for Wales and supporting frameworks

4.  Pedagogy, developing my craft to support learners.

This programme will also be offered over four afternoon sessions on-line, January – March 2025. 

Link to register to follow

For further Information please contact:

Heulwen Lloyd    

Project Lead - Teaching Assistant Professional Learning   

heulwen.lloyd@partneriaeth.cymru 

Cylch 11 of the National Development Program for Aspiring Higher Level Teaching Assistants

Target audience: This Aspiring HLTA Programme is to support the most experienced Teaching Assistants who wish to further develop their skills and identify their readiness for HLTA Assessment. 

Access to the programme is through a national application process. Delivery will be co-ordinated by Regional Consortia, utilising a range of delivery partners, in collaboration with Local Authorities.

This development programme will consist of 4 modules:

•  Module 1   Professional Learning, National Context and Collaboration  

•  Module 2   Influencing Learning, Refining Teaching and Collaboration 

•  Module 3   Advancing Learning and Collaboration 

•  Module 4   Leadership, Innovation and Collaboration 

Candidates will be asked to complete short written tasks, providing a rounded illustration of their work as they demonstrate elements of the Professional Standards for Assisting Teaching. 

These tasks called Professional Learning Reflections (PLRs) are recorded throughout the programme and are submitted after the final session to support the HLTA assessment.  

In order to be eligible for the Aspiring HLTA programme applicants must:

• Have sufficient experience and specialised skills to evidence sustained highly effective practice against the Professional Standards for Assisting Teaching.  

• Have or be willing to attain required level 2 qualifications*. (Applicants without Level 2 qualifications can apply for this programme but must attain Level 2 prior to assessment). 

• Have some experience of leading the learning for whole classes. Teaching Assistants who have limited experience of this may find that sufficient opportunities to teach classes can be arranged within the timescale of the programme. Head teachers will be asked to confirm that candidates have been or will be given these opportunities. 

• Have the full support of their Head teacher who will be required to endorse the application.  

Event details:

The programme will run from September 2025 to the summer term 2026, with specific dates to be confirmed.  Delivery of the programme will be a combination of self-directed study, online support, and virtual facilitated sessions. These sessions are designed to address core aspects of the programme and to deal with questions. Each session will last no longer than two hours and will take place during the school day. If necessary, schools will need to release candidates from their responsibilities for these times, just as they would if a candidate were attending a face-to-face course.

Link to register to follow

https://forms.office.com/e/19w4zRgSvu

Heulwen Lloyd       

Project Lead - Teaching Assistant Professional Learning        

heulwen.lloyd@partneriaeth.cymru

National Program to Train Higher Level Teaching Assistant Assessors

Target audience: Those with proven experience of working effectively with teaching assistants: Senior leader, Teacher, an experienced teaching assistant who has gained HLTA Status or a role within your regional Consortia.

The Regional School Improvement Consortia are seeking practitioners to join the team involved in the Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA) Assessment Programme on behalf of the Welsh Government. 

As an assessor, you will be required to undertake school based assessments of candidates across your region who have completed the Aspiring HLTA programme, and who are going forward for assessment. 

To be eligible to undertake the role of an assessor for HLTA candidates it will be necessary for you to:

• Have an understanding of the role of a Higher Level Teaching Assistant

• Be familiar with the Professional Standards for Assisting Teaching 

• Be a senior leader or teacher with proven experience of working effectively with teaching assistants OR

• Have a role in your regional Consortia or be an experienced teaching assistant with HLTA status

You must also:

• Have good oral and written communication skills, including a level of competence to be able to complete the assessment digitally. 

• Have the endorsement of the Head Teacher/Line manager, and the Governing Body where applicable.

• The ability to offer provision through the medium of Welsh is desirable, but not essential.

Event details:

In order to fulfil this role, assessors would need to commit to the following:

• National Training for new assessors only (3 half day online sessions)

• Update Training on a regional basis (half day online session)

• A minimum of 2 assessments

• Attend regional moderation (half day)

• Commit to participating in the HLTA Assessment Programme for 2024-25 and 2025 -2026.

For further Information please contact:

Heulwen Lloyd       

Project Lead - Teaching Assistant Professional Learning        

heulwen.lloyd@partneriaeth.cymru