Training and Development Agency
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New standards for school support staff

New standards for school support staff

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR SCHOOLS News Release issued by The Government News Network on 25 July 2007

For the first time a comprehensive framework of rigorous professional and national occupational standards is available for classroom practitioners. To sit alongside the recently published professional standards for teachers, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) has today issued the revised professional standards for Higher Level Teaching Assistants and the National Occupational Standards for Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools. These recognise the vital role of support staff in raising standards and helping children and young people reach their potential.

TDA Chief Executive Graham Holley said:
"These new standards complement the recently published standards for teachers and, for the first time, together provide a comprehensive framework for all classroom practitioners. Head teachers know that the aspirations we have for our children can only be achieved through well-qualified teachers supported by colleagues with the right mix of skills and knowledge. These new standards are a vital tool to enable school leaders to identify the development needs of their staff and ways of meeting them.

But we also know that to recruit and retain the best people, we need to offer opportunities for career development and progression. As well as having a relationship with the standards for teachers, these new standards also relate to standards developed for a wide range of job roles that involve working with children. In addition to supporting a variety of progression opportunities, this recognises the place of education within an integrated approach to children's services."

The revised HLTA status will demand:
* Evidence of improved knowledge and practice, including responding to advice and feedback
* Knowledge of how other frameworks supporting the development and well-being of children and young people, impact upon their practice
* Recognition and respect for the contribution that parents and carers can make to the development and well-being of children and young people
* Recognition and appropriate response to situations that challenge equality of opportunity.

The new National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools replace the existing NOS for teaching/classroom assistants. They support new roles for support staff such as cover supervision and welfare and pastoral support, as well as reflecting the increasing contribution made by support staff to inclusion and working with pupils with additional needs; personalised learning; and the wider life of the school.

The new framework of standards is aligned with the revised standards for qualified teacher status, the common core of skills and knowledge for the children's workforce, and the five outcomes set out in Every Child Matters: be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being.

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The TDA is currently developing guidance to the HLTA standards. The primary audience for the guidance will be candidates and those involved in preparing and assessing candidates. The guidance will play a key role in ensuring consistency in the interpretation of the standards. The guidance will be available in November 2007.

The HLTA standards can be accessed through the TDA website: http://www.tda.gov.uk/support/hlta.aspx

The NOS for supporting teaching and learning in schools can be accessed through the NOS database http://www.ukstandards.org

NOS underpin national vocational qualifications (NVQs); NVQs based on the new standards will be available at levels 2 and 3 in early 2008.

The TDA is a member of the Children's Workforce Network (CWN) of sector professionals and regulatory bodies which is developing an integrated qualifications framework for the whole children's workforce.

The Training and Development Agency for Schools was established under the Education Act 2005. Its responsibilities relate to England only.

The TDA's principal aim is to secure an effective school workforce that raises educational standards, provides every child with the opportunity to develop their potential and thereby improve children's life chances.

Support staff enquiries
People interested in finding out more about the roles and further training for support staff should visit http://www.tda.gov.uk/support.aspx or contact the Support Staff Enquiry Line (0845 600 2944).

Teaching enquiries
People interested in becoming a teacher should visit http://www.teach.gov.uk or contact the Teaching Information Line (tel: 0845 6000 991 - 992 for Welsh speakers; minicom: 01245 454343).

General TDA enquiries: 0870 4960 123

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