Anyone have any experience of HLTA

[kid]

I wonder if anyone here has done the HLTA training? I'm considering going for it and would like any advice or thoughts you might have to offer. TIA

Wedgiesmum is doing it, or has almost completed it. I've considered it, but have ruled it out for the time being.

Are you thinking about the assessment-only route, or the 50 hrs? Are you working as a TA now?

I'm a TA at the moment, have been for 6 1/2 years. I'm planning on doing the assessment only route. Can I ask why you ruled it out?

Lots of reasons - my school wouldn't entertain the 50-days route, as they expect I'll go and do a PGCE or GTP soon anyway (I already have a degree). I felt the assessment-only route would give me a 'qualification' of sorts, but little else, and what I want is some kind of training.
I've been working as cover supervisor in secondary school, but have no relevant qualifications, and practically no training

I'm just after whatever qualifications I can get through work at the moment, then if I want to do anymore, I can.
Surely your school should be glad that you want to get training for your job, but then they would have to release you and arrange cover.

I've been working for several years as an Instructor and the last two years as a TA in a Secondary School. I signed up for the HLTA course, supported by the Head, unfortunately I did not receive the status and I was dismissed from my role with no notice.

The school then readvertised my job but on a lower pay scale and without the requirement for HLTA status.

I therefor have a low opinion of HLTA status. In my mind head teachers like it as they believe that they can use low paid cover staff to carry out specified work (i.e. teaching) rather than a qualified teacher.

My school has taken that to the extreme and then realised as the HLTA status isn't even a qualification it could use TA's instead and pay them half the amount to do the same job and use the same person specification for the job too!

I'd use a word that begins with the letter B followed by a couple of O's and L's to describe what I think of it but there are women present here.

Will it cosy you anyhting to do? Until we have heard the details of government cuts I would be reluctant to spend your money on something that may be subject to cuts. I have a feeling many TA jobs will go including HLTA. I could be wrong but err on the side of caution. If it is free then go for it but I think it is fairly meaningless as detailed above. The best TAs are amazing and no training can capyure that.

I achieved HLTA status at the end of the summer term. I was fortunate in that my LEA was able to access funding from some central fund set up by the last government. That has now stopped and schools will have to fund it themselves. i was told the cost is around £700, so it is not cheap and many schools would not have that sort of money available to spend on training one person.

I did the 3 day preparation and assessment route, so not a training course as such. I found though, that it really made me look at what I do in the course of my work and consider my day to day work against the standards that have to be met in order to achieve the status.

I found the written tasks fairly straightforward, but they were time consuming and of course, it takes ages to cross reference them against the standards. The mos difficult thing for me, was collecting the documentary evidence that you need to show how you are meeting the standards. Towards the end, I had a lot of late nights, but it was worth it, IMO. At the moment I do not intend looking for an HLTA post, but I am finding that I am much more reflective of the work I do, which can only be a good thing for the children I support.

I'm a TA , also a graduate (so could do my PGCE year if so inclined..)

I wouldn't do the HTLA myself.. was asked, said sod off. In my school HTLA's are used to cover teachers, have to do the planning yet paid a laughable enhancement to their TA wages.. for doing the teacher's job. A very handy way for LEAs to save money.

Then again I am a little jaded....