What is a Reception Class Educator?

[fridayschild]

I have a letter about DS2's start in reception in September. They are taking more than 30 children as there is a bit of a shortage of primary places here. Later this month I am invited to meet the team for next year. DS2 and his many many little classmates will have a teacher, a classroom assistant and a reception class educator. I understand the first two, but the third?

A reception class educator sounds impressive but haven't a clue sorry

Sounds like someone unqualified to help an over-stretched teacher and TA to me! Bumping hopefully....

Hmm. It sounds as though he/she is not a qualified teacher. Iirc it is a legal requirment that in reception there must be at least 1 qualified teacher per 30 children. You might want to check that the school is complying with the law.

I would ask "awkward" questions when you meet re qualifications ~ if more than 30 children by law there must be 2 QTS.

Have never heard that lingo before. Obviously not a teacher, or why the need for a strange title?

Agree with others - I would question qualifications, as there should be two teachers for over 30 (although there are various loop holes which they may have wriggled through). Ask!

Let us know what you find out fridays, I've had the same letter about my dd's reception and am also a bit

Let me know.. I'm a teacher and have never heard of such a thing! Can only assume it is some halfway house between TA and teacher.

Might be someone with EYPS?

I will ask at the meeting on 23 June - unless I get to collar the head at the school fair on Saturday!

I agree with Frakkinpannikin - it could well be someone who has EYPS (Early Years Professional Status). It's a degree level qualification in Early Years, but does not carry QTS (qualified teacher status).

Could be an HLTA

Early years practitioner? Used to be called nursery nurse.

In the nursery attached to the school, the nursery nurse has a similar title next year - I think they are going to call her a senior nursery educator. Now the senior nursery educator has had DS2 in her nursery for 5 terms and I have a lot of respect for her. She is a very competent lady who has got OFSTED outstanding for her nursery more than once, and is much better than the teacher who is nominally in charge of the place this year.

Leslaki - what's an HTLA?

Higher Level Teaching Assistant.

Thank you. I take it from that, also Not A Teacher.

Sorry! Thought I'd typed more ... weird! HLTAs are able to teach in the school they work in and usually do cover. So, no, not a qualified teacher.

no not a teacher the status was intended for very experienced Teaching Assistants who could prove their knowledge and expertise but now seems to be given out to newly trained TAs.

HLTAs aren't technically allowed to "teach" in schools although they are allowed to cover PPA time ...

Yet the training involves planning lessons from what I can gather...

Do you know rookie TAs who are HLTAs then mrz?
The blurb seems to indicate a lot of experience is needed to do the training as well as level 3 NVQ or equivalent level 2 num/lit.

and level 2 num/lit skills

all of our HLTAs have been around donkey's and worked v hard for the title tbh - v diff to get on the course round here unless you can prove experience...

There isn't training as such for HLTAs as it is a "status" not a qualification. To become a HLTA Teaching Assistants must prove their ability through an assessment process.
Assessment involves a half-day visit to the school by an assessor.

Yes ellingwoman and if you want to read the TES forum you will see posts from TAs who have less than a years experience who have been granted HLTA status.

Assessment may involve a half day visit but also a helluva lot of work based around 9 tasks proving you meet the standards. When I did it everyone had loads of experience.