You are a teaching assistant, and you think that you are prepared to become more responsible, but you just do not know how to do it. With this qualification that you are recognised with, you can lead lessons, assist in the planning process, and receive higher pay without leaving the classroom you love.
But what is the initial step that you are not aware of? Is it the push that your teaching assistant career could use at this point to become a certified HLTA?
Learning Higher Level Teaching Assistant Requirements.
There are some standards that are expected by every school prior to being considered as an HLTA. You must have a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in assisting teaching and learning, and must have excellent experience working with children. The majority of schools would also like you to demonstrate your ability to work alone, lead small groups, and assist in planning the lessons.
These Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualifications are not unattainable; they are just an extension of what you already engage in your life. A lot of TAs are doing them even though they work full-time, as the process is not rigid. To examine the official HLTA standards in more depth, our guide is the place to read: What Are HLTA Standards and Why Are They Important?
How to Become a Certified HLTA?
The path to the certification of an HLTA is a transparent process of the HLTA qualification that any person will be able to follow.
Meet the Entry Requirements
You have to already have a relevant TA qualification of Level 2 or Level 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning. The vast majority of schools also demand one or two years of classroom training directly with children. This is one of the foundations that will see you prepared to assume greater responsibilities without having to begin at the bottom.
Select the Appropriate Training Course
Undertake a Level 4 programme that has been approved by Ofqual specifically to do this. Search for a completely online course that provides the ability to study at your convenience and has unrestricted tutor services. The most optimal ones allow you to study at your own pace, even as you pursue your studies in school.
Build Your Portfolio
Gather actual evidence of your everyday job for the next few months. Collect lesson plans that you participated in their development, the sample of group-based tasks that you facilitated, and teacher feedback. Include brief comments on what you did and how it changed the lives of the children.
Pass the Assessment
Your work and projects are professionally evaluated by trained evaluators. They verify all with the official standards of 33 HLTA standards to ensure that you are at the level.
After this, you will have your HLTA certificate and official registration in a few weeks.
To browse the entire range of teaching assistant courses that can be taken here, go to the complete category page: Teaching Assistant Courses.
The Complete HLTA Application Process Guide
The HLTA application process guide is simple once you are done with your training. All you have to do is send your completed portfolio to the assessment centre. They compare your evidence with the 33 national HLTA standards and determine whether you do or not. There is no need to take a written test.
You instead provide actual examples of what was happening during your day at school- lesson plans that you have participated in, group sessions that you led or provided support to students with special needs. The approval of most applications can be done within a few weeks, and you get your official HLTA certificate and registration immediately afterwards.
To have the quickest way, a great number of TAs select our special online course: Level 4 Certificate for Higher Level Teaching Assistants.
How to Build a Strong HLTA Portfolio?
The main part of it all is your portfolio. It goes to show you are already a level higher.
Here is what to include:
- Lesson plans on which you assisted in designing or delivering.
- Cases of how you assisted students with learning disabilities.
- Reports of meetings in which you provided ideas.
- Teacher/parent feedback.
- Examples of how you went about behaviour or resources.
Everything should be clean and tidy. Include brief results as to what you did, when you did it, and why. Schools do not like seeing lists only. Lots of TAs begin gathering such evidence during the study of the Level 3 course, and the transition to the HLTA becomes significantly easier: Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.
HLTA Assessment Requirement and What Examiners Expect
The assessment criteria of HLTA are clear to the assessors. They want to see that you can:
- Plan and provide learning activities.
- Influence teachers in a positive way.
- Collaborate with other workers.
- Assist each child in developing.
They check your evidence, not its quantity. A good specimen of moderating a group activity is worth a thousand pages of general remarks. Always refer to the 33 standards, be forthright and give actual school examples.
To learn more about our current work in the field of the daily work of HLTA, go through our current article: Role of Higher Level Teaching Assistants in Supporting Student Learning.
Best HLTA Training Courses and Professional Development for TAs
The continuous development of TAs is a never-ending process, and the appropriate training courses on HLTA can be the key. Search online for fully distance learning courses that offer unlimited tutor access and do not have hidden charges.
It is specifically designed to work with TAs, and we have a Level 4 certificate in Higher Level Teaching Assistants. You can learn at your own pace and complete your studies when you have time, and you leave with a nationally recognised qualification, HLTA registration, and certification.
You can browse all the courses available to you and decide on the one that suits you best: All Courses. HLTA status does not merely come with a certificate, but it is your very next goal in the career progression as a teaching assistant. Begin now, gather your facts one by one, and make your career, salary, and self-esteem increase gradually.
