Swavesey Village College, Swavesey              HLTA

Caroline Harding began working in schools when her son started infant school in Lincolnshire. He suffered from Dyspraxia and Caroline went in to school to listen to the children read so that the teacher could spend some 1:1 time with her son. Education is in the family Caroline didn’t feel happy with her catering career, but in lincolnshire at that time it was essential to have a qualification to work as a teaching assistant and so, Caroline did a City and Guilds course. That initial course gave her the self esteem to apply for a job at Mayfield, Swavesey Primary School, when she moved to the area.

After 6 years at the Village College Caroline went to a meeting about HLTA status and, with the support of her head teacher applied for the core training route. Caroline thoroughly enjoyed the seven days of training, and because of the support she received felt confident at the start of the assessment preparation. “I would recommend doing the core route; the tutors were fantastic and broke the standards down for us”

Now employed full time in the Technology and Enterprise department as part of Brunel House, Caroline is enjoying her extended role. She is currently co-tutor of a form group, and regularly takes whole classes, including two design days and Y6 induction classes. From September 2007 she will be a full time form tutor, teaching Year 7/8 as part of the Design and Technology scheme of work, as well as introducing a new programme on healthy lifestyles with Year 7.

Rosie Hurcombe was Caroline’s mentor throughout the course, and supported her in gaining the status through meetings and discussions around her work in school. Rosie feels that Caroline “sees things in a different light” as a result of the course, she has “no hesitation in Caroline taking lessons as she’s putting into practice what she’s done in her HLTA training”. “I know if she covers my lessons she will get what I would out of the students and will pass on what she needs to”

The Head of Department, Duncan Johnstone also values Caroline immensely. “We are a team who can rely on each other, Caroline is a star who will step in and do it properly”