At an afternoon of celebration, Sue Brown from Malcolm Sargent School, Stamford has been awarded 2016’s most outstanding Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) for the East Midlands. The award was presented by Peter Wells, deputy Dean of the School of Education, University of Northampton.
Sue was accompanied by her fellow finalists: Jill Clarke from Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School, Derbyshire, Tracey Sandford from Lutterworth College, Leicestershire and Sarah Streeton from The Pingle school, Derbyshire at theawards ceremony on Thursday 30th June. 
The award was aimed at teaching assistants who have gained Higher Level Teaching Assistant status through the University of Northampton. The initiative is a partnership between the East Midlands Regional Provider of Assessment and the HLTA National Assessment Partnership, and seeks to recognise the valuable role HLTAs play in schools.A panel of education professionals from a range of settings within the region narrowed candidates down to a short-list of four. Candidates were assessed on the following criteria:
• Their contribution to advancing pupils’ learning utilising their own specialist knowledge
• Their high aspirations for all pupils and their support in achieving this
• Their commitment to their own continued professional learning
• Their commitment to the wider school community.
Sue uses her specialist knowledge and training in SEND to work alongside and in support of colleagues at Malcolm Sargent Primary School to decide how best to fulfil the potential of children with a range of complex needs. She was chosen as the winner due to evidence related to not only her SEND support, but her wide ranging contribution to the school life from helping to run and attend sporting events, ensuring that her swimming coach qualification is put to good use with some of her group qualifying for Nationals to utilising her creativity, working beyond hours to paint murals around the school and created props for plays; this expertise is also deployed in planning and delivering art lessons to an excellent standard.
Senior Staff at her school say that, ‘she is an inspirational colleague who is thoughtful, supportive and dedicated. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her attention to detail reflects her commitment to our school – she is at the heart of what we do: motivating, encouraging and dependable – we don’t know what we would do without her.’
Wendy Yarnall, HLTA Project Manager, East Midlands, commented: “The panel was most impressed by the standard of work and commitment evidenced in the nominations which were made by senior colleagues at their schools and we commend all the finalists. It is clear that HLTAs are highly regarded members of staff and play a key role within their school community which impacts directly on the learning and life chances of the pupils they work with. Sue will now go on to represent the East Midlands region at the National HLTA of the Year Award, which will be presented in London in November 2016.”
