Yes, real-school setting observation/witness is mandatory. An expert witness, usually a class teacher or a qualified assessor, conducts the observation or provides the witness.

Only one witness statement is needed, filled by your workplace supervisor, covering all relevant units/modules of the course that demands a witness testimony. Coordinate with your mentor to agree on the date and time for the expert witness to observe your activities. There’s flexibility in planning activities, allowing adaptation to your schedule.

A Witness Testimony serves as “supporting” evidence, validating a learner’s workplace activities through a statement from a qualified individual. This statement verifies the learner’s competence in specific skills or tasks, especially those challenging to demonstrate through documents alone. It’s important to note that along with the witness testimony, learners are required to provide a reflective account.

A Reflective Account is a written piece providing additional details about the learner’s performance in the activity confirmed by the workplace supervisor. This includes insights into what went well, areas for improvement, lessons learned, and strategies for future enhancement.

School teachers are eligible to undertake the HLTA qualification, regardless of whether they teach in primary, secondary, or special education settings. However, it’s essential to ensure that the students you work with are at least in Key Stage 1 and older than five.

Certainly, simulation is not permitted for this qualification, and observation must take place in a school environment while working with children.

The course is designed to align with HLTA Standards, providing the knowledge required to pass the HLTA assessment. However, the course itself does not confer HLTA status. To obtain HLTA accreditation, you must pass the HLTA assessment, for which this course prepares you. Meeting prerequisites, such as documented classroom hours as a teaching assistant and holding a nationally recognized English/literacy and math/numeracy certificate at level 2 or above, is essential for HLTA accreditation. Detailed information on the HLTA assessment process is available through the HLTA National Assessment Partnership.

Teaching assistants aiming for HLTA accreditation must adhere to specific requirements delineated in the HLTA professional standards. These standards, totalling 33, are categorised into three main sections:

Standards 1–7: Qualities of a professional: These standards outline the commitment, attitudes, and values expected of HLTAs. Standards 8–16: Professional knowledge and understanding: These standards define the abilities and knowledge HLTAs must possess to collaborate effectively with teachers as integral members of the professional team supporting learning. Standards 17–33: Professional Skills: These standards detail the requirements for organizing, supervising, managing, and assessing instruction within established guidelines and supervision, as determined in consultation with the designated teacher and in compliance with decisions made by the school’s head teacher.