All higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) candidates must undertake preparation for assessment. It ensures that you understand the professional standards, the evidence you need to submit, and how the assessment process works.
In order to undertake preparation, you will need to provide evidence of appropriate level 2 qualifications in literacy and numeracy. Once you have met this requirement you will be allocated to a preparation course by your local authority (LA).
Local authorities will only use providers of preparation that have been quality assured by the regional provider of assessment (RPA). The LA will make arrangements to ensure that your preparation is as accessible in terms of timing and location as is reasonably possible.
Providers of preparation may offer different patterns of provision, eg preparation as a separate event or preparation incorporated into a training programme. In all cases, the preparation content will be identified and will be equivalent to three full days.
By the end of preparation you should:
- understand the professional standards and how they relate to your work in school
- understand the assessment process and have prepared assessment tasks and received formative feedback, and have prepared for the visit to your school by an assessor
Registering for HLTA assessment
Once your provider of preparation has confirmed the appropriateness of your literacy and numeracy qualifications, you will need to register for assessment, ideally during or immediately after day two of preparation. This can be done electronically by logging onto the HLTA registration system or, alternatively, by phoning the HLTA registration helpline on 0845 8800 929.
You must register for assessment within four calendar days of your second day of preparation.
Once you have registered for assessment you will be given a unique registration number.