Hobletts Manor Infants’ School leads the way with teaching assistant Apprenticeship training

Hobletts Manor Infants’ and Nursery School based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire is leading the way by training their existing teaching assistants via the Apprenticeship scheme.  The school has strong values of ‘achieving the best for all’ and provides a warm, caring and stimulating learning environment.  Headteacher Mrs Wendy Hull believes a commitment to personal development planning for all staff including teaching assistants, is one example of delivering and living up to these values.

“We have been looking for the best route to ensure that our teaching assistants have access to training and can further develop their skills, building upon their existing professionalism” said Wendy.  “We need a flexible approach that fits in with the school timetable and their personal circumstances and the Apprenticeships from Bedford College offer this.”

The exact format of the training has only recently been finalised and trainers from the College will be coming into Hobletts to deliver a curriculum that fits in with the school timetable and the teaching assistants work patterns. 

Samantha Downham, Jane Robinson and Yvette Ellis have differing areas of responsibility, for example Samantha works part-time and supports children with learning difficulties, Jane has already done some protective behaviour training and deals with emotional needs within the classroom and Yvette provides support alongside the teacher. The Apprenticeship scheme that Bedford College has designed takes all of this into consideration.

Wendy added, “We are at the start of the process, but we have high hopes about the Apprenticeships.  The teaching assistants are looking forward to the challenge that the training will give them and believe they will gain confidence through the process of applying theory to their day-to-day roles and achieving an NVQ Level 3 qualification.”

For more information about how Apprenticeships can help your school, please visit: www.bedfordtrainingservices.co.uk or to speak to a Business Development Adviser call 0300 011 2344.