MEMBERS of staff from Holsworthy Primary Sch­ool and St Giles-on-the-Heath Primary School were amongst more than 200 staff from across Devon who have been congratulated for gaining additional qualifications to enhance the work they do for their school's children.

Charlotte Ross, from St Giles Primary School and Grace Dart, from Holsworthy Primary School, have both gained the Higher Level Teaching Assistant status or HLTA.

With a further 97 teaching assistants, meal time assistants, kitchen staff, cleaners, librarians and administrative staff receiving Support Work in School qualifications and NVQs.

Many of the staff were presented with their

certificates by Devon Co­unty Council's Executive Director of Children and Young People's Services, Anne Whiteley, and Cabinet Member for Children's Health and Wellbeing, Andrea Da­vis, at a special

ceremony at Sandy Park in Exeter.

Mrs Whiteley praised them for their hard work and dedication in gaining the new qualifications.

"You have put in a lot of time, effort and commitment to achieving these awards," she said.

Support staff were playing a crucial role in responding to changes in schools and taking on new responsibilities such as higher level teaching assistants, learning mentors and parent support advisors.

Mrs Whitely added: "This is a significant achievement and a credit to your hard work as well as to your schools for supporting you and making these awards such a success."

The HLTA is achieved by undertaking a rigorous assessment process to meet thirty three

nationally agreed professional standards.

Devon now has 564 teaching assistants who have gained the HLTA status over the past five years. Many subsequently obtain HLTA posts working as support staff team leaders or assuming an enhanced co-ordinating role for their school's work with children with Special Educational Needs.

Devon County Council helps fund all the qualifications, which are delivered by Devon Lea­rning and Development Partnership, as part of the national drive towards all schools having a fully qualified school support workforce.