Islington’s First Annual Teaching Assistant Conference
Last Wednesday, 1st November, CEA@Islington played host to over a hundred
delegates from primary, secondary and special schools across the borough for
Islington’s first annual Teaching Assistant Conference.
The event, the first of its kind in Islington, brought together a range of
colleagues - from newly appointed Teaching Assistants, through to Special
Educational Needs Teaching Assistants and HLTAs (Higher Level Teaching
Assistants) - to celebrate the important roles they already play in our
schools, as well as to demonstrate the career development opportunities
available to them.
Representatives from thirty of our local schools attended the day-long event
held at The Barnsbury Centre, which included presentations from national,
regional and local keynote speakers as well as the opportunity to participate
in a range of specially tailored workshops designed to demonstrate the good
practice to be shared in Islington. Ian Hollingsworth, HLTA Project Leader
from FourS and one of the workshop leaders at the conference, was full of
praise for the day’s programme of events: ‘I have been to many different TA
Conferences around London and the South East, but there have been none with a
better range of speakers and workshop activities.’
Evaluations from the day have indeed been glowing, with many delegates
commenting on what an inspiring and informative day it was. Lennox Brown, a TA
from St Mark’s Primary School, spoke of his highlight and reflected on the job
to come:
"Hannah Cleland, The Consultant for School Workforce (Support Staff) from the
London Borough of Havering, was brilliant! To have someone speak here who has
walked the walk was inspirational.....the onus is on me now..."
Another Teaching Assistant, Nim Kimyani from Moreland Primary School,
described the day as ‘excellent’ and commented on what a good opportunity it
was to talk to other Teaching Assistants – a sentiment that was echoed by Mel
Adani from Laycock Primary School who described it as ‘one of the highlights
of the year.’
A highly enjoyable day was then rounded off with a prize draw that saw some
lucky Teaching Assistants depart with restaurant vouchers, gifts and hampers.
A high precedent has certainly been set for next year!
For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: