TEACHING staff from West Devon have been honoured for gaining additional qualifications to enhance the work they do for children in their schools. A total of six teaching assistants have gained the prestigious Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification (HLTA), while seven support staff received Level 2 and 3 support work in school qualifications and NVQs. The staff members were presented with certificates by Devon?s director of Children and Young People?s services, Anne Whiteley, and the head of Devon Education Services, Roger Fetherson, at a special ceremony in Exeter. Mrs Whiteley praised them for their hard work and dedication in gaining new qualifications. Mr Fetherson said: ?We are developing a broad and experienced workforce and you will make a profound impact on the lives of individual students.? From Okehampton Primary School, Lee Bishop, Michael Jewell, and Aline Price, gained the support work in schools level 2 certificate, and Lisa Dawe and Michelle Vaughan gained the support work in schools level 2 and 3 certificate. Diana Brown and Sheila D?Arch Smith from Chagford Primary School gained the HLTA qualification. Kate Hoare and Michelle O?Boyle from St Rumon?s School in Tavistock also gained HLTA qualifications. From Whitchurch Primary School Jo Lewandowski gained a TA NVQ Level 3 qualification, while Esther Rookes from St Andrew?s Primary School in Buckland Monachorum gained the HLTA qualification. Finally, at Cheriton Bishop Primary School, Rachel Ley gained a TA NVQ Level 3, and Tracey Wood collected her HLTA qualification.