SIXTEEN West Devon teaching assistants are among 150 county-wide who have gained a prestigious new industry qualification. The teaching assistants have been awarded the new higher level teaching assistant qualification award, or HLTA, presented at a special ceremony in Exeter recently. Devon County Council chief executive Phil Norrey, who presented the awards, praised the teaching assistants for their hard work and dedication in gaining the qualification. The assistants, whose duties include supporting teachers in the classroom, conducting assessments and teaching literacy and maths skills, were assessed against 31 exacting national standards. Mark Freeman, Devon?s adviser for support staff, said: ?The standards for qualification have been set at a high level to provide assurance of the quality of contribution made by HLTAs to pupils? teaching and learning. ?The status is only awarded upon the completion of a number of written tasks based on classroom practice, a visit to the school by an external assessor and subsequent rigorous regional and national moderation. ?It is encouraging to see increasing numbers of teaching assistants taking up this opportunity for professional and career development ? and increasing numbers of schools creating higher level teaching assistants posts.? Mr Freeman said HLTA posts illustrated the range of responsibilities taken on by these highly regarded members of the school workforce. ?They include leading and managing the support staff team, becoming assistant to the special needs co-ordinator and providing specialist support for a subject or department.? The new West Devon HLTAs are: Janette Allen, Whitchurch Primary; Anne Anstee, Okehampton Primary; Jane Ball, Meavy Primary; Nicky Bird, Milton Abbot Primary; Joan Frost, St Rumon?s Infants; Susan Gawman, St Rumon?s Infants; Tracy Jasper, Whitchurch Primary; Glennys Mason, Mary Tavy and Brentor Primaryl; Christine Mills, Meavy Primary; Diana Mitchell, Tavistock College; Janet Pedder, Milton Abbot Primary; Jill Rodgers, Milton Abbot Primary; Alison Short, Milton Abbot Primary; Julie Solomon, Stowford Primary; Sarah Webber, Lifton Primary; Anne Wrench, Tavistock College.