CLASSROOM assistants from schools across Kirklees are celebrating achieving Higher Level Teaching Assistant status.
Caroline Gruen, head of learning for Kirklees Children and Young People Service, made the presentation at the Deighton Centre in Deighton to 46 assistants.
Some of the assistants are pictured above.
A Kirklees Council spokeswoman said: "Teaching assistants are highly valued in schools because of the contribution they make to teaching and learning and the practices within their schools.
"They are highly competent individuals who, up to now, have had very little opportunity for career progression.
"But now they have the opportunity to achieve Higher Level Teaching Assistant status."
Teaching assistants go through a rigorous application process and then register with the Training and Development Agency for a local training provider.
They then attend three days of preparation and four tasks and the preparation and submission of other evidence at a face-to-face assessment.
Gill Gibson, education adviser for school support staff said: "Support from colleagues and senior managers has been tremendous, encouraging their professional development as well as their individual skills and competence."
