Bristol teaching assistant wins national award for ‘unwavering dedication’

Bristol teaching assistant Jack Ball’s dedicated service has been recognised with a national award.

Jack, who works at New Horizons Learning Centre in Kingswood, received the HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) Special School category glass trophy, certificate and voucher at a ceremony in the school.

The awards, founded by education recruitment agency Teaching Personnel in collaboration with education training and Bristol-based professional development provider Best Practice Network, have been held annually since 2012 as part of National Teaching Assistants Day, which celebrates the contribution of TAs across primary, secondary and special schools.

Jack was nominated for the award by colleagues, parents and children who spoke of his “unwavering dedication” which has transformed the lives of students, helping them to express themselves more effectively and engage more fully in their education.

One colleague said: “Jack’s influence is felt profoundly every day. As our Emotional Literacy Lead, he’s deeply committed to understanding the unique needs of each student, particularly those with special educational needs and mental health issues.

“No matter the challenges that arise, Jack is always striving to see the world from the students’ perspectives. His dedication shines through in our daily staff meetings, where he shares valuable insights into our students’ experiences and proposes effective strategies to enhance their learning environment.”

The awards organisers received hundreds of nominations from schools across the country for seven awards categories.

Matt Flynn, Operations Director at awards organisers Teaching Personnel, said: “There are almost a quarter of a million TAs working in England’s schools, going the extra mile day in and day out, but their value is often underestimated. That’s why we run the National Teaching Assistants Day every year to recognise and celebrate wonderful individuals like Jack who make such a difference to children’s lives.”