The purpose of the three days of preparation is:

• to make candidates aware of the requirements of the assessment process
• to ensure they understand the professional standards for HLTA status
• to support candidates in how they might provide evidence to demonstrate achievement against the standards.

Incorporated across the three days (or equivalent when part of a training programme):

• confidence, trust and network building activities
• personal reflection time
• drafting of documentation
• TAs exchanging critical feedback
• the analysis of information
• collaborative tasks, paired and group discussion
• opportunities to ask questions and raise issues

Preparation has four stages:

Stage 1: Understanding the Standards

Stage 2: Introducing the Assessment Tasks

Stage 3: Formative feedback on the candidates’ draft work. (Normally on Day 3.)

Stage 4: Preparing for the School visit.

The assessment follows this four stage process of preparation