CLASSROOM assistants within Hounslow will have more opportunity to help younger pupils after £350,000 funding was announced for two new support projects in the borough.

The new funding of £350,000, from the European Social Fund, will finance two centres, in Brentford and Hanworth, to enhance the available training for classroom assistants.

The support projects will provide access to training courses for classroom assistants to brush up on, and develop skills to pass on in the classroom.

Courses to be offered through the training centres will range from basic skills development and refresher courses, at Hanworth, to GCSE level English and Maths at Brentford.

In addition, there will be opportunities for all classroom assistants to take on enhanced computer training, learn First Aid and other development courses such as basic food hygiene.

Specialised classroom training will also be available, from basic classroom assistant training through to Teaching Assistant Level Two, which will lead to nationally recognised qualifications being awarded.

Cllr Colin Ellar, Executive Member for Lifelong Learning, said: "Classroom Assistants play a vital role in our schools, providing welcome support to teachers and assisting pupils in their education.

This is why it is also vitally important that classroom assistants receive a high level of training support, so that they can work as closely as possible with teachers to bring out the best in our children, and so that they can help their teaching colleagues to deliver the improving standards in the borough.''

Assistants who wish to take part should contact the Brentford office (8569 7212) or Feltham (8831 3031).

January 28, 2003 17:00