THE county is combating the teacher recruitment crisis affecting the rest of the UK by training its own potential staff.

Worcestershire appointed co-ordinator for teaching assistant training and development June Seymour in 1999, the first post of its kind in the country, and the qualifications have since been accredited by University College Worcester.

Worcestershire Professional Qualification for Teaching Assistants offers modules to build on and students eventually receive a certificate in professional studies.

Teaching assistants can then progress through a foundation degree, BA (Hons), to a teaching qualification.