Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 3.30pm, 26 Hours per week (6.5 hours per day) - Term time only - Permanent We currently have a SEND Teaching Assistant position available in the school to work in our SEND Alternative Resource Provision (Rainbow/Garden Room). Would you like to work at Thameside Primary? Do you have an interest to work with children? At Thameside we celebrate inclusiveness, belonging and integrity as well as valuing and nurturing differences between us. This is an exciting time to join Thameside as we continue our journey to improve provision and progress for all of our children. At Thameside we have a SEND Alternative Resource Provision known as Rainbow and Garden Room. This role will be specifically to work in the Rainbow and Garden provision. We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate SEND Teaching Assistant to join our inclusive school and to work with specific children with complex SEND needs including willing to work on a 1:1 basis. We require a caring and supportive individual to work with young children with challenging behavioural needs to assist them with their development and learning. The ideal candidate will have transferable experience of working with children with challenging needs. You must be resilient and be willing to persevere to build rapport with children with complex learning and behavioural difficulties. It is a challenging but very rewarding role You can make a world of difference to a child’s learning experience. If you have experience of working with children in a similar capacity but not in a school setting, we would still like to hear from you. Your duties will include: Supporting the class teacher to implement planned lesson learning activities for SEN children Interact and engage with individual pupils with complex SEN needs in a class and 1:1 basis through indoor and outdoor activities To provide one to one support to learners with learning difficulties and/ or learning disabilities and challenging behaviour. To help students adjust to their new settings, recognise signs of distress and offer reassurance, and to promote and encourage the acceptance and inclusion of all pupils. To supervise and support students to ensure their safety and access to learning and facilitate students’ physical, emotional and educational development. Keeping children safe in their surroundings and activities they engage in including dealing with first aid incidents. We are seeking candidates that have: Experience of working with children in an educational setting. Experience working with autism and attachment needs. Good levels of literacy and numeracy skills. (e.g. GCSE Maths and English, or equivalent). A desire to learn and a passion for working with children with additional needs. A patient, caring, compassionate and child-centred approach. Excellent observation skills and the ability to problem solve and think creatively. Emotional intelligence and resilience with the ability to react calmly in challenging situations. An ability to work with a team and diverse staff/pupil groups You can also download an application pack via the school’s website www.thameside.reading.sch.uk (Go to: About us, Come & Work for us) or email adminthameside.reading.sch.uk Closing date for applications is: Sunday 5th January 2025, however we will consider applications on receipt of application forms returned. The school is committed to safeguarding children and is an equal opportunity provider. All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure. Interviews will be arranged on receipt of applications when school reopens after Christmas. We wish to appoint in early January with a view to starting in February depending on notice periods.