Short Heath Federation Lane Head Nursery, Rosedale C of E Infant School, Short Heath Junior School LEVEL 2 Teaching Assistant, 32.5 hrs a week Term Time Only. Grade G4 £23,893 - £25,979 Pro-Rata to hours worked. Starting December 2024 At Short Heath Federation, we are looking for someone really special to work in one of our really special schools with some really special children and staff. We are particularly seeking someone to work at Short Heath Junior School supporting some of our children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Many of these children are trauma experienced, almost all have EHCPs, some are neurodivergent and some just find it really hard to be able to manage big emotions. We need someone who gets it. Who understands that children can show their love in the most unloving of ways. Someone who is extremely resilient. We are in an exciting phase in our Federation’s development, as we are West Walsall’s Nurture Hub, leading in schools on developing restorative practice, active members of the attachment research community – amongst other things. Our practice is recognised as exceptional. Our staff are too. We are very much a team and working that way is important to us. It benefits everyone. Our motto, ‘Every Day, in Every Way, Everyone Matters’ explains perfectly who we are and what we do. We have a very high proportion of children with a wide range of Special Educational Needs, both at SEN Support and with EHCPs. The highest proportion in Walsall in fact. We can only do that with highly skilled and specialist staff who care desperately about doing what’s right for our children, who will always be curious and thinking about what else could work for a child if the current strategy isn’t working, who firmly believes that children sometimes communicate their love in the most unloving of ways, and will be there for them through the great times and the harder times. That’s what they deserve – no less. We have recently opened a Specialist Resource Provision at two of our schools, and we operate these specialist provisions in all of our schools so that children’s needs can be met in a mainstream setting, or until a time where that is no longer appropriate for them. It’s a tough job and we have recently redesigned how we train new staff, so that no one is thrown in at the deep end. We welcome applications from people who: use playfulness, acceptance, curious and empathy as an approach to working with children have working knowledge and experience of working with children with ADHD, ASD, SLD and MLD love working as part of a team are able to use their own initiative, thinking creatively, coming back for more have GCSE Grade C or equivalent in English and Maths will support children to be independent learners want to learn and grow Are imaginative, energetic, enthusiastic and hardworking and can have fun with it Believes that all barriers to learning can be overcome in some way We can offer: Enthusiastic, highly motivated, happy children and families A strong dedicated team, who are have high expectations of what our children can achieve whilst still having fun A structured programme of CPD, working closely with colleagues in our federated schools If you can see yourself being part of our team, you can download an application pack from our website - https://www.lane-head.walsall.sch.uk/more/federation-jobs. If you want more information, please contact Cathy Draper, our Executive Headteacher at cdrapershortheathfederation.org.uk. Visits are encouraged. Closing date for applications is 12.00 Noon on Friday 15th November 2024 with interviews being held shortly after. Application forms should be returned to: bricsshortheathfederation.org.uk as a word document. Short Heath Federation is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, keeping children safe in education and promoting British Values in school and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post is subject to an Enhanced DBS disclosure check and a completed Disqualification by Association form, along with relevant pre-employment checks, including two suitable professional references.