1:1 Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant SEN TA (SEMH) – Join Our Supportive School Community Are you passionate about supporting children with Special Educational Needs and eager to make a real difference in their lives? Winterbourne Valley CE VA First School, a small and nurturing village school just outside Dorchester, is looking for a dedicated 1:1 SEN TA with experience in Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Application Deadline: Thursday 27 th March 2025 Interviews: w/c 31 st March 2025 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Your Role: Initially a Term-time only position to be linked to a pupil who is currently in year 3. So approximately 16-months given we are a first school. This contract could be transferred to another pupil or to a classroom TA at the end of the period if the opportunity arose. Start Date: As soon as possible This position is currently set at Grade 5 SCP 5-6. What We’re Looking For: Experience working with children with SEMH needs and a good understanding of strategies to support their development. A patient, empathetic, and resilient approach to working with children who may have challenging behaviours. Strong communication skills to build positive relationships with children, parents, and staff. A commitment to supporting the child’s academic and emotional progress. The ability to work under the direction of the class teacher and SENCO while using initiative to adapt support strategies as needed. Main Responsibilities and Duties: As a 1:1 SEN Teaching Assistant, your role will be crucial in providing tailored support to a specific child with SEMH needs. You will: Provide targeted 1:1 support to help the child access learning and achieve their full potential. Implement strategies to support emotional regulation and positive behaviour management. Adapt learning activities to meet the child’s individual needs under the guidance of the teacher and SENCO. Support social interaction and communication to help develop the child’s confidence and engagement in the classroom. Encourage independence and resilience by promoting self-regulation strategies. Monitor progress and provide feedback, keeping accurate records to contribute to the child’s individual support plan. Liaise with teachers, SENCO, and external professionals to ensure a consistent approach to the child’s development. Assist with sensory or emotional regulation activities where needed. Promote and safeguard the welfare of the child in line with the school’s safeguarding policies. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check will be required for the successful candidate. We look forward to welcoming a compassionate and dedicated new team member Further Information Come and See for Yourself We warmly invite you to visit our school and see our wonderful learning environment first-hand. If you have any questions or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Becky Pearce, our Headteacher, at [email protected] or call 01305 889297. Winterbourne Valley CE VA First School values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. Winterbourne Valley CE VA First School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines. The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements. The salary quoted is the annual salary for the position at the time of advert. The salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments and will be adjusted at the start of employment and again if leaving part way through the school year to ensure the correct salary is received for the work completed in an academic year. This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. Keeping Children Safe in Education Winterbourne Valley CE VA First School will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern. About Us Why Join Us? Work in a small, supportive village school with a warm and welcoming team. Be part of a school that values inclusion and well-being for both staff and pupils. Make a lasting impact on a child’s educational journey. Benefit from ongoing training and professional development.