What skills and experience we're looking for
Title: Classroom Teaching Assistant
Reports to: Director of SEN, although work may be directed by a Head of Department, HLTA or the Headteacher
Hours:25 hours per week (term time only)
Salary: Grade 4, points 7 - 10 (£24,294 - 25,545) full time equivalent
PROFESSIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Support for students:
• Develop a detailed knowledge of the particular needs of students with additional needs
• Have a passion for working with/supporting children with SEND
• Provide support for students, ensuring their safety and welfare and accessing learning activities
• Identify specific strategies to support the student (in partnership with the class teacher and SENCO) to learn in a variety of ways, including;
• Clarifying and explaining (but not giving the answer)
• Supporting a student to use the correct equipment
• Assisting in language, behaviour, social skill, reading and handwriting development
• Ensuring work is completed to a high standard
• Developing appropriate resources to support students (in partnership with the class teacher)
• Using small group work, 1:1, withdrawal as methods to help meet the needs of the students
• Establishing excellent relationships with students to promote inclusion and interaction
• Discuss targets set for the students and support their understanding of how to achieve these
• Providing feedback for the student and parents/carers on progress and achievement and commenting on work in exercise books (to also inform the teacher of support given)
• Where needed, accompany students and the department on trips/visits and take responsibility for supervision of groups of students on these trips/visits
• Record notes for parents/tutors in student planners to aid learning and transition
• Be active in class and a visible member of staff
Support for teachers:
• Assist the class teacher in developing appropriate resources to support the learning of students
• Provide detailed and regular feedback to the teacher on the progress of students (in books or verbal) and evaluate progress in partnership
• Contribute to the reviews of progress as a key worker for named students (including My Plan, EHC or reports for outside agencies)
• Promote good behaviour, dealing promptly with any incidents in line with the school policy and the agreement with the specific teacher
• Establish constructive relationships with parents/carers of key students
• Support the department in resource creation and display work
• Advise teachers of the impact of strategies you are developing
• Communicate effectively with the class teacher/HLTA/SENCO to ensure all staff can benefit from examples of best practice
• Attend department meetings and other training
• Become familiar with the content and demands of the subject up to and including GCSE
• Undertake intervention programmes (where needed) to ensure that students make progress in line with their peers
• Assist with the preparation of resources in the department to ensure that the curriculum can be delivered to all students
• Support organisation of students to ensure key messages are recorded and taken home (e.g. ILT)
• Become familiar with the content and demands of the subjects up to and including GCSE
Supporting the school:
• Be aware of the latest updates in child protection, health and safety, confidentiality and data protection in school and the processes of reporting any concerns
• Support and uphold all policies in school
• Be proactive with regard to career development and agree to using coaching observations as a means of improving practice (observing others and being observed)
• Participate in professional development opportunities and the performance management system (involving a skills audit and peer observations)
• Attend and participate in meetings as required
• Set the very best example in dress, attendance and behaviours
Safeguarding Statement
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and all applicants will be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media accounts, as part of their application.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children."
What the school offers its staff
In return, we can offer:
• Professional, passionate and dedicated teaching and support staff, who are willing and eager to undertake continuous professional development.
• Talented, stimulating and enthusiastic students with a desire to learn.
We believe it is only right that we balance the challenges that we set, with an understanding that gets the best out of someone; which means valuing them and nurturing them. We are fully aware that a passionate, supported and well directed team will go on to achieve great things.
As a Trust we provide:
1.Competitive salary and clarity in the performance management process.
2.The opportunity to take on short or long term roles within the Trust that help us along our journey.
3.The ability to work with teachers and children from other countries as part of Dene Magna's International School offer.
4.Comprehensive new staff induction.
5.Full support for CPD and a career mapping tool to facilitate this.
6.Free onsite parking.
7.On site dining room.
8.Free use of the onsite Gym at Dene Magna.
9.A termly prize draw for staff.
This information is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post. It will be reviewed at least once a year and may be subject to modification or amendment at anytime after consultation with the holder of the post.
The duties may be varied to meet the changing demands of the Trust at the reasonable discretion of the Trustees.
This information does not form part of the contract of employment. It describes the way the post holder is expected and required to perform and complete the particular duties.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.