We are seeking to appoint committed and enthusiastic Level 1 or Level 2 Teaching Assistants to support children with additional needs. Experience of the following would be beneficial for the Level 2 Teaching Assistants - Speech and language and communication difficulties, ASD, ADHD and ODD (oppositional defiance disorder) and general learning difficulties. This is a one-year, fixed-term, part-time position, 30 hours per week, to be worked across Monday to Friday, 38 weeks per year, term time only. The postholders will play an important role in supervising the activities of pupils during the teaching period and lunch & break time duty within the school, including both indoor and outdoor areas, ensuring a safe environment is maintained at all times. Experience of working with children in an education setting is preferred. The successful applicant must be able to work as part of a team to support the learning and welfare of pupils in school. The school will offer all successful applicants: a thriving, successful school a school committed to your continuing professional development the support and expertise of our experienced and established team training will be provided as appropriate free access to the Employee Assistance Programme eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme Cycle to Work Scheme The application process Applications must be made on the school’s My New Term site. Please ensure a full work history is completed including any gaps in employment and two referees are given. Please note Ferndown Middle School does not accept CVs in place of an application form. Incomplete application forms will not be shortlisted. Please refer to the job description and person specification attached. Further Information Safeguarding The Castleman Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate that they meet the essential elements of the person specification and will be subject to pre-employment checks including an Enhanced DBS Check, Child Barred List check, satisfactory references and a health check and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Online search on shortlisted applicants An online check will also be conducted on all shortlisted applicants. This check will form part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern. Right to Work 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 Ministry of Justice 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 via https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974. Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the application process or need additional information, please contact Michele Shield on 01202 876556 or email [email protected] Visits to the School If you would like to visit the school, please contact the school office to arrange an appointment. To gain a greater understanding of our school values, curriculum offer and premises, please visit our school website. About Us Ferndown Middle School is part of the Castleman Academy Trust – a Trust which prides itself on putting children first always and puts its values of Respect, Independence, Creativity and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. It is the staff in our academies who make our schools vibrant places of learning – who do all they can to make sure our children become confident individuals, successful learners and responsible citizens. Our staff want to make a real difference to the lives of the children they work with and are learners themselves who relish professional development opportunities. Working in a Castleman Academy Trust school, you will be working with other forward thinkers, who see possibilities and are optimistic. You will have the support of like-minded colleagues and together we will ensure everyone has a great work life balance. Being part of the Castleman Academy Trust means there are a whole host of opportunities for you to develop and flourish. Ferndown Middle School is situated in Ferndown adjacent to Ferndown First and Ferndown Upper Schools. The school has up to 600 pupils, covering the age range 9 to 13 years old (year groups 5 to 8). The curriculum at the heart of all we do at Ferndown Middle School has three core outcomes; to develop confident and successful learners; to exemplify and cultivate responsible citizens and to inspire children to be aspirational individuals. Our vision helps direct children to see themselves as learners but also expands their horizons to plan for their future as valued members of both the local and global community.