SEN Teaching Assistant
Location: Cranleigh GU6 7DH
Salary: Teaching Assistant actual salary pro rata is A GBP 18,469 : A GBP 19,206 for 39 weeks, term time plus CPD days (A GBP 21,533 : A GBP 22,393 FTE based on 36 hours over 52 weeks), rising to actual pro rata salary A GBP 19,954 : A GBP 21,917 (A GBP 23,265 : A GBP 25,554 FTE based on 36 hours over 52 weeks) for a Senior Teaching Assistant after completing the TA apprenticeship (paid for by us) and 2 years with the Trust.
Do you want to change lives, whilst also having the opportunity to build a rewarding career?
The Role
St Josephs Specialist Trust are seeking a number of Teaching Assistants to support growing student numbers, to join the education team in their specialist school and college. A Teaching Assistant at St Josephs is very different from a mainstream TA position. During the school week, you will be supporting students, age 5:19, with severe social communication difficulties, complex learning disabilities and often challenging behaviours to access therapy based education. With your compassion and guidance, you will help their students learn and achieve the greatest possible level of independence relative to their complex needs and help prepare them for life beyond school or college.
Classes have between 4 and 10 students. They are grouped by ability and to meet their social needs rather than age. Some class time is structured. Many students follow a personalised timetable. They learn core skills including numeracy, literacy and science as well as life and living skills including cookery and gardening. Lessons are often 30 minutes long. Some of their students are non:verbal using alternative means of communication including Makaton, signs, symbols or communications aids, often using a multi:sensory approach.
Supporting their students can sometimes be challenging. They may get frustrated, anxious and emotional and you will need to guide them through it by helping them to manage their feelings and behaviour. You will have the ongoing support of a skilled and dedicated team. Comprehensive training and mentoring includes learning about safeguarding, autism and positive behaviour support. Some of their students may need personal care.
All of their TAs take part in a twice weekly TA training package that includes theory and practical sessions and leads to a teaching apprentice qualification which has been approved by the CPD standards office. If you are recruited, you will be required to complete Team Teach positive behaviour support training as part of your induction before employment.
School hours are 36 per week: Monday 08.30:16.00, Tuesday : Thursday 08.30 : 16.15 and Friday 08.30 : 15.45 plus thirty minutes admin time. They cannot accommodate reduced working hours per day but can accommodate less than 5 days per week (ideally 4 or more, but 3 may be considered if possible to accommodate).
It is also possible for Higher Level Teaching Assistant roles (class or subject based) as they become available, with unqualified HLTA starting salaries from A GBP 21,916 (A GBP 25,554 FTE, 36 hours over 52 weeks) or qualified from A GBP 25,310 (A GBP 29,509 FTE, 36 hours over 52 weeks).
Skills and Qualifications
* Literacy and Numeracy Skills: you will need to support the students in their learning and be able to read, understand and complete medication forms, risk assessments and student reports and records.
* Common Sense: you will need work in a team and dynamically risk assess challenging situations to keep yourself and others safe.
* Communication skills: you need to be able to communicate effectively with children, families and professionals.
* Patience: you will need to adapt to the pace of each individual young person and be able to remain calm when faced with anxious, emotional or frustrated behaviours, some of which would be deemed unacceptable elsewhere.
You dont need experience. You do need empathy and compassion. Physical and mental resilience are essential qualiti