Higher Level Teaching Assistant (Assistant SENDCo)

Salary: BG9 £25,481 - £27,741 (Actual £22,186 - £24,154)

Hours worked: 37 Hours per week, TTO plus inset days

Contract: Temporary Maternity Cover to 10th February 2023 or the return of post holder if earlier

Application Deadline: Midday on Wednesday, 5th January, 2022

Interview date: Thursday, 13th January, 2022

Parson Street Primary School is a happy, caring and exciting place where every child matters and children come first. The school is at the heart of the community with a wonderful set of pupils, staff, governors and parents/ carers who contribute to the ongoing success of the school. We seek to live out our school motto – ‘Live and Learn’ in all we do. We aim to make learning enjoyable, allowing every individual to achieve their best and to nurture their talents, as well as giving them safety, security and the skills they will need to be good citizens and the workforce of tomorrow.

The Role

We require an adaptable, experienced, enthusiastic and highly motivated HLTA with good literacy and numeracy skills to play a leading role in the development of our children. As well as working with whole class and small groups, this role is to also work as Assistant SENDCo to ensure that provision and support for children with SEND is excellent.

What We Are Looking For

The candidate appointed will actively promote inclusion and have high expectations for all children. Experience working with children with SEND would be beneficial. Good communication skills are essential for this post, as is a willingness to work flexibly alongside a range of children and adults. The successful candidate will be an organised, committed and enthusiastic team player who is flexible and positive at all times.

Job Purpose

Planning, preparing and delivering learning activities for individuals and groups, as well as covering whole classes for PPA and short term absence. To work with and be guided by the SENDCo to develop and improve our provision for children with SEND. To work within the Inclusion Team to ensure a holistic provision for children and their families. Monitoring students and assessing, recording and reporting on students’ achievement, progress and development, as agreed with teachers.

Some of your duties will be:

• Assess the needs of students and use detailed knowledge and specialist skills to support students’ learning;

• Provide written and verbal feedback to students in relation to progress and achievement;

• Within an agreed system of supervision, plan challenging teaching and learning objectives and to evaluate and adjust lessons/work plans as appropriate;

• Monitor and evaluate student responses to learning activities through a range of assessment and monitoring activities against pre-determined learning objectives;

• Provide objective and accurate feedback and reports as required on student achievement, progress and other matters ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence;

• Support the role of parents/carers in students’ learning, particularly for children with SEND, and contribute to (and occasionally lead) meetings with parents/carers;

• Working with the SENDCO, review SEND provision across the school and plan how this can be developed and improved;

• Working with the SENDCO, implement SEND processes and work with teachers and Teaching Assistants to ensure that these are followed through for the improvement of provision for children;

• Undertake appraisal, training, mentoring, recruitment and induction for other appropriate staff;

• Hold regular team meetings with other appropriate staff;

• To support the SENDCo with the day to day management of Teaching Assistants across the school, including organising CPD meetings.

You should have:

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience as a Teaching Assistant, within the last 5 years

• Experience of working with children with SEND

• GCSE English and Maths (grades A*-C) or equivalent

• Understanding of strategies for teaching and learning inc. specifically related

• Understanding of the national curriculum

• Knowledge of how ICT is used to support pupils’ learning and ability to use ICT effectively in a classroom setting

• Ability to undertake a range of teaching activities with confidence, working effectively with individual pupils, groups of pupils and whole classes

• Ability to contribute to planning and preparation of lessons and teaching materials

• Ability to contribute to assessment and monitoring of pupil progress

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• Good organisational and time management skills

• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers and others

• Ability to supervise others effectively, as required

• Ability to take responsibility and work with autonomy within set boundaries

Fluency Duty

The ability to converse at ease with pupils, parents and other users of the service and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

It is our policy to obtain references prior to interview.   

Trust in Learning (Academies) is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance. Our policy and practice is in line with the Department for Education’s ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ most recent Guidance. We ensure that all appropriate measures are applied in relation to everyone who works for the Trust who is likely to be perceived by the children as a safe and trustworthy adult. Safer recruitment practice includes scrutinising applicants, online checks, verifying identity and academic or vocational qualifications, obtaining professional and character references, checking previous employment history and ensuring that a candidate has the health and physical capacity for the job.