Teaching Assistant

Job Description:Teaching Assistant - 4 positions available 

Grade: 5 SCP 11 - 17 - ACTUAL - £21,238.24 - £23,411.73

Responsible to: Classroom Teacher/Tutor/Head of Department

Hours of Work: Term Time Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – Including 5 inset days. 32.5hr per week

Monday 8:30 - 3:00

Tuesday: 8:30 – 3:00

Wednesday: 8:30 – 4:30

Thursday: 8:30 – 3:00

Friday: 8:30 - 2:40

Job Purpose

To work under the guidance of teaching/senior staff & within an agreed system of supervision, to implement agreed work programmes with individuals/groups, in or out of the classroom. This could include those requiring detailed and specialist knowledge in particular areas & will involve assisting the teacher or SENCo in the whole planning cycle and the management/preparation of resources. Staff may also supervise whole classes occasionally during the short-term absence of teachers. When supervising whole classes, the primary focus will be to maintain good order, to keep pupils on task, respond to questions & assist pupils to undertake set learning activities.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Support for Pupils

• Attend to the pupils’ personal needs, and implement related personal programmes, including social, health, physical, hygiene, first aid and welfare matters, as appropriate
• Supervise & support pupils ensuring their safety and access to learning
• Develop a good knowledge of pupils’ individual special educational needs and implement appropriate strategies as outlined on the students’ profile
• Use specialist (curricular/learning) skills/training/experience to support pupils
• Assist with the development of student profiles, target action plans and individual intervention plans
• Establish constructive working relationships with pupils, acting as a role model and setting high expectations
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils
• Support pupils consistently whilst recognising and responding to their individual needs
• Encourage pupils to interact and work co-operatively with others and engage all pupils in activities
• Set challenging and demanding expectations and promote self-esteem and independence
• Employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement of self-reliance
• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement
• To provide pastoral support for pupils, within an agreed system of supervision

Support For Teacher

• Work with the teacher to establish an appropriate learning environment
• Work with the teacher in lesson planning, evaluating and adjusting lessons/work plans as appropriate
• Monitor and evaluate pupils’ responses to learning activities through observation and planned recording of achievement against pre-determined learning objectives
• Provide objective and accurate feedback and reports as required, to the teacher on pupil achievement, progress and other matters, ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence
• Be responsible for keeping and updating records as agreed with the teacher, contributing to reviews of systems/records as requested
• Undertake marking of pupils’ work and accurately record achievement/progress
• Promote positive values, attitudes and good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour
• Liaise sensitively and effectively with parents/carers as agreed with the teacher within your role/responsibility and participate in feedback sessions/meetings with parents with, or as directed
• Administer and assess routine tests and invigilate exams/tests
• Provide general clerical/admin support e.g. administer coursework, produce worksheets for agreed activities etc
• Supervise whole classes including tutor groups occasionally, during the short term absence of the teacher or tutor, register students, delivering set activities and maintaining good order
• Support the role of the tutor, including the delivery of small group activities or mentoring within an agreed system of supervision

Support for the Curriculum

• Implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes including 1:1 and small group interventions adjusting activities according to pupil responses/needs
• Implement local and national learning strategies
• Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use
• Help pupils to access learning activities through specialist support
• Determine the need for, prepare and maintain general and specialist equipment and resources
• To attend all department meetings and relevant staff meetings
• To attend all training courses as directed
• To participate in the School’s Performance Management Review process and make use of professional development opportunities
• To play an active and positive role
• To familiarise yourself with the working practices of the Department and adhere to them at all times
• To maintain confidentiality according to organisation and legal requirements
• To be aware of equal opportunities policies and principles and health & safety regulations
• The postholder will be expected to contribute to the protection of children as appropriate, in accordance with any agreed policies & guidelines,reporting any issues or concerns to their immediate line manager
• To undertake other duties that can be reasonably expected of and are relevant to the level and nature of the post

This job description only contains the main accountabilities relating to the posts and does not describe in detail all of the duties required to carry them out

Physical Effort & Working Environment

• The postholder will be expected to undertake bending,stretching and lifting in the course of their duties e.g. preparing the classroom,displaying pupils work,assist pupils during lesson times,engaging in activities led by the teacher.There may be an increased level of physical effort required for children with personal or specialist needs
• During occasional periods of supervision there will be an expectation that the postholder will be exposed to heat & cold which on occasions,for example adverse weather conditions,may be higher than normal

Personal Specification

Essential

• Evidence of a good basic education, especially in English and Maths
• A friendly and courteous manner
• The ability to plan & implementing effective actions for pupils at risk of underachieving (under the guidance of teaching/senior staff and within an agreed system of supervision)
• Ability to relate well to both children and adults
• A relevant,recognised qualification such as the NVQ Level 3 for Teaching Assistants,Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education,NVQ Level 3 Childcare in Education,City and Guilds Advanced Certificate in Learning Support (A relevant professional qualification e.g. Teaching,Social Work or Nursing would be treated as equivalent for these purposes.) or the post holder should have HLTA status.A minimum of 2 years recent,relevant experience, which demonstrates the postholder,has applied a wide range of strategies supporting children and successful experience of delivering education programmes over a longer period,e.g. 6 – 8 weeks,with minimum supervision only
• Understanding of principles of child development and learning processes and in particular, barriers to learning
• Basic understanding and use of technology ie Microsoft Office, Internet, email, use of photocopiers etc
• Evidence of working constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and responsibilities and your own position within these
• Training in the relevant strategies e.g. literacy or numeracy or in particular curriculum or learning area e.g. bi-lingual, sign language, dyslexia, ICT, maths, English, CACHE (Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education) etc
• Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities

Desirable

• Appropriate knowledge of general first aid
• General understanding of national/foundation stage curriculum and other basic learning programmes/strategies/codes of practice

Applications can close early if suitable candidate is found