Job Overview

La Moye School is seeking to recruit a lead teaching assistant to work within our aspirational and inclusive school.  The successful candidate will have experience working in a school setting and may bring specialist skills to the role.  They will be driven to ensure equity for all learners, so they make progress and have success, reducing the impact of any barriers they may face. 

Job Purpose

La Moye School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share the commitment.  We also believe every person matters and this is part of our culture, as described by our Core Values.  We strive to be a supportive, honest and respectful community, where staff feel valued and can be successful.

To provide the teaching staff with appropriate support in the planning, implementation and monitoring of education programmes to enable access to learning of students and to assist the teacher in the management of students and the classroom.

To provide the teaching staff with appropriate support in the planning, implementation and monitoring of special educational programmes to meet the needs of individuals or small groups with special educational needs.  To support the physical welfare of the students, both in an integrated and extraction situation and supervise medication as prescribed by a physician.

The postholder will:-

Work with particular groups of students to carry out specific programmes.  These may not necessarily take place in the classroom.  The types of programmes could include computer based programmes or early literacy support for which the postholder would have specific training.

Ensure that the necessary differentiated resources are in place to undertake these specific programmes.

Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all students within the classroom.

Postholders will work across all key stages within a school/s or provide linkwork to other schools.

Statutory Responsibilities

Supervise and provide particular support for students, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities in line with the curriculum.

Plan individual programmes against learning objectives.  Give feedback to the team on the progress and behaviour of the individual group or pupil within the special needs area.  Observe and monitor the development of specific students, recording appropriately and applying this knowledge to future planning.

Implement agreed work programmes/practical lessons under the guidance of the teacher.

Take lead responsibility for co-ordination of a school activity.  Supervise and assess the students in planned activities within the curriculum areas in the manner best suited to the individual needs.

Accompany teaching staff on visits, trips and out of school activities where appropriate. 

Assist with the supervision of students out of lesson times, including at lunchtimes.

Attend to the students’ personal needs, and implement related personal programmes, including social, health, physical, hygiene and welfare matters. Care for sick, distressed and injured children carrying out the necessary first aid and take the appropriate follow-up action necessary through the agreed school policy.  Contribute to specific reports when requested by consultants, GPs and parents on students with medical problems.

Provide clerical/administrative support e.g. photocopying, typing, filing, collecting money etc.

Support and develop partnerships with parents, liaising with them, with the support of the teacher in charge and Senior Teaching Assistant/Team Leader, to ensure consistency in approach for the students.

Supervise whole classes occasionally during short-term absence of teachers.  The primary focus will be to maintain good order and to keep students on task

Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.  Report all concerns to an appropriate person.

Job Specific Outcomes

Teaching assistants/keyworkers have many positive effects on pupil performance.  In particular, they are able to deliver concentrated levels of support to specific individuals or small groups of students. 

The areas to which a Key Worker/Teaching Assistant may be required to work within either the Foundation Stage or within a resource provision, e.g. hearing impaired, communication support units (autism), and physical difficulties.

Lead Keyworkers/Lead Teaching Assistants are expected to undertake their own programmes (which have been planned with the class teacher or Educational Needs Co-ordinator) with groups or individual students.  Weekly meetings will be held with the class teacher or Educational Needs Co-ordinator.

Qualifications

• Numeracy/literacy skills to a minimum of level 2 standard
• NVQ 3 or equivalent qualification or  Diploma in Childcare Education at Level 3 plus 2 years relevant experience
• Training in at least two relevant strategies eg literacy and/or in particular curriculum or learning area e.g. bi-lingual, sign language Level 2, dyslexia etc.
• Appropriate First Aid training

Knowledge

• Can use ICT effectively to support learning

• Use of other equipment technology – video, photocopier
• Full working knowledge of relevant policies/codes of practice and awareness of relevant legislation
• Working knowledge of curriculum and other relevant learning programmes/strategies
• Understanding of principles of child development and learning processes
• Knowledge of Health and Safety
• Have an understanding of the range of support services/providers/agencies.

Technical Work Based Skills

• Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities
• Ability to relate well to children and adults
• Ability to plan effective actions for students who require support to  progress their learning or who require specific support to facilitate their accessing of learning opportunities

General skills / attributes

Work constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and responsibilities and your own position within these

The ability to communicate at all levels while exercising a high degree of confidentiality is essential.

Experience

• Working with or caring for children of relevant age
• 2 years experience in working with students
• Have worked in all key stages across the school

Personal Attributes

Although the postholder will be working under the guidance of a teacher, there will be occasions when they need to make decisions and use their initiative.  They must be flexible and able to cope with changing situations within the classroom.  Be patient but firm, remain calm and deal with others in a tactful and sensitive manner.  Working within a team, the postholder will need to share ideas and information as well as accept advice.  They must have the ability to build good working relationships with both adults and children