Job Overview

Haute Vallee School is seeking to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic Senior Learning Support Assistant to work closely with our Behaviour Manager, to support all Teaching staff in the management and improvement of student behaviour within the school environment.  This is an exciting opportunity to join and be part of a team that will guide and support students through continued improvement of their behaviour to ensure learning within the school environment is optimised.  The successful applicant will have experience of working as a Learning Support Assistant, ideally with experience of managing a team.  Applicants should have excellent communication and computer skills and be able to work under pressure in a busy, vibrant secondary school, whilst demonstrating a nurturing and caring approach to support the students and staff.  Ideally applicants will have exceptional organisational skills to support this key role whilst demonstrating excellent teamwork and leadership. He/she should be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills when working with students, staff and parents. The successful applicant will be well organised, flexible, friendly and be able to work to deadlines.

Job Purpose

To provide the teaching staff with appropriate support by taking responsibility for agreed learning activities under an agreed system of supervision. This may involve planning, preparing and delivering learning activities for individuals/groups or short term for whole classes. Monitor students and assessing, recording and reporting on students’ achievement, progress and development. Be responsible for the supervision and development of a specialist area within the Inclusion Team, the school and/or management of other Learning Support Assistants including allocation, monitoring of work and training

Job Specific Outcomes

Manage a team of Learning Support Assistants within a specialist area in the school to effectively deploy resources as required. Contribute to the recruitment, training, development and induction of Grade 4, 5 and 6 Learning Support Assistants, as required by the school ENCO.

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. Monitor and evaluate students’ responses to learning activities through planned observation and recording of achievement against pre-determined targets. Support student achievement, including monitoring of progress, evaluation and target setting.

Plan and implement agreed work programmes/practical lessons under the general guidance of the teacher to whom assigned. Observe and monitor the development of specific students, recording appropriately and applying this knowledge to future planning. Give feedback to the team on the progress and behaviour of the individual group or student within the special needs area as required. Attend and report at Annual Reviews. Monitor development of specific students on courses, including feedback to other Learning Support Assistants on progress and learning intentions.

Administer relevant assessments. Be responsible for keeping and updating records in agreed format with the Inclusion Co-ordinator contributing to reviews of systems/records as requested.

Accompany teaching staff on visits, trips and out of school activities where appropriate. Transporting and supporting physically disabled and special needs students where necessary. Assist with the supervision of students out of lesson times, including before and after school and at lunchtimes.

Support and develop partnerships with parents, in liaison with the school ENCO, to ensure consistency in approach for the students.

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.

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. This can include cover supervision and specified work in order to assist or support the work of a qualified teacher.

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.

To advise class teachers and Learning Support Assistants on approaches intervention strategies for targeted  Students.

Specific Responsibilities

• Organise/manage the programme for students in the Ready to Learn room under the direction of the Behaviour Manager

• Liaise with the Behaviour Manager/Heads of Department/Heads of Year to develop appropriate support/interventions

• Liaise with outside agencies/attend meetings with outside agencies/professionals where necessary

• Develop alternative short-term or long-term strategies for students not working to a normal timetable

• Monitor and evaluate students’ responses to learning activities through planned observation and recording of achievement against pre-determined targets.

Knowledge /Skills

• Full working knowledge of relevant policies/codes of practice and awareness of relevant legislation

• Working knowledge of curriculum and other relevant learning programmes

• Understanding of principles of child development and learning processes in particular, barriers to learning

• 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.

• Full understanding of the range of support services/providers

• Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities • Ability to relate well to children and adults

• 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.

• Effective use of ICT to support learning

• Ability to manage a team, including undertaking recruitment, selection, performance review & appraisal, training etc. • Knowledge of Health and Safety.

Experience

• Experience of working with children of relevant age

• 5 years’ experience in working with students, dependent upon qualifications held.

• Experience of working with students with additional complex needs

Qualifications / Training

• Good numeracy/literacy skills to level 3 standard.

• Diploma in Early Education and Care qualification or NVQ 3 and 3 years’ experience in working with children

• Have received training in at least two relevant strategies eg literacy and/or in particular curriculum or learning area e.g. bi-lingual, sign language, dyslexia, managing behaviour, supporting children with physical needs.

• First Aid training essential plus specific intervention key worker training eg live handling, welfare procedures where appropriate