Job Overview

First Tower School wish to recruit a self-motivated and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join our friendly team to support children with additional needs in a variety of year groups. You will have an NVQ 3 or equivalent and ideally experience working in a school.
First Tower is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Please be aware that all candidates will be required to provide at least one referee that can comment on their suitability to work with children.

The successful candidate will:
•    Be an experienced, child-centred practitioner, committed to inclusive education and creating high quality learning opportunities and environments for our children to thrive in enabling them to reach their best possible outcomes.
•    Work collaboratively with teaching staff and assist teachers with the planning/assessment cycle and management/preparation of resources. 
•    Have a positive "can do" attitude and be committed to the school's ethos of inclusion and have high expectations of achievement and behaviour.
•    Be resilient, with a good sense of humour along with a calm, caring, professional approach.
•    Be organised, adaptable and prepared to support our students in class and out of class in small groups or on a 1:1 basis.
•    Have patience and an ability to reflect upon their practice.
•    Address any misbehaviour by pupils in line with the school's behaviour policy.
•    Be willing to engage in additional training/professional development opportunities as required.
•    Have good organisational and time management skills.
•    Be able and willing to work effectively as part of a team.
•    Support the principles, values and ethos of the school.
•    Take appropriate responsibility for safeguarding and children's wellbeing and welfare.
•    Be aware of health and safety issues and act in accordance with the school's Health & Safety Policy.
•    Have an understanding of ASD and ADHD

Job Purpose

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.

Job Specific Outcomes 1 of 2

• 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. To 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.
• To 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 lesson times, including before and after school and at lunchtimes.
• 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.

Job Specific Outcomes 2 of 2

• Attend students’ personal needs, and implement related personal programmes, including social, health, physical, and hygiene and welfare matters.
• Provide clerical/administrative support e.g. photocopying, tying, filing, collecting money.
• Support and develop partnerships with parents, liaising with them, with the support of the teacher in charge, to ensure consistency in approach for the students.

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

Qualifications

• 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
• 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 e.g. 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
• 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
• Knowledge of Health and Safety
• 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.
• Have an understanding of the range of support services/providers/agencies.
• The ability to communicate at all levels while exercising a high degree of confidentiality is essential.