Higher Level Teaching Assistant

**Higher Level Teaching Assistant**

**Job Purpose**

To organise and support teaching and learning activities for classes. The primary focus is to carry out specified work with individuals, groups and whole classes under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher.

**Support Responsibilities**
- Assess the needs of pupils and use detailed knowledge and specialist skills to support pupils’ learning.
- Establish productive working relationships with pupils, acting as a role model and setting high expectations.
- To work intensively with identified students with complex ASD needs who exhibit behaviours that challenge and follow specific and individualised plans and strategies and adapt them as the needs arise.
- Develop and implement behaviour and communication strategies (including Makaton, BSL - specific reference to “finger spelling” and PECs) for identified students. Detailed understanding of communication methods is essential.
- Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils within the classroom.
- Support pupil consistency whilst recognising and responding to their individual needs.
- Encourage pupils to interact and work co-operatively with others and engage all pupils in activities.
- Promote independence and employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement of self-reliance.
- Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement.
- Organise and manage appropriate learning environment and resources.
- Within an agreed system of supervision, plan challenging teaching and learning objectives to evaluate and adjust lessons/work plans as appropriate.
- Monitor and evaluate pupil responses to learning activities through a range of assessment and monitoring strategies against pre-determined learning objectives including the use of SOLAR.
- Provide objective and accurate feedback and reports as required on pupil achievement, progress and other matters, ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence.
- Record progress and achievement in lessons/activities systematically and provide evidence of range and levels of progress and attainment.
- Work within an established discipline policy to anticipate and manage behaviour constructively, promoting self-control and independence.
- Supporting the role of parents in pupils’ learning and contribute to/lead meetings with parents to provide constructive feedback on pupil progress/achievement etc.
- Production of lesson plans, worksheet, plans etc that are adapted to meet needs of learners.
- Deliver learning activities to pupils within agreed systems of supervision/adjusting activities according to pupil responses/needs.
- Deliver local and national learning strategies e.g. Literacy, Numeracy, KS3, early years and make effective use of opportunities provided by other learning activities to support the development of pupils’ skills.
- Use of ICT effectively to support learning activities and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use. Detailed working knowledge of Proloquo2Go is essential.
- Select and prepare resources necessary to lead learning activities, taking account of pupils interest and language and cultural backgrounds.
- Undertake cover for absent colleagues, as appropriate.
- Advise on appropriate deployment and use of specialist aid/resources/equipment. Cumbria Academy for Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
- Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals, in liaison with the teacher, to support achievement and progress of pupils.
- Take the initiative to develop appropriate multi-agency approaches to supporting pupils
- Recognise own strengths and areas of specialist expertise and use these to lead, advise and support others.
- Contribute to the identification and execution of appropriate out of academy learning activities, which consolidate and extend work carried out in class.

**General**
- To develop excellent working relationships with colleagues internally, centrally and externally.
- To be an effective and flexible member of the team, contributing to the successful adherence to Safeguarding Policy.
- To uphold the Academy policies and procedures at all times.
- To ensure any documentation produced is to a high standard and is in line with the in-house style.
- Be aware and comply with policies and procedures relating to Safeguarding, child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to the appropriate person.
- Participate in and deliver training as required. Specific reference to communication.
- Participate in the Academy’s Performance Management process.
- Provide appropriate guidance and supervision and assist in the training and development of staff as approp