Learning Support Assistant

**Full Job Description**:
**At OFG, we work smarter so you can spend more time doing the things you love**

Become a Learning Support Assistant (Gardening) at The Greater Horseshoe School part of Acorn Education and Care and start working towards yours.
- ** Up to £21,166 per annum**:

- ** 37.5 hours per week**:

- ** Permanent**:

- ** Term Time only**

The Greater Horseshoe School is an independent special school for children aged 8 to 18 years old. The school is situated in a peaceful woodland setting near Newton Abbot in Devon.

Our school facilities are complemented by our nearby care farm, where we offer animal care, horticulture and a wide range of outdoor educational activities alongside academic and vocational programmes.

We are committed to providing the best education for young people with complex needs. We offer a unique tailored programme for every child, combining a therapeutic approach, outdoor learning and individual academic and vocational programmes to suit each young person. Everything that we do is based on thoroughly understanding the needs of our students and how we can best support them in achieving positive outcomes.

Our approach is caring, positive and adaptable, and is underpinned by a thorough theoretical knowledge. Our staff come from relevant educational and therapeutic backgrounds and have extensive experience of supporting young people with a range of needs.

**The opportunity**

Enjoy a rewarding education career and have a real impact on Children’s lives. Join an amazing team making our schools and classrooms supportive, enriching places where vulnerable children and young people achieve far more than they ever expected.

Supporting children with complex Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) needs is important and rewarding work, and you will benefit from the tremendous support offered by our hugely experienced teams. As you help our children and young people achieve real and significant progress, you will enjoy having a direct, positive impact on their developing lives.

**Job Purpose**

You will be working under the direction/instruction of the Horticulture Lead. The Horticulture Lead will take overall responsibility for the progress of pupils within the setting but you will be required to carry out ‘specified work’ under their direction, which will include working with small groups and/or delivering 1:1 learning. You will be required to support pupils to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in basic gardening.

**Gardening/Horticulture qualifications are desirable but not essential. You will be offered a City + Guilds Level 1 in Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills qualification**. However, gardening experience, a love of the outdoors, a desire to work the land and to grow vegetables and plants are required for this post.

Although this role requires the ability to support our pupils primarily in gardening lessons, the successful applicant will also support our young people at Greater Horseshoe School to interact effectively with the world around them, express themselves and communicate confidently. Your timetable may contain lessons other than gardening.

**Main duties and responsibilities**:
To work under instruction/guidance to enable access to learning by:

- Attending to the welfare and care of pupils
- Delivering pre-determined learning/care/support programmes
- Implementing the Maths programme of study
- Assisting with the planning cycle
- Undertaking general clerical/administrative support for the department.

**Why join Acorn Education & Care?**

**Benefits**

**Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including**:

- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” - access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

**And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including**:

- A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
- 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
- Cycle to Work Schemes
- Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the children and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

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