1:1 Teaching Assistant

We are looking for a 1:1 Teaching Assistant  (1 year contract)

Location: King Edwin School, Norton

Line Managed / Jointly Supervised by: Vice Principal/HOS

Salary Scale: £20,538 pa

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week, holiday - Term Time Only

We are looking to recruit for an outstanding team member to join our skilled team of teaching assistants. Our teaching assistants are the heart of our school, performing the role of key adult to a number of our students and being the key contact for their families.  We work in small supportive teams, with one of the best pay scales in the country for TA work (salary advertised is the salary we pay, it is not pro-rata). We pride ourselves on our culture of kindness and our student centred ethos, with our students benefiting from an extensive personal development curriculum as well as a robust package of accredited qualifications.  A typical day might include meeting and greeting students, supporting breakfast club, running tutorial, supporting academic lessons and then supporting either vocational learning or outdoor education. Alongside the inclusive ethos and caring approach we use, there is also plenty of opportunity for training and development, as we are very keen to 'grow our own' and support people in developing in the career pathway they wish to follow.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsibility for ensuring and promoting the safeguarding and emotional well-being of any young people that you may come into contact with, reporting problems to the teacher
Work in accordance with Spark of Genius vision and aims
To assist teachers in raising the standards of pupil attainment, through the provision of quality and relevant experiences and with regard to the curriculum, age range or additional needs
To assist the teachers in: the planning and preparation and collation of learning materials and resources; the creation of visual displays; differentiating and adapting learning programmes to suit the needs of allocated pupils
Assess, record and report on development, progress and attainment as agreed with the teacher and in line with reporting processes prescribed by the school quality cycle; Monitor and record pupil responses and learning achievements, drawing any problems which cannot be resolved to the attention of the teacher/personal tutor
To support and assist the pupils within the centre and on educational and out of school activities
To work with individual pupils or small groups of pupils.
To adhere to the whole organisation policies on Safeguarding, pastoral care, behaviour management, health & safety and pupil welfare at all times
To work in partnership with school and residential colleagues, parents/carers and other adults, e.g. Educational Psychologist
Make economic use of the monies provided for education including adherence to systems of accounting and the recording for the use of transport.
To attend to the personal, social, emotional & behavioural needs of pupils as required/indicated in their personal education, care & development plan whilst encouraging independence; assist in the maintenance of a safe, healthy, hygienic environment.
To work with external care and education agencies as appropriate, when directed by your line manager, to contribute to positive and sustainable outcomes for our young people when they leave our service.
To take an active part in the school outdoor educational provision, including supporting animal care and wellbeing and our Duke of Edinburgh provision.

Professional Knowledge and Understanding:

Have a working knowledge of child well-being, learning and developmental pathways
Have sufficient knowledge of literacy, numeracy; and personal, social and health education; and to be IT literate

Professional Responsibilities:

Have a broad understanding of the ethos, values and policies of Spark of Genius and to place these at the centre of your practice
To have full awareness of the importance of the role of education assistant in Spark of Genius

Principles and Perspectives:

To adhere to sound professional values and practices at all times
To maintain an ethos of quality provision and continual improvement

Professional Skills and Abilities:

Communicate clearly, have good interpersonal skills
To assist pupils both individually and on a group basis
Display ability and willingness to contribute to the life of the school and its community
With teachers support, use a range of resources which, have been evaluated in terms of curriculum requirements and to meet the needs of pupils.
Maintain expectations for the pace of work, attainment and achievement for all pupils.
Work in a professional, co-operative manner with all associated with Spark of Genius
Maintain excellent attendance standards keeping absence from work at a minimum

Classroom Organisation and Management:

Alongside the teacher, manage classes and resources to achieve safe, orderly and purposeful activity; report any damaged material or any damage to the building immediately
Ability to use positive behaviour strategies, using a range of agreed methods (which may include the likes of TCI, Team Teach, Calm etc), Restorative Approaches and Spark’s ‘Every Second Counts' as a framework

Assessment of Pupils:

As part of the education team, participate in target setting for all pupils and assist in the formulation of appropriate Individualised Educational Plans for pupils. Participate in the school/organisation assessment for learning and development policy by making daily recordings and encouraging pupils to self-reflect and realise potential

Professional Reflection and Communication:

Learn from experience of practice and from ongoing professional development
Reflect on and act to improve professional practice, and contribute to personal professional development. Become actively involved in the school/organisations Restorative Approaches if required.
Engage in curriculum and continual professional development activities if required
Establish and maintain relationships with families, carers and other adults, e.g. Educational Psychologist

Professional Value and Personal Commitment:

Able to show in the day-to-day practice a commitment to the protection, welfare and social development of all Spark of Genius pupils
Participate in extended curricular experiences with the pupils
Able to demonstrate a flexible approach to work practice
Value, respect and act as an active partner within Spark of Genius and our wider community
Ability to use initiative and work independently as required

Other Requirements:

You must co-operate with the company in complying with the Health and Safety requirements and are therefore expected to follow Company policies, to acquaint yourself with the Fire, Health and Safety Procedures at your place of work and report any unsafe practices and conditions
The post holder may be reasonably expected to undertake other duties commensurate with the level of responsibility that may be allocated from time to time.
It is the responsibility of the post holder to comply with Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities requirements at all times.
Any other reasonable management instruction or duty as directed by Management.

The above job description forms part of your main terms and conditions of employment. The Company reserves the right to vary duties and responsibilities at any time within legal notification frameworks, however, not outside what is considered reasonable to the original post.

Caretech is committed to Safeguarding and protecting the young people and service users within our care. All candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and reference checks. Caretech is an equal opportunities employer.

Caretech will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

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