Level 3 SEND Learning Assistant

Discovery Special Academy is seeking to appoint a pro-active, enthusiastic, energetic and reliable Level 3 Teaching Assistant to join the Tees Valley Education Trust. This position would be to work with children from nursery to Year 11 with complex learning, sensory, communication and behaviour needs. Experience working with children with significant sensory and behaviour needs is required.

As a Level 3 Teaching Assistant, you will work alongside the class teacher, helping pupils to get the most out of their learning and supporting individuals or groups of pupils. You will be contributing to and participating in the team working ethos of the provision whilst maintaining its core values by:

• Supporting families to ensure that their children attend school regularly and make good progress;
• Supporting children to be kept safe and work positively with a range of stakeholders to protect children;
• Enabling children to be successful through supporting excellent attitudes towards learning and behaviour.

What we are looking for

We are looking for people who have experience of working with children with complex SEND, are interested in their development and learning and have good organisational and communication skills. We ask that all staff working with our children hold qualifications in English and mathematics that are at least equivalent to GCSE grade ‘C’. Qualification as a teaching assistant (or equivalent) is essential.

Safeguarding requirements for the role

Tees Valley Education Multi-Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and, therefore, all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as “spent” must be declared.

Job description and duties

To work with the class teacher to support teaching and learning of children with significant learning needs, providing specialist support to the teacher. This could include those requiring detailed and specialist knowledge in particular areas and will involve assisting the teacher in the whole planning and assessment cycle and the management/preparation of resources. Staff may also supervise whole classes occasionally (e.g. short-term absence of teacher) or for regular short periods with teacher’s planning provided (including PPA cover).

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Use specialist (curricular/learning) skills/training/experience to support all pupils with a range of needs within specialist provisions within the trust.
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils.
• Work with classes, small groups and individuals in order to support them in accessing learning across the curriculum as directed by the class teacher.
• Encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher.
• Support pupils in their own personal development to be successful through promoting excellent attitudes towards learning and behaviour.
• Supervise and provide particular support for pupils, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities.
• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement under the guidance of the teacher.
• Establish constructive relationships with pupils and interact with them according to individual needs.
• Assist with the development and implementation of individual plans (e.g. behaviour, healthcare and learning).
• Supervise pupils and ensure they are happy and safe at playtime and lunchtime.

SUPPORT FOR THE TEACHER

• Work with the teacher to establish an appropriate learning environment.
• Work with the teacher in lesson planning, evaluating and adjusting lessons/work plans as appropriate.
• Monitor and evaluate pupils’ responses to learning activities through observation and planned recording of achievement against pre-determined learning objectives.
• Provide objective and accurate feedback and reports as required, to the teacher on pupil achievement, progress and other matters, ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence.
• Be responsible for keeping and updating records as agreed with the teacher, contributing to reviews of systems/records as requested.
• Undertake feedback/marking of pupils’ work and accurately record achievement/progress.
• Promote positive values, attitudes and good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour.
• Liaise sensitively and effectively with parents/carers as agreed with the teacher within your role/responsibility and participate in feedback sessions/meetings with parents with, or as directed.
• Provide general resources support and ensure the learning environment is in good order (e.g. photocopying, preparation of classroom resources, displays and good classroom organisation).

SUPPORT FOR THE CURRICULUM

• Implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses/needs.
• Implement agreed learning strategies (e.g. PIVATS, Literacy, Maths, Foundation Stage curriculum) and make effective use of opportunities to support the development of relevant knowledge and skills.
• Help pupils to access learning activities through specialist support.
• Determine the need for, prepare and maintain general and specialist equipment and resources.

SUPPORT FOR THE ACADEMY

• Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Understand and fully implement the academy’s Behaviour Management Strategies.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
• Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the academy.
• Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals, in liaison with the teacher, to support achievement and progress of pupils.
• Attend and participate in regular meetings.
• Participate in training and other learning activities as required.
• Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others.
• Have an area of specialism e.g. a subject area.
• Provide appropriate guidance and supervision and assist in the training and development of staff as appropriate.
• Supervise classes in the absence of the teacher with teachers planning provided.
• Undertake delivery of extended schools’ provision e.g. before/after school and holiday clubs/activities.

The job holder may be required to undertake additional duties as could be reasonably required in exceptional or emergency situations. The job holder may be required to work flexibly between the hours of 8am and 6pm. The job holder may be required to work across the academy group. The job holder may be required to undertake additional training e.g. first aid, Positive Handling.