Learning Support Assistant in Stourbridge

Old Swinford Services Ltd are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and hardworking part time Learning Support Assistant (LSA) to start as soon as possible. The LSA will work with individuals or small groups of children under the direction of teaching staff and SENCO to provide support to pupils with moderate learning, behavioural, communication, social or physical difficulties.

Old Swinford Hospital is one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. A large number of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now on an exciting journey to become fully co-educational by 2025. Girls joined us in September 2021 in Year 7, whilst the Sixth Form has been mixed since 2004.

OSH is a calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home. Parents, pupils and staff are all on the same side and our pupils want to learn before going out into the wider world and making their own contribution to it.

We have recently had two very favourable Ofsted visits, one for boarding and one for curriculum. We enjoy a very good academic reputation and regularly feature in the lists of the most academically successful maintained schools. We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience.

Our extensive extra-curricular programme contributes to our pupils becoming happy, healthy and interested young people, for whom sport, music, art, drama, outdoor pursuits feature in their everyday lives.

A major building programme has recently been completed which includes a large extension to an already impressive sports centre, an all-weather floodlit sports pitch, a new teaching block with a specialist arts room, a performing arts centre and a new senior boarding house.

Person Specification

• Experience of being a LSA within a Secondary School setting;
• Ability to support students in their learning;
• Ability to motivate and encourage students;
• Good reading, writing and numeracy skills;
• Ability to deal with challenging behaviour;
• Ability to act on own initiative;
• Effective organisation and time management skills;
• Calm, patient and an appreciation of a sense of humour;
• Able to play an active role as part of a busy team but can also work alone;
• Displays commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.

Job Specification

• Contribute to the management of pupil behaviour.
• Establish and maintain relationships with individual pupils and groups.
• Evaluate and develop your contribution to raising achievement.
• Provide support for the teacher.
• Assist in preparing and maintaining the learning environment.
• Contribute to maintaining pupil records.
• Observe and report on pupil performance.
• Contribute to the planning and evaluation of learning activities.
• Provide support for the pupil.
• Promote pupil’s social and emotional development.
• Support the maintenance of pupil safety and security.
• Contribute to the health and well-being of pupils, e.g. recognising emergency situations which require a qualified First Aider.
• Support pupils’ individual learning needs and development.
• Experience of or willingness to train, in order to offer personal care support to students with a physical disability.
• Provide support for the curriculum.
• Support the use of ICT.
• Help pupils to develop their literacy skills.
• Help pupils to develop their numeracy skills.
• Providing support for the School.
• Support the development and effectiveness of work teams.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with other professionals.
• Participate in the promotion of your department and the School, including Open Days and Open Evenings, Induction Days and the like, and the attendance at any marketing events as requested by SLT.
• To undertake such other duties as the Headmaster or SENCO may from time to time reasonably require.

Hours & Remuneration of Work

The hours of work are 27 hours per week, term time (37 weeks). The work pattern is 8.30am to 3.45pm with a 30 minute break for four full days (one of which must include Monday). The rate of pay is £12.85 to £13.05 per hour plus statutory holiday pay depending on qualifications and experience.

In line with current regulation you will, if you are eligible, be offered a workplace pension through NEST.

Old Swinford Services Ltd welcomes applications for employment from all sectors of the community.

Suitability to work with Children

Old Swinford Services Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised date if a large number of applications have been received.