Apprentice Teaching Assistant (Level 3) in Jarrow

Are you passionate about helping young people succeed and looking to start a rewarding career? We are seeking an enthusiastic individual to join Jarrow School as an Apprentice Teaching Assistant. This is an exciting opportunity to gain workplace experience while working towards a recognised qualification in a supportive school environment.

Jarrow School is a forward-looking school which opened in September 2003 after secondary reorganisation in the town. Stemming from values blending tradition within a culture of innovation, Jarrow School offers an education characterised by breadth and depth, embracing the culture of change. One of the real strengths of the school is its size. It is large enough to ensure a rich and diverse curriculum, yet small enough so that every student is well known. We encourage everyone in the organisation to do their best and to realise their potential. We believe that an open mind, independence of thought and wide opportunity will together enable our students, the citizens of tomorrow, to make well-informed judgements throughout life. Our curriculum is exciting and challenging. We aim for the highest standards in all curriculum areas and the range of extra-curricular opportunities is wide. We also encourage visits to places of educational interest and in recent times students have enjoyed trips to London, France, Austria and Italy. Jarrow School is a safe and caring place to be. Our teaching and support staff ensure that teaching and the day to day care of our students is first class. We maintained our 'Good' judgement in our most recent inspection (June 2022).

Situated close to the northern city of Newcastle Upon Tyne and the coastal resort town, South Shields there is easy access to the UK's motorway and rail networks and Newcastle airport is 14 miles away. Lying adjacent to green fields, the school was entirely rebuilt as part of the BSF scheme in 2009 and the site is managed under a PFI contract. We have first class facilities in all areas including a community swimming pool.

You will work in close collaboration with teaching staff and therapists with individuals and groups of students, you will:

• Provide, where appropriate, one-to-one, group and in-class support for students in order to improve academic progress and learning in response to their individual needs
• Assist in planning and carrying out appropriate educational activities for small groups and individual students in lessons
• Prepare materials and resources for learning
• Support record keeping relating to student targets and performance
• Undertake routine marking where necessary
• Be an active member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Support students in building self-esteem and in the monitoring of their own progress and attainment
• Organise educational visits including the completion of all relevant documentation
• Supervise students on visits, trips and out of school activities as required
• Undertake planned supervision of students’ out of hours learning activities
• Attend all relevant staff meetings both in the centre and in the main school
• Work co-operatively with other staff in the Centre to ensure that all educational and classroom care programmes are carried out within the guidelines of the curriculum
• Facilitate successful integration of the Centre students into mainstream lessons
• Plan and create appropriate wall displays
• On occasion, be prepared to cover lessons
• Invigilate exams and act as a reader and/or scribe for students when required

You will play an active role in the individual planning and reviewing process, including contribution to:

• The writing and reviewing of Pupil Profiles
• Risk Assessments
• Any other relevant areas deemed appropriate by the Post 11 Leader within the remit of the role

You will be responsible for providing support to the Centre leader and teachers in both the centre and in the main school, you will:

• Liaise with parents or other relevant professionals where deemed necessary
• Assist in development of links in order to facilitate wherever possible the integration into the wider community
• Play an active role in the general housekeeping and day to day running of the Centre

In addition to the key tasks outlined above there is an expectation that all staff will undertake appropriate professional development and on the job training to ensure that the school maintains a high level of provision at all times. All employees have a responsibility to undertake training and development as required. They also have a responsibility to assist, where appropriate and necessary, with the training and development of colleagues. All employees have a responsibility of care for their own and others’ health and safety.

The above list is not exhaustive and other duties may be attached to the post from time to time. Variation may also occur to the duties and responsibilities without changing the general character of the post.

At Jarrow School, we are committed to developing our own talented staff and investing in the next generation of education professionals. This apprenticeship has been designed as a genuine career development opportunity, allowing the successful candidate to learn the skills, knowledge and values that underpin the ‘Jarrow Way’ of supporting and inspiring young people. Throughout the programme, you will receive high-quality training, practical experience and ongoing support from experienced colleagues, enabling you to develop into a confident and effective Teaching Assistant. We hope to offer permanent employment to apprentices who successfully complete their qualification, demonstrate strong performance and show the potential to make a positive impact within our school community. Following successful completion of the apprenticeship and transition into a Teaching Assistant role, we are committed to further investing in your professional development, including opportunities to work towards Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status. This role therefore provides a clear pathway for individuals looking to build a long‑term and rewarding career within education, beginning as an apprentice and progressing through continued learning and development at Jarrow School.

Skills Required

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Qualifications

• Essential - GCSE - English - 4/C
• Essential - GCSE - Math - 4/C

Course Information

• Course: Teaching assistant (level 3)
• Level: 3
• Route: Education and early years
• Apprenticeship Level: Advanced

Working Arrangements

• Working Week: 37-hours - Term time only/fixed term contract. Working hours TBC.
• Expected Duration: 3 Years 1 Month
• Number of Positions Available: 2
• Training Provider: DERWENTSIDE COLLEGE