Early Literacy Teaching Assistant

About Chapter One

Chapter One is a small but growing charity, working to ensure that every child has 1:1 reading support at the time they need it most. Our Early Literacy Intervention programme is based on a programme that works successfully in the USA and it provides daily, 1:1, 7 minute phonics sessions for children who are behind in phonics. Using a bespoke technology tool, a trained Early Reading Interventionist works individually with target children. We also have our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme which currently supports about 3,500 children a year. It pairs struggling five to seven year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 150 local and national businesses. The volunteer pledge is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability.

About the role

Working for 2 hours per day, 5 days a week (term-time only) at Galleywall Primary School in Bermondsey, this role will involve delivering a programme of 1:1 focussed sessions for selected Reception and Year 1 children. The ELI will be trained to use Chapter One’s specialised online tool designed to support learners who are at risk of falling behind with their phonics. We are looking for a highly motivated, energetic individual who enjoys working with young children and who wants to make their mark in a fast-growing charity. We can offer training, a small friendly team and a chance to improve the lives of children facing disadvantage.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct an initial baseline assessment of selected target children in Reception and Year 1 to determine where further support is needed.
• Use Chapter One’s online tool to deliver differentiated, daily, 1:1, targeted, 7 minute phonics sessions to pupils using a systematic, synthetic approach.
• Use a variety of additional activities to reinforce phonics skills.
• Support children to use their secure phonics knowledge to read decodable books.
• Develop pupils’ phonics fluency and confidence in preparation for the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, where applicable.
• Document each session with a child, including the skills practised or mastered and a goal for the next session.
• Maintain and update daily pupil progress trackers, identifying phonics skills secured and areas requiring consolidation to inform future teaching.
• Challenge pupils to reach each new goal and celebrate pupil success.
• Work closely and on an ongoing basis with classroom teachers, reading support staff and the school team to understand progression of the schools phonics teaching.
• Work closely with classroom teachers to establish tailored plans for each child.
• Provide school leaders with data and information on pupil progress.
• Gather feedback from school on progress of the programme and any implementation challenges, aiming to help Chapter One to continuously improve programme delivery.
• Collaborate with colleagues at Chapter One to further improve the ELI model, the online tool and programme delivery.

Qualifications Criteria

• Maths and English GCSE at Grade 5 or above.
• Right to work in the UK.

Essential qualities

• Experience of working in education or childcare.
• Willingness to undergo further training in phonics pedagogy.
• Highly motivated, energetic individual with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Ability to adapt and embrace a changing environment.
• Excellent personal planning and a proven ability to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels inside and outside the organisation.
• Highly computer literate with hands-on experience of using MS Office and platforms and tools such as Google analytics, PowerPoint and more.
• An understanding of Child Safeguarding.
• A commitment to Chapter One’s mission and values.

Desirable qualities

• Experience in supporting young children with phonics in a classroom setting.

Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of inclusive teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from persons who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request.