Pupil Support Assistant (Junior School)

Overview

Location: George Watson’s College, Edinburgh

Contract Type: 27 hours per week, 44 weeks per year

Salary: £17,073 – £19,052 (Based on 27 hours per week, 44 weeks per year)

Benefits: Automatic enrolment in the contributory support staff defined contribution pension scheme, reduced school fees at George Watson’s College for children of staff, Membership of the Galleon Club (the school’s fitness club)

George Watson’s College wishes to appoint a Pupil Support Assistant in our Additional Support for Learning Department within the Junior School. To provide personalised and holistic 1-1 and/or small group assistance to pupils with a range of physical, emotional, social, behavioural or learning additional needs in order to enable them to have a rich and fulfilling educational experience at the School. To directly provide support to any assigned pupils in all school activities while simultaneously encouraging their independence and protecting their dignity.

Hours of work: 27 hours per week, 8:15am – 3:30pm (including a 30 minute unpaid break) for 4 days per week. One of the working days will be a Friday. This position is term time only (36 weeks plus professional learning days). The annual leave entitlement is seven weeks per year making a total of 44 weeks.

Salary notes: The salary for this position will be in the Grade 2 range which currently stands at £27,090 – £30,231 per annum (based on 36.25 hours per week, 52 weeks per year). This equates to £17,073 – £19,052 per annum for 27 hours and 44 weeks.

Application process and dates: To apply, please click the Apply button. Include a letter of application of not more than 800 words giving information about you and why you would like the role, addressed to Mrs Pippa McCallum, Principal Teacher, Additional Support for Learning. Closing date: Thursday 11 September 2025. Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 18 September 2025.

Responsibilities and activities:

Supporting Learning and Teaching Activities: To support excellent standards of learning and teaching and encourage independence and improvement by recognising and responding to the unique needs and developmental requirements of each child. To assist teaching staff in supporting pupils with specific learning needs to access the curriculum and promote inclusion and accessibility to the school experience. As directed by the teacher, tasks may include:

• helping with organisation of classroom work and participation in learning activities, including managing behaviour and keeping pupils on task
• preparing for classroom activities and setting up learning support materials, technology and equipment
• helping students understand verbal or written instructions or explaining/reinforcing key learning points
• reading, taking notes or scribing for students in class or during exams
• supporting communication and discussion work, including the use of augmentative communication equipment, if appropriate
• providing feedback to the pupil to maintain motivation and self-esteem

Supporting personal care, mobility and health and welfare needs: To attend to the individual personal care, health and medical needs of pupils, assisting them in maintaining a safe, healthy and hygienic environment whilst at School, enabling them to function at their full potential. To support individual care plans and health and safety requirements for students by helping with a range of planned procedures such as emergency/fire evacuations and anticipated medical emergencies (e.g. asthma). Depending on needs, this may include:

• encouraging independence and providing assistance with toileting, dressing/undressing, and feeding themselves
• assisting students with personal care or medical requirements (e.g. ???)
• supporting and promoting independence to students using wheelchairs or walking aids, visual and hearing aids etc
• escorting them to/from class and settling them in the learning environment

Supporting behavioural and emotional needs: To support and reinforce positive behaviour management strategies for each allocated student, guiding their behaviour and helping them demonstrate good conduct in line with School policies and routines (e.g. timekeeping, homework, dress code, dignity and respect). To support a range of behavioural and emotional needs, for example by offering praise and encouragement, assisting them in building trust, supporting their ability to make choices, promoting positive interaction and cooperative working with other pupils, acknowledging feelings and supporting appropriate expression of emotions. To help teachers maintain related records of behavioural patterns, observations of changes in behaviour and welfare concerns. To provide a range of support to students participating in learning and teaching activities outside the classroom (recreational/social activities, drama or music rehearsals or shows, school trips, swimming and sport/PE lessons, etc).

Supporting administration, planning and review activities: To contribute to support for learning team and individual student plans, written records of pupil progress, and individual risk assessments, supporting teachers with the collection and maintenance of information as required. As directed by teaching staff, contribute to planning and reporting review meetings for students with ASL needs. To positively interact with parents and carers, respond to comments or concerns, ensuring onward communication of information to relevant staff in line with confidentiality requirements. To carry out other reasonable ad hoc duties as directed by the ASL or School management team. To participate positively in team meetings and in appropriate continuous professional development events for ASL staff by attending training courses, giving and receiving feedback, maintaining knowledge, etc.

Essential:

• Previous demonstrable experience in a similar role supporting individual pupils with learning and physical needs
• Appropriate academic qualifications enabling successful support as a scribe
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good interpersonal and listening skills
• Good planning and organisational skills
• Competent in use of technology, Microsoft Office, Google, etc
• High empathy and patience
• Proactive and intuitive
• Adaptable and resilient to cope with the demands of role
• Flexibility to provide cover as required for trips, outings, evening rehearsals/shows

Desirable:

• Experience in an educational or learning setting
• A related qualification such as an HNC Childhood Practice, SVQ Social Services, or equivalent in a care related subject