Sen Support Assistant

"We like to teach the way you like to learn" - describes our school perfectly. It is everything we aspire to, so that our pupils feel happy to come to our fantastic modern facilities and feel comfortable to learn. The school has been carefully designed to provide for a wide range of pupils' needs to be addressed through educational, social, physical and emotional growth for the age range 3 to 16. This includes a wide range of specialist classrooms, halls, outdoor spaces and a hydrotherapy pool. We will continue to prepare our pupils for the wider world by offering accreditations that are relevant to our pupils' futures whilst ensuring we give the younger pupils the building blocks to set them on the right track for a successful life when they have left Watermill School behind. The school has been carefully designed to provide for a wide range of pupils' needs to be addressed through educational, social, physical and emotional growth for the age range 4 to 16. This includes a wide range of specialist classrooms, halls, outdoor spaces and a hydrotherapy pool. We will continue to prepare our pupils for the wider world by offering accreditations that are relevant to our pupils' futures whilst ensuring we give the younger pupils the building blocks to set them on the right track for a successful life when they have left Watermill School behind. Pupils at the school all have learning difficulties of some kind. This may include Moderate, Severe, Physical and Multiple Learning Difficulties and Autism. All students entering the main body of the school have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) produced by the Local Authority.

Post title: Special Educational Needs Support Assistant

Salary scale: Level 5 term time only - 32.5 hours a week Monday to Friday - Actual Salary £20,960

Job Purpose

To work with teachers as part of a professional team to organise and support teaching and learning activities for SEN pupils, including classes. The primary focus is to work with individuals and groups delivering specialist work under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher. The individual provides specialist learning support for pupils identified as having learning difficulties, including complex and multiple special education needs, in a broad range of different learning situations and settings. The post holder also plans, organises and undertakes other related duties to fully support and underpin learning, personal and social development.

Key Responsibilities

• Use teaching and learning objectives to plan, evaluate and adjust lessons/work plans as appropriate within agreed systems of supervision

• Deliver specified work to individuals and small groups modifying and adapting activities as necessary

• Work with pupils on therapy or care programmes, designed and supervised by a therapist/care professional

• Provide specialist support to pupils with severe learning, behavioural, communication, social, sensory or physical difficulties

• Monitor pupils conduct and behaviour throughout the learning process and intervene to resolve highly complex, difficult or very challenging issues

• Assess, record and report on development, progress and attainment

• Liaise with staff and other relevant professionals and provide specialist support/advice to meet the needs of pupils

• Assess the needs of pupils and use detailed knowledge and specialist skills to support pupils learning

• Attend to pupils personal needs including toileting, hygiene, dressing and eating, as well as help with social, welfare and health matters

• Administer medication in accordance with an agreed plan under direction of heath care practitioner and following appropriate training

• Develop and implement individual development plans for pupils (such as individual educational plans), including attendance at, and contribution to, reviews

• Supervise individuals and groups of pupils throughout the day, including supervision in the classroom, playground and dining areas

• Support the role of parents/carers in pupils learning and contribute to meetings with parents/carers to provide constructive feedback on pupil progress/achievement

• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures

• Be responsible for the preparation, maintenance and control of stocks of materials and resources

• Liaise with external agencies on a regular basis

• Provide pastoral care to pupils for example as head of year or tutor group

• Be responsible for pupils who are not working to the normal timetable

• Undertake training with specific area of expertise to ensure that staff, parents/carers are fully trained to meet the expectations of the school

• Manage the induction of pupils into specialist units, classes or schools for pupils with special educational needs

• Advise and assist pupils in the proper use and deployment of highly complex personal and learning aides and equipment

• To provide short term cover supervision of classes and PPA cover as required

• Any other duties appropriate to the post.