Learning Support Assistant in Bicester

Please note that applications will be reviewed as received and should a suitable candidate be identified, we may close the vacancy early. Therefore, early application is encouraged.

The contract: Fixed term, for 1 year, term time only.

The hours: 35 per week

The salary: TWHF NJC K4-7 £21,167.74-£22,191.46

Whitelands Academy is a dynamic and rewarding workplace at any stage of your career. New professionals will benefit from comprehensive mentoring and extensive professional development. Experienced colleagues will find a strong sense of community and a relationship within the entire school. At Whitelands Academy, all staff have the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to shaping the school's growth. We value the opinions of all staff members, and our continual evolution provides many opportunities for whole school leadership and personal development.

Our Vision: At Whitelands Academy, our vision is to nurture extraordinary young people ready for global success. Every child deserves to be fully aware and prepared for success in the world we live in. This is why our 3 priorities are:

• To offer an aspirational education - all students deserve to leave Whitelands Academy with a competitive academic footing.
• To provide inspirational opportunities - opening students’ eyes to the possibilities within the world.
• To uphold exceptional standards - if we role model what high standards are, students will be able to uphold the same high standards for themselves as adults.

Whitelands Academy is a new, mixed, comprehensive 11-16 school in Bicester. The school provides 600 places for students in a new building with state-of-the-art facilities. In our most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated GOOD in most areas and OUTSTANDING in others—a testament to the dedication and passion of our entire team and school community. Our school community is often complimented on their warmth, teamwork and ambition. There is a collegiate feel amongst staff across the school with a shared passion and drive to providing the best possible education. Our students are respectful and aspirational. They have a thirst to learn and are keen to involve themselves in our co-curricular programme and leadership opportunities making this a very fulfilling environment to teach in.

Ofsted Report: “In a short space of time, leaders and trustees have successfully created a distinctive and vibrant school. Pupils are being well prepared to succeed academically and to become responsible citizens. High expectations of all pupils and a clear set of values, known as ‘our traits’, are the foundations of the school. Pupils understand and live up to these values. They enjoy their learning and are appreciative of the help they receive from staff, who know them well. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm. They interact well at break and lunchtimes. Pupils appreciate the work that teachers do to recognise their individual successes and to support them when needed. Pupils’ positive attitudes to learning and the consistent use of the behaviour policy lead to a purposeful atmosphere in lessons. Staff have been well trained to use teaching methods that challenge and support all pupils, including those with SEND.”

The provision for pupils’ personal development is outstanding. The curriculum helps “develop pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding”. This is especially the case when it comes to important issues such as knowing “what’s right and what’s wrong” and confidence in their understanding of building healthy relationships.

All About You:

• Experienced working in a school environment.
• Enthusiastic and eager to help students learn.
• Tolerant and compassionate with a good sense of humour.
• A strong team-player.
• Experienced in working with students with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

Why Work for us? We think you will love working with us and here are some of the reasons why:

• We are a welcoming and supportive school with strong values and a caring ethos.
• Our staff are a hardworking team dedicated to helping children succeed.
• Our children are engaged and eager to learn.
• We have a supportive leadership team and wider school community.
• As part of The White Horse Federation multi-academy trust, we benefit from their support, encouragement, shared resources and outstanding CPD opportunities.

The Advantages of joining our Federation:

• Employee Assistance programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Menopause support network
• Discounts, save money on holidays, clothing and much more: Discounts for Teachers - All staff within the Trust can take advantage of the discounts
• Blue Light Discount
• Eye Care Vouchers

Development:

• Access to up-to-date training on safeguarding and child protection to ensure staff are fully supported in their roles, including ongoing updates on statutory safeguarding guidance and legislation.
• CPD Programme
• Supportive leadership team to help you reach your full potential

Pension / Leave and Service:

• Excellent Pension Scheme*
• Employer contributions above national standards
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
• An additional White Horse concessionary day’s leave per year

The White Horse Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. If successful for this role, you will be expected to apply for a disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service before an appointment is confirmed. Please note that references will be sought on shortlisted candidates before the interview.

The White Horse Federation values uniqueness and recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce. We value the contributions of all staff from a wide range of backgrounds and we are committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. At The White Horse Federation, we believe that everyone should be treated with fairness and respect and share a commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at all of our schools. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and operate a fair recruitment process, free from discrimination against protected characteristics, in line with the Equality Act 2010.