Start date: ASAP
Salary:  £21,430- £24,864 depending on experience
Location: Brixton, London Nearest Tube station: Brixton (Victoria)
Ofsted: Good (2017)

Dear Candidate,  

Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the exciting role as Learning Support Assistant at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy. We are delighted that you are considering joining our academy at such an exciting stage in our development. Ark Evelyn Grace Academy is a mixed, non-selective, 11-18 secondary school in Lambeth. The academy opened in 2008 and moved into its award-winning building on Shakespeare Road in 2010. Evelyn Grace Academy was judged as ‘good’ by OFSTED in June 2017 and behaviour was described as “exceptionally strong”.

In September 2017, I took over as Principal, having previously co-founded an ‘outstanding’ ARK school in North London: Ark Academy. I am working with staff at Evelyn Grace to secure its position as the school of choice in the local community. Together we will ensure that students secure the highest possible standards so they can go on and compete for the very best positions in their chosen career. We believe education is transformational. That is why what we do matters and why we are always seeking to improve our practice. As a leader of such a key department you will help us shape and develop our pedagogy, and thereby realise our ambitions in building an outstanding school.

At Evelyn Grace Academy we believe that all our students can achieve excellence, no matter what their background and that they all deserve the very best teachers and resources to help them secure the very best qualifications. Accordingly, the Academy offers a rigorous curriculum and a broad enrichment programme for students at all key stages.

We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Learning Support Assistant who will be responsible for supporting the learning of students with special educational needs and disabilities. 

You will provide support for students in mainstream classrooms and will help teaching staff differentiate resources which enable students to access the curriculum. In this important role you will establish professional relationships with students, parents and teachers helping students make progress across the curriculum.

Our ideal candidate will be passionate about supporting students so that they can make exceptional progress.  You will ideally be a graduate and have experience of establishing successful relationships with young people of all ages and abilities and will preferably have experience of working in a school setting with students who have special educational needs and disabilities. Experience and/or understanding of working in a school setting is required.

As a member of Evelyn Grace and the ARK network, you will receive the sort of training and development opportunities that will help you become the very best that you can be.

For further information and to apply please visit our website:   velyngraceacademy.org/vacancies and complete your application by Wednesday 5th June 2019 . Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis so early applications are encouraged. Suitable candidates may be called for interview prior to the closing date.

For any queries relating to your application, please contact Zeena Agha on 0207 737 9532 or zeena.agha@evelyngraceacademy.org.  

I wish you all the best in your application.

Yours faithfully,  

Tim Dainty Principal



Job Description: Learning Support Assistant  

The Role

· To provide support for identified individuals and groups of students across the curriculum, helping them to learn effectively.

·To assist teaching staff with the preparation of differentiated resources which enable students to access the curriculum.

·To work with the SENCO to identify and implement strategies which enable identified students to make progress.

Key Responsibilities

Learning Support

·  To promote inclusion and acceptance of all students in the school, including those with physical, learning and social and emotional difficulties
 
· To work with teachers to assess the needs of individual students

·  To work with the SENCO and other teachers to implement Individual Education Plans and develop resources for pupils who have: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), speech or language impairments, or behaviours that interfere with learning and/or the development of relationships

· To plan and facilitate small group teaching

·To plan and undertake one to one teaching

·To observe, record and feedback information of pupil performance

·To assist in creating materials for curriculum delivery and display boards

·To assist with whole class teaching

·To assist with promoting positive behaviour for learning within and outside the classroom

· To provide off-site community based opportunities for pupils, if appropriate

·To assist student learning outside of the classroom when appropriate e.g., computer lab, library, homework clubs or interventions

·To understand and analyse data of identified students

Other support

·To support the supervision of students during lunch times and at the start/end of the school day

·To work alongside other supporting agencies

· To maintain pupil and family confidentiality

·To attend regular meetings and training, as required
 
Other

·To undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the line manager and Principal.

Person Specification: Learning Support Assistant


Qualification Criteria

·Degree level qualification

·English and Mathematics GCSE (or equivalent) at grade C or above

·Certified teaching assistant course or training would be beneficial

·First aid qualification is desirable but not essential

·Right to work in UK

Experience

·Experience of establishing successful learning relationships with a variety of children at the relevant age

·Experience of working with children with SEN or other additional needs desirable

·Experience and/or understanding of the role of a LSA and in particular classroom organisation and management.


Personal characteristics

·Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every pupil

·To be a learner and continually seek professional development opportunities

· Helpful, positive, calm and caring nature

· Able to establish good working relationships with other LSAs and teachers

·Able to follow instructions accurately but make good judgments and lead when required

·Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence.

Specific skills

·Good written and oral communication skills

·Good numeracy and literacy skills

· Competent with computers and other technology

·Good administrative and organisational skills

· Able to understand and implement particular strategies and methods to help pupils to improve their learning and enjoyment of learning

·Able to help implement the necessary routines and patterns to establish good behaviour management within the school
 
·Able to deal with minor incidents, first aid, and the personal health and hygiene of the pupils

·Understands the importance of confidentiality and discretion

·The ability to speak another language, play a musical instrument or coach a sport desirable, not essential.

Other

·The post holder will be expected to undertake the paperwork associated  with their caseload

· Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils

·Willingness to undertake training

·This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.