Teaching Assistant (with class cover)
Ark Castledown Primary Academy
A rare opportunity has arisen to join our innovative and ambitious support team.
Ark Castledown Primary Academy is a popular school in the heart of Hastings. Since transitioning to Ark in September 2017, the school has seen significant improvement in all areas.
We have a dedicated staff team committed to providing the best possible education for our pupils. We require dynamic and resilient individuals who are ready to make a real impact in transforming pupils’ lives.
We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated Teaching Assistant on a permanent basis. This role will involve helping to implement work programmes for groups of children, assisting in planning and the management/preparation of resources, which could include some specialist knowledge in particular areas. The successful applicant will also provide cover for whole classes under a system of supervision for 30% of the employed time throughout the school year, and lunchtime cover. We can offer you a friendly, supportive school and opportunities for professional development.
The successful candidate will:
· have experience of working with primary aged children
· have good literacy and mathematical skills
· be hard working and adaptable to change
· ideally have a secure understanding and knowledge of observing children’s learning.
If you have a passion for education, we can offer you support and challenge to develop further. By joining the Ark schools network you will gain access to an exclusive range of benefits including comprehensive CPD, training and best-practice sharing opportunities, reduced gym membership, large retail discounts as well as the unique opportunity to apply for international exchanges and other scholarship prospects.
Interested in this exciting opportunity? If you have any questions and would like to arrange a visit please contact Ms Bowles on 01424 444046, or email office@arkcastledown.org to arrange a visit to the school.
To apply please go to http://arkcastledown.org/vacancies or complete an application form found on our website and email to finance@arkcastledown.org.
The closing date for applications is 10 am on 5th November 2018.
Location: Hastings
Start date: December 2018
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 23 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: £15,669 pro rata, £8.35 per hour (Actual Salary £8,572)
Closing date: 10am on 5th November 2018
Interviews: 8th November 2018
Ark Castledown Academy is committed to safeguarding children; successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.
Job Description: Teaching Assistant
Reports to: Assistant Headteacher
Start date: As soon as possible
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 23 hours per week, Monday to Friday
The Role
To support pupils, parents, teachers, and the school to establish a supportive and nurturing learning environment in which children make good academic progress
To provide lunchtime provision which ensures pupils engage in safe and productive play during lunchtime periods
Key responsibilities
To support individuals and groups of pupils to help them learn
To support teachers, parents and other colleagues to help create an effective and purposeful learning environment.
To provide cover for whole classes under a system of supervision for up to 30% of employed time throughout the school year.
Engage in purposeful play activities with the pupils whether indoors or outside in accordance with the instructions of the Assistant Headteacher.
Provide positive and firm control by implementing the school behaviour policy.
Deal with cases of inappropriate behaviour by pupils or report the incident immediately to the Assistant Headteacher.
Ensure that any injury or sickness of pupils is reported immediately to a First Aider or the office. (Where appropriate, administer basic first aid and record all details in the first aid book.)
Ensure that a healthy and safe environment is maintained for pupils at all time and ensure the hall, playground and surrounding areas are left orderly and clear for school afternoon activities to take places
Outcomes and activities
Learning Support
Promote inclusion and acceptance of all pupils in the school, including those with physical, learning and behaviour difficulties
Work with teachers to assess the needs of individual children
Work with the SENCo and other teachers to implement Education Health Care Plans and develop resources for pupils who have: English as a second language, speech or language impairments, or behaviours that interfere with learning and/or relationships
Plan and facilitate small group teaching
Plan and undertake direction for one to one teaching and intervention
Observe, record and feedback information of pupil performance
Assist in creating materials for curriculum delivery and display boards
Assist with whole class teaching
Assist with behaviour management within and outside the classroom.
Provide off-site community based opportunities for pupils, if appropriate to the job assignment.
Assist pupils' achievement outside of the classroom, e.g., library.
Other support
Supervise pupils in playgrounds, lunchrooms, etc.
Assist with follow-through for related services, e.g., speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy
Maintain pupil and family confidentiality
Attend regular meetings and training, as required
Other
Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Headteacher and Assistant Headteacher.
Person Specification: Teaching Assistant
Qualification Criteria
Certified teaching assistant course or training (desirable)
Maths and English GCSE or equivalent at grade C or above (essential)
Right to work in UK.
Experience
Experience of establishing successful learning relationships with a variety of pupils at the relevant age
Experience of the role of a TA/INA and in particular classroom organisation and management
Experience of supporting the planning and delivery of the curriculum.
Behaviours
Personal characteristics
Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every pupil
Helpful, positive, calm and caring nature
Able to establish good working relationships with other Teaching Assistants, Individual Needs Assistants and Teachers
Able to follow instructions accurately but make good judgements and lead when required.
Able to use initiative and imagination to devise games and play activities for children
Highly organised and efficient: capable of multi-tasking and working at pace
Positive commitment to pupil welfare
Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every pupil
Specific skills
Good communication skills, including written and oral
Good numeracy and literacy skills
Competent with computers and other technology
Good administrative and organisational skills
Able to lead intervention sessions for pupils after receiving comprehensive training
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.
Have specific strategies to combat attention seeking
Able to help implement the necessary routines and patterns to establish good behaviour management within the school
Able to contribute to overall school behaviour records and provide feedback
Ability to work in a team
Excellent interpersonal skills
Other desirable training and skills
First Aid training
Training and practice in Ruth Miskin’s ‘Read, Write Inc.’
Other
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.
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process. This process is outlined here, but can be provided in more detail if requested. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
