School Support Assistant with Personal Care - Alfriston School

Overview

Alfriston School is a Special School for pupils with MLD aged 11-19 years based in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Our creative, individualised approach to learning is centred around wellbeing and skills for independence. We work hard to ensure our pupils are well prepared in their pathways for when they leave us to achieve their goals and succeed.

We are looking for a caring and enthusiastic School Support Assistant with Personal Care responsibilities to work with a visually impaired pupil within our school. You will have specific responsibilities in relation to supporting physical access/navigation of the school site, personal care responsibilities and ensuring safety and inclusion in line with their EHCP provision. You will be calm, patient and passionate about children having a positive experience in education. Working with students with Special Educational Needs is an extremely rewarding environment, if you have the skills, we are looking for please get in touch.

Term time only (39 Weeks Per Year)

Salary Type: Bucks pay

Salary details: Bucks Pay Range 1 ISN 6 £23,297 Pro Rata, Actual Salary £17,472

Contract type: Fixed Term November 2024 – 31st August 2025

Hours: 37 Hours (Monday- Thursday 8.30-4.30pm & Friday 8.30-4.00pm with a 30 minute unpaid lunch break)

Closing date: 21/11/2024 09:00

Interviews to be held: W/C Monday 25th November 2024

About us

Alfriston School is based in Beaconsfield. The school benefits from outstanding modern facilities, all of our classrooms are fully equipped with interactive screens and access to class sets of laptops or iPads. All teachers are provided with a laptop that is renewed every three years. The school enjoys a recently modernised performing arts and music facilities that include the use of a dance studio, sound/recording studio and performance space, along with our exceptional sports facilities that caters for a range of indoor and outdoor activities including mountain biking, trampolining, cycling, football and many others.

The school also enjoys use of its spacious swimming pool designed by a bespoke architect, as part of an upgrade of the sports facilities at Alfriston, the architects developed a concertina-like roof structure that echoes the shape of the pitched roofs on other buildings in the area causing minimal sound reverberation which is beneficial for the use of our students with their Special Educational Needs.

Staff often remark that Alfriston it is a great place to work. Staff retention is high which we think reflects the supportive and friendly environment in which we work. Our pupils are inspirational and full of potential. Staff feel they are people “You just want to be with!”

Having been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in July 2013 it was noted “The excellent personal and academic opportunities offered ensure that the school makes a huge difference to the lives of students. As a result, all groups achieve outstandingly well from their individual starting points.”

The school culture of teamwork and aspiration is reflected in the report where it states “The headteacher has a very ambitious vision for the school. Senior leaders and managers place a significant focus on improving staff performance through regular high-quality training and checks on their work. The governing body makes an excellent contribution to the school’s effectiveness and work tirelessly to raise achievement through its regular visits to check teaching and learning.”

www.alfristonschool.com

About the role

Aim: To provide support within both pastoral and academic situations, to help a specific pupil to achieve their full potential, and to ensure the safety and well-being of all pupils.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
• Support the pupil on a 1:1 basis with physical disabilities including carrying out personal care.
• Support the pupil in their navigation of the school site due to visual impairment.
• Work with teachers to support learning activities for the pupil under the overall direction and supervision of a teacher.
• Work in a group setting or support a particular pupil in a one to one setting under the direction and guidance of a teacher.
• Record and report on development, progress and attainment of the pupil on school systems as required.
• Liaise with staff and other relevant professionals and provide information about the pupil as appropriate.
• Provide feedback and records of progress/difficulties to the VI (Visual Impairment) team as appropriate.
• Undertake general administrative tasks required across departments.
• Respond positively to the physical and emotional needs of the pupils within the school.
• Assist in transporting or the supervising pupil to offsite educational activities.
• Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection; and report all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Develop and promote positive working relationships with staff, pupils and parents and promote the school positively at all times.
• Reinforce the standards and expectations that exist within the Aims of Alfriston School.
• To undertake any other duties and responsibilities from time to time that may be reasonably required by the Headteacher.

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

About you

Desirable Experience
• Working in a mainstream or special school
• Working with children/young adults with special needs
• Working with children/adults providing personal care
• Working with children/adults with visual impairment

Desirable Knowledge and Skills
• Strong verbal & written communication skills and an ability to use these to have a positive input on student learning in the classroom & in small groups/1-1
• Ability to work within set guidelines and respond to unexpected circumstances
• Ability to cope with exposure to emotionally demanding situations
• Ability to prioritise workloads and have excellent time management and organisational skills
• Able to take a whole school perspective on issues
• Able to use ICT to support teaching and learning
• Understanding of promoting positive relationships within the wider school community
• Understanding equality and diversity issues and implications for policy and practice

Personal Qualities
• Positive and friendly personality
• Good organisational skills
• Able to use initiative and work independently
• Ability to relate to young people in a positive manner
• Willingness to constructively challenge the work of self and others to continually improve own and team performance
• To show loyalty and commitment to the school

Other information

To Apply: Please visit our website www.alfristonschool.com to download and complete the non-teaching application form, please send a supporting cover letter with your application. All applications are to be sent via email to [email protected] for the attention of Mrs Ellie Davison.

If you would like to make an informal visit please also contact Mrs Ellie Davison who will be delighted to arrange this for you.

Closing Date for Applications: Thursday 21st November 2024 @ 9:00am

Interview Date: W/C Monday 25th November 2024

Tel No: 01494 673740

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children which will be reflected throughout recruitment. The selected candidate will be required to provide suitable references and undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check before taking up the post.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.