Special Needs Learning Support Assistant - The Gerrards Cross C of E School

Overview

We are looking to appoint a Special Needs Support Assistants for a part time position. Roles are term time only, working with children of various ages. Roles may involve personal care of one of our youngest pupils.

Term time only

Salary Type: Bucks pay

Salary details: £23,297 - £24,223 pro rata

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Part time - up to 18 hours

Closing date: 25/11/2024 12:00

Interviews to be held: TBC

About us

Our school seeks to provide an engaging, challenging and inspiring education in an environment where every individual is valued, nurtured and celebrated. With a firm foundation of Christian values, we share a vision of excellence which enriches today and equips for tomorrow.

www.gerrardscross.bucks.sch.uk

About the role

To work under the direct instruction and guidance of the SENDCo and teaching staff to undertake work/care/support programmes as specified by the individual child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. Enable full access to learning for pupils and assist the teacher in the management of pupils and the classroom. Work may be carried out in the classroom or outside the main teaching area.

Support for Pupils

• Supervise and provide particular support for pupils, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities.
• Assist with the development and implementation of Support /Behaviour Plans and Personal Care programmes.
• Attend to the pupils’ personal needs and implement related personal programmes, including social, health, physical, hygiene, first aid and welfare matters. Intimate care may be required for some pupils.
• Supervise and support pupils ensuring their safety and access to learning.
• Establish good relationships with pupils, acting as a role model and being aware of and responding appropriately to individual needs.
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils.
• Encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher.
• Set challenging and demanding expectations and promote self-esteem and independence.
• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement under the guidance of the teacher.
• Work closely with other professionals providing for individual pupils’ additional needs.
• Liaise with parents / carers as appropriate.

Support for Teachers

• Create and maintain a purposeful, orderly and supportive environment, in accordance with lesson plans and assist with the display of pupils’ work.
• Use strategies, in liaison with the teacher, to support pupils to achieve learning goals.
• Assist with the planning of learning activities.
• Monitor pupils’ responses to learning activities and accurately record achievement/progress as directed.
• Provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on pupils’ achievement, progress, problems etc.
• Promote good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour.
• Establish constructive relationships with parents/carers.
• Administer and invigilate routine tests and undertake routine marking of pupils’ work as required.

Support for the Curriculum

• Assist in the preparation and development of agreed activities modifying resources and activities as necessary to enable individual children to access the curriculum.
• Undertake programmes linked to local and national learning strategies eg literacy, numeracy and early years, recording achievement and progress and feeding back to the teacher.
• Prepare, maintain and use equipment/resources including displays, required to meet the lesson plans/relevant learning activity and assist pupils in their use.

Support for the School

• Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
• Contribute to the overall ethos and aims of the school.
• Appreciate and support the role of other professionals.
• Attend relevant meetings as required.
• Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.

About you

Qualification and Experience

• Experience of working with relevant age groups within a learning environment.
• Good verbal, numeracy and literacy skills.
• Previous learning support experience would be an advantage

Be willing to undertake:

• NVQ 2/3 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent qualifications or experience.
• Training in relevant learning strategies eg literacy.
• First aid and child protection training.
• Additional training as necessary to ensure individual children’s needs are met.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Effective use of ICT to support learning.
• Use of other equipment and technology to support learning – video, photocopier etc.
• Understanding of relevant policies/codes of practice and awareness of relevant legislation.
• General understanding of national/foundation stage curriculum and other basic learning programmes/strategies.
• Basic understanding of child development and learning.
• Ability to relate well to children and adults.
• Able to work constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and responsibilities.
• Able to work with and be directed by fellow professionals.

Good literacy and numeracy skills, a positive approach, patience and a sense of humour are essential for all posts within the school. Experience of working with children with ASD and/or Global Development Delay would be beneficial.

Other information

If you are interested, please contact our SENDCo, Sanjay Mall, either in person or through the school office for further details.

The application form is available on our website (www.gerrardscross.bucks.sch.uk) or can be sent by request.

Visits to the school are warmly welcome. To arrange a visit or to find out more about the role, please contact our school office on the number below. Please send completed application forms to the email address below.

Tel No: 01753 882731
Email: [email protected]

The Gerrards Cross CE School is dedicated to providing a place of effective learning and teaching in order that each child may pursue success in the classroom, on the sports field and in every other area of school life. Above all, we aim to provide a secure, caring and well-ordered community where each child is able to grow and flourish. The God-given uniqueness of each child is celebrated, and each individual is nurtured through the partnership of children, parents, staff and governors.

The health, safety and well-being of every child are our paramount concerns. We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. Our aim is for children to enjoy their time as pupils in this school. We want to work in partnership with parents to help each child achieve their full potential and make a positive contribution.

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 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published 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.