Higher Level Teaching Assistant for ASD

We are looking to appoint an exceptional higher level teaching assistant, who will work closely with teaching staff and teaching assistants, to deliver a holistic educational experience to  the students in the ARP and support their integration into the mainstream school. We are looking for an outstanding HLTA who is fully committed to the support and development of students with SEND.

It is essential that the successful candidate has a willingness to ‘think outside the box’ working dynamically, creatively and collaboratively with the SENCO and other colleagues to ensure that the educational experience and outcomes for these students is exceptional.  This post would suit a candidate with either primary or secondary school experience.

These are exciting times at Harris Academy Rainham.  Since joining the Harris Federation in September 2016 our school has gone from strength to strength.  We are an Ofsted rated good school and a member of the Leading Edge Partnership of high performing schools with the SSAT.  As a result of our success we are due to open a sixth from provision in September 2023 and an additional resource provision (ARP) for students with ASD in September 2022.  

About Us

Harris Academy Rainham is a very popular and oversubscribed 11-16 academy which is part of the Harris Federation.  We joined the Federation in September 2016 and there are exciting times ahead.  We are due to open a Sixth Form for 400 students in September 2023 and are looking for ambitious and dedicated staff who wish to be a part of our Academy. 

At Harris Academy Rainham we have a dedicated group of staff who are deeply committed to serve our community.  We have built a school on our core values of Belong, believe, Become.  These values are at the heart of our school and all that we do.

What makes us different:

• Our values are at the centre of our school and aren’t simply a slogan on a website.
• We have a firm but fair approach to behaviour. This is built on the use of consistent routines and teaching our students how to behave.
• We deliver a knowledge rich curriculum that is developed by our staff to meet the needs of our students. The knowledge we teach takes our students beyond their everyday experiences and enables them to see the world differently. 
• Our leaders are role models, they lead by example, admit mistakes, welcome opinions and love honest conversations.
• We are a staff united against educational disadvantage with a fierce determination to show our students the world beyond Havering.

What we can do for you:

• Great career progression both within our Academy and the Federation.
• Excellent professional development opportunities. As a Leading edge school we have been recognised as being at the forefront of educational thinking and research is central to all we do. 
• Meaningful measures to manage workload – no graded observations, early finish on a Friday, no onerous marking requirements but sensible feedback policies.
• Bespoke support and line management from excellent leaders across the school.
• Opportunities for fantastic professional growth as the school develops a sixth from.
• A school where subjects are ‘front and centre’ of all we do. The subject determines our pedagogy. 

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your role will be:

• To complement the professional work of teachers by taking responsibility for agreed activities under an agreed system of supervision. This may involve planning, preparing and delivering learning activities for individuals/groups or short term for whole classes and monitoring students and assessing, recording and reporting on students’ achievement, progress and development. Responsible for the management and development of a subject area within the academy and/or management of other teaching assistants including allocation and monitoring of work, appraisal and training
• Under an agreed system of supervision: take a lead role within the academy to address the needs of students who need particular help to overcome barriers to learning
• To provide support for students, the teacher and the academy in order to raise standards of achievement for all students within the ARP, by utilising advanced levels of knowledge and skills when assisting with planning, monitoring, assessing and managing classes, and to encourage students to become independent learners, to provide support for their welfare, and to support the inclusion of students in all aspects of academy life
• To assist in the development of appropriate resources, schemes of work and teaching strategies in subject areas.
• To contribute to the academy’s Improvement Plan and its implementation.
• To ensure the effective/efficient deployment of resources.
• To attend all appropriate meetings.
• To plan and prepare adequately for the purposeful accomplishment of your responsibilities.
• To contribute to the whole academy’s planning activities

Experience

• Experience working with children of relevant age
• Experience of working with students with additional needs
• Experience of delivering literacy and reading/writing recovery programmes 

Qualifications & Training

• Provide evidence of fulfilling the Higher Level Teaching Assistant standards and or ability and potential to fulfil them within the first 6 months of the role.
• Relevant qualifications that help demonstrate evidence towards the above
• Excellent numeracy/literacy skills – equivalent to at least NVQ Level 2 in English and Maths
• Hold relevant qualifications at A level or equivalent to at least NQF Level 3
• Evidence of specialism in specific curriculum areas or areas of particular learning difficulty
• Qualifications relevant to subject area they will be based in
• Meet Higher Level Teaching Assistant standards or equivalent qualification or experience
• Training in relevant learning strategies e.g. literacy
• Specialist skills/training in curriculum or learning area e.g. bi-lingual, sign language, ICT Qualifications and experience relevant to the subject area they will be based in

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.