Learning Support Assistant - Apprentice (SEND School), Shaftesbury

Due to continual growth of Coombe House School, we have two new Apprenticeship positions available to join our team of talented Learning Support Assistants who work with the class Teachers to help plan and deliver lessons, and with the Pastoral Support Team and Therapists. These roles will start on 2nd September 2024.

You will work with our training provider, Bridgwater and Taunton College, in partnership with our staff mentors following a scheme of work to provide all necessary learning both on site (four days a week) and face to face classes at the Bridgwater campus (one day a week).

Apprenticeship duration is 18 months. You will also undertake a wide range of training modules and face to face learning with the school as part of your Learning Support / Teaching Assistant role.

The qualifications gained at the end of the apprenticeship is a L3 Teaching Assistant (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours), and a NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning.

We would like to hear from you if you can bring a passion for supporting pupils with SEN difficulties including those with a range of neurodiverse conditions such as autism, and for helping children overcoming barriers to learning.

Our school 

Coombe House School is an independent special school that provides education for pupils aged 5 to 19 with SEMH and ASD and associated difficulties, which represents the largest group of children and young people supported by an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) in Dorset and nationally. All pupils on roll have an EHCP. The school uses a therapeutic approach to support pupils with their individual difficulties. Everything the school does is based on the formation and maintenance of positive relationships and viewing all behaviour as communication.

We are seeking candidates who thrive on working in a challenging but immensely rewarding environment, who are passionate about supporting the development of social, life and independence skills and who truly want to make a difference in the lives of pupils. Our Learning Support Assistants are kind, patient, calm and compassionate who work on building trusting relationships with our pupils.

More about the role:

• Assist teachers and other staff to create a positive learning environment.
• Capacity to offer therapeutic support to pupils.
• Engage pupils in activities and learning planned by the teacher - both on and off site.
• Support pupils in managing their behaviour and learning.
• Equip pupils with essential coping skills.
• Support pupils to improve their behaviour through a positive behaviour approach.
• Teach pupils emotional self-regulation skills and social interaction and communication skills under the guidance of the class teacher.

Please review the job description and person specification for further information about the role. If you would like to work at a very special, caring, and nurturing school, please complete the application process.

Excellent salary, actual term time only for this position is £21,033.54 per annum. Working hours are:

Full Time (35 hours)

08.30 – 16.00 Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

08.30 – 16.30 on a Wednesday

08.30 – 15.30 on a Friday

The Apprentice would attend College on a Monday or Thursday each week.

The school is accessed via a private road and enjoys a secluded setting within its grounds. The accommodation extends to over 160,000 sq ft, set within in grounds of 55 acres.

What Coombe House School can offer you:  

• A workplace set in beautiful surroundings. 
• Competitive salary.
• Access to an employee assistance programme. 
• Enhanced NEST Pension Scheme (10% employers' contribution).
• Continuous professional development and training
• Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimming pool), at specified times.
• Highly supportive leadership team and working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of other SEN Specialists.
• The opportunity to play an integral part at the infancy of this exciting and unique journey.

Deadline for applications: Sunday 26th May 2024.

This post involves working with children or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them and will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.