Teaching & Learning Assistant to support SEN child

In this exciting opportunity, the right candidate will work alongside the professional team of staff at the Grange Junior School in Hartford. Employed by the parents of the child, the successful candidate will work as part of the team and be there to help a nominated child with ASD to fully access all normal school activities - academic,  social and sporting.

The child aged 8 is academically bright, articulate, and often entertaining but, as is often the case with children with ASD, he struggles with social interactions, anger management (often the result of frustration when ‘rules’ are broken), and engaging with elements of the curriculum

Based at The Grange Junior School, the successful candidate will be directly employed by the parents of the assigned child, with their full co-operation and understanding, working alongside the child’s normal classroom staff.  As such, this position requires an ability to work closely not only with school staff but also with his parents. As parents, they want the best for their child and feel that this one to one support is necessary to allow him to thrive and access the many educational opportunities that exist within the school. Initially fixed term contract from September 2022 - July 2023. 

The Role

The 1:1 TLA will be responsible for supporting the teaching staff and Head of Learning Support to enable the assigned child to engage more fully in all aspects of the curriculum, in a mainstream environment with excellent facilities. You will be responsible for helping the child to engage with the learning curriculum as well as some supervision within the playground to support him in his social interactions and organise play activities, under the guidance and support of the teaching and SENCO staff. 

Hours: 8:30am - 3:30pm (30 hours per week, 1 hours unpaid break during the day)
Term time only, 36 weeks 

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the assigned child so that he can engage fully with the curriculum, and achieve his potential.
• Supervise the activities of the assigned child both in and out of the classroom (including educational visits) to facilitate his physical and emotional development in accordance with the school's behaviour management policy.
• Raise the awareness to teaching staff of any pressures on children which may result in behaviour problems.
• Raise the awareness of teaching staff to strengths and difficulties of the child.
• Provide support for teachers in managing behaviour.
• Liaise with parents in conjunction with the teaching staff to ensure effective communication concerning the child’s well-being.
• Attend to the personal and physical needs of the child so that their well-being is maintained including, and not limited to, any Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, dietary and medical information.
• Prepare and maintain learning resources and ensure that the classroom is such that the needs of the lesson plans are met in a safe learning environment, which complies with relevant health and safety requirements.
• Liaise with other professionals, such as speech therapists and educational psychologists following recommendations as necessary.  
• Participate in staff meetings, parents’ evenings, staff training development work and staff reviews as required.  
• Review and develop own professional practice.

Person Specification

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience of working with children on a regular basis for at least one year
• Ability to get the best out of children
• Experience of working in a school setting would be an advantage
• Skilled at reducing barriers to learning
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience and knowledge of children (or adults) with Autistic Spectrum Disorder or other SEN needs an advantage
• Qualifications not necessary but taken into consideration

Personal Characteristics – all required for the role

• Sensitive and approachable 
• Adaptable and flexible
• Able to build positive relationships with the child and a range of colleagues
• Able to work calmly under pressure
• Ability to listen and understand varying, sometimes complex, needs of the child. 
• Self-motivated
• Passionate about working with children
• Creative and innovative
• Trustworthy, reliable and punctual
• Resilient and able to cope with change
• Good team player
• Caring, engaging and patient with children
• Able to be friendly but firm – valuing the importance of positive play
• A sense of humour