ASC Learning Support Assistant

Salary Band: £19,264 - £20,043 FTE per annum
Actual Salary: £14,709 - £15,303 per annum
Location: The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College
Contract Type: Term Time + 5 days
Contract Term: Fixed Term until 31st August 2022 (in the first instance)
Closing Date: Sunday 23rd January 2022
Interview Date: January/February 2022
Hours: 33 hours per week, 39 working weeks, 44.64 paid weeks per year
Start: February 2022

About the Opportunity:

We wish to recruit an outstanding ASC Learning Support Assistant to join our dedicated team in the ASC Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) and contribute to ensuring our school continues to flourish.

We require a resourceful, enthusiastic and self-motivated ASC Learning Support Assistant to add to our established team. The candidate should ideally have experience of working in a school environment or have professional experience of working with autism along with an enthusiasm for improving students learning.

The role requires patience, compassion and a sense of humour in encouraging some of our most anxious and vulnerable students to achieve academically. The role will also include overseeing and supporting the development of the students’ social, interaction and communication skills.

The SRP for students with autism has been at the school since September 2013 is based in a purpose built block located centrally within the school. This is an exciting opportunity for you to be part of the development and growth of the department. The department prides itself on being innovative, friendly and supportive. The ability to work co-operatively within a team setting is also essential.

This school has a strong academic reputation that has gone from strength to strength and shows the hard efforts of staff and pupils. This is an excellent opportunity to work in partnership with the teaching staff in the school and staff from other schools that make up The White Horse Federation. The Ridgeway School is passionate and committed to ensuring that our curriculum is engaging and inspiring, with high levels of creativity and innovation in our teaching and learning. 

The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College is committed to ‘inspiring learners for their future’. We are an ambitious 11-18 school with 1630 students, 220 of which are Sixth Form.

Our ideal candidate will be:

An excellent ASC Learning Support Assistant who loves working with children and helping to inspire them to achieve high standards and realise their potential;

A great team player who can work successfully in collaboration with others and contribute towards the school ethos and its school improvement activities;

Someone who enjoys the challenge and can bring the vision, passion and drive to raise standards in all aspects of school life;

Be fully committed to working collaboratively with the wider school community and across the federation;

Able to make a significant contribution to the wider life of our School;

Have experience of working with children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties; and be fully aware of the key elements of nurture provision.

Able to positively promote inclusion and have high expectations for all children.

We can offer you:

An attractive working environment with excellent facilities and supportive families;

A committed, hardworking and supportive team;

100% focus on improving outcomes for the children in our school;

Well-resourced classrooms;

A group of children with a passion for learning.

More information about the school can be found on our website www.ridgewayschool.com.

Why Work With Us

The White Horse Federation (TWHF) is a not-for-profit multi-academy trust that supports and sponsors many primary, secondary and special schools across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Swindon, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire.

Its shared vision for excellence through partnership means it is also committed to keeping the best of what makes a local school great – in other words, the type of schools where TWHF colleagues would be proud to send their own children.

TWHF combines a relentless drive for academic excellence with a shared moral purpose and shared values while ensuring that fun and happiness are key attributes of each of its schools. TWHF believes that partnership-working with its schools, pupils, and their parents, as well as the wider community, helps creates the best possible outcomes for all children.

TWHF empowers its colleagues through support, training, and career opportunities to recruit and retain outstanding staff who are leaders in their field. That way TWHF can ensure that every student achieves their full potential, regardless of background, culture, heritage, or ability.

TWHF recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a team that reflects diversity from the communities it serves. TWHF values the contributions of all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment; which at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010, TWHF welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process that is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

The White Horse Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. If successful for this position you will be expected to apply for a disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service before an appointment is confirmed. References will be sought on shortlisted candidates before the interview.

The Benefits

Some benefits are accessible by all staff irrespective of their contract type (T). Some are only eligible to permanent (P) employees following a successful probation period as noted:

Car Purchase Scheme (P)
Hire purchase Cycle to Work Scheme (P)
Discounted gym membership scheme (P&T)
Reward Gateway discounts (P&T)
Free and confidential advice, information & counselling service (P&T)
Excellent pension scheme (P&T)