High Level Teaching Assistant

Acorn Park is an independent, specialist day and residential school that caters for children and young people aged 4 – 19 years who have autism and associated difficulties. We have a deservedly good reputation with parents and placing authorities for meeting the needs of children and young people who also have moderate or severe learning difficulties, and whose behaviour can be challenging.

Our outstanding group of teachers, care staff, learning support assistants, therapists and psychology staff work together as an integrated team, with the young person at the heart of everything we do.

In this role you will work throughout the Education Department using specialist knowledge and experience to support the Class Teachers to ensure students follow a broad-based curriculum to meet their particular needs and learning styles.

Training is provided but experience of working within a school or working with children or young people with special needs is essential.

Job Purpose:

In conjunction with Senior Management to:

• Work throughout the Education Department, using specialist knowledge and experience to support the Class Teachers to ensure the entitlement of the students to a broad-based appropriate curriculum which meets their discrete needs and learning styles.
• Manage a team of learning support assistants on a day-to-day basis.  Ensure that learning support assistants are fully up to date with curriculum developments on a school basis.
• Work with teachers in delivering agreed learning activities under an arranged system of supervision
• Support collaborative working with the residential department ensuring effective  communication between adults and opportunities to maximise and generalise learning for all students including supporting the students in their morning routines ready for school
• Support for the Students:
• To carry out all duties as directed by the class teacher/ Head (Education) teacher to maximise learning opportunities for all students.
• To support the development of communication skills by implementing communication goals in collaboration with Education, Therapy Team and Residential staff.
• To set targets, keep records, assess and evaluate students’ learning with support from other professionals.
• To participate in, and complete reports for statutory reviews and meetings concerning the students.
• Administer medication as specified from leading professionals
• Support for the Teacher
• To lead classes during absences (including planned absence) of class teachers
• To support the Head (Education) or Senior Manager in the recruitment, deployment and supervision of Learning Support Assistants working in the classroom
• To take a lead in disseminating best practice in relation to the Learning Support Assistants role providing training, advice and support to staff that assists teachers in the classroom including induction training
• Co-ordinate and organise students attending off-site/extracurricular activities or other out of school activities under the guidance of the teacher
• Support for the curriculum
• Working under the guidance of a teacher, contribute to curriculum planning, evaluation and implementation
• Contribute to development of school policies and procedures by participation in working groups
• The development, preparation and dissemination of appropriate materials and learning environment in order to deliver lessons in an Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) specific manner.
• Determine the need for, prepare and use specialist equipment, plans and resources to support students

Maintain confidentiality for all areas of Acorn Park School, its staff and its work.  The nature of the work within the School entrusts people with confidential information about people with autism, their families/carers and staff.

People with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) can present difficult to manage challenging behaviour. This may on occasions necessitate having to physically intervene or remove students from potentially difficult or hazardous situations in line with their agreed behaviour management programmes and Acorn Park School physical intervention policies. All staff working with students undertake Team Teach training and these are the only techniques permitted to be used.  All staff are expected to read and abide by school based policy on behaviour and physical intervention.

All staff, except Senior Management will be expected to wear school uniform consisting of a sweatshirt and/ or polo shirt and this uniform will be provided by the school.

Acorn Care and Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young people in our care. Successful applicants will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.