Higher Level Learning Support Assistant (HLLSA) – Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)

Hours: 8am – 5pm Monday to Thursday (with one evening until 7.30pm) and 8am – 3.35pm Fridays.  Term time only.  

Salary: GUNQ2 (£18,868 p.a.) (with potential for an annual rise up to GUNQ5 (£21,796 p.a.) through performance management) 

Reports to: SENDCO

Main Purpose of the Job  

To be part of a team with the teachers and other assistants in the Learning Support Department and to help children access the curriculum in various ways, especially those students that are particularly weak in literacy, numeracy and basic organisation skills.

Duties and Responsibilities  

• Your duties will include, but may not be limited to:  
• Coordination and delivery of small group SpLD interventions 
• Coordinate the Mentor Programme 
• Primary School Link Coordinator 
• Coordinate the off-site provision in-conjunction with the SENDCo 
• Being aware of the students on the SEND register and their particular needs, mentoring a small number of students each year under the direction of the SENDCo. 
• Going into classes to support specific students/groups of students identified by the SENDCo as needing help.  

Actively support students by intervening to contribute to their progress where barriers exist Ensuring that you are aware of the requirements of the class teacher prior to the lesson. Helping children have access to the curriculum in various ways which may include: 

- working on a one to one basis with a student under the direction of the SENDCo; 

- working with a group under the direction of the SENDCo; 

- benchmarking students using assessment materials;

- checking that students understand instructions given by the class teacher;

- checking that students are copying correctly into their books; 

- checking that students are recording information regarding homework correctly into their diaries;

- encouraging students to use dictionaries/spell checkers;

- helping students with organisational skills;

- helping with project work;

- helping students access, select and organise information. 

• Tracking students through observation notes and contribute to Student Annual Reviews where necessary. 
• Responsibility for casework, student mentoring, parental liaison and contact, keeping records, IEPs as necessary 
• To have regular meetings within the department to report on and evaluate the methods being used to help students.

Person Specification Essential: 

• Level 5 or equivalent in a recognised SpLD qualification, or a willingness to train as the Departmental Dyslexia specialist Learning Support Assistant  

• Successful track record in supporting students within a secondary setting with Specific Learning Difficulties 

 • Excellent communication skills

 • Good organisational, inter-personal and literacy skills 

Desirable:

 • Familiar with Microsoft Office packages including Word and Outlook 

• Familiar with SIMs

Gordon’s School is a State Boarding and Day School and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment – applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate screening including a DBS check.