Learning Support Teacher (literacy difficulties specialist)

An exciting part time opportunity, in the Learning Support team, to ensure that the special educational needs of our children are supported. We firmly believe that every child brings a unique pattern of strengths and areas of need to our community and the school aims to fulfil the potential of all students. Role to start January 2023. Initially this is a fixed-term contract until July 2023.

You will be a specialist SpLD Teacher/Pracitioner and have a good understanding of barriers to literacy development.

The Croft Preparatory School is an independent co-educational day school for children from 3 to 11 years old, situated in a beautiful 30-acre site, in the heart of the Warwickshire countryside, on the outskirts of Stratford upon Avon.

The 25-acres and 5 acre wood provides an extensive sports field and multiple outdoor learning areas with Forest School sessions incorporated into the curriculum for all Early Years and some Pre-Prep pupils. Class sizes are traditionally limited to 20 pupils.

At The Croft we have a ‘small school attitude within a big school’. Our mission is to provide each child with academic challenge and the opportunity to succeed and develop a sense of self-worth, whilst nurturing a lifelong love of learning in a happy and secure environment. 

Here, every child is educated as an individual, and fully supported, to challenge themselves to fulfil their potential, adopting a Growth Mindset along the way. All of this is achieved through a wonderfully compassionate and motivational Staff, who deliver the highest standards of pastoral care and academic excellence.

A faculty structure of subject areas enable pupils to use their Creativity to extend their learning, challenging themselves and thinking ‘outside of the box’. These faculties lie at the heart of the unique forward thinking curriculum enabling opportunities in the Creative Arts, Emotional and Physical Development, Humanities, Languages and STEM. The all-encompassing experience helps pupils to achieve their lifetime goals with confidence and enthusiasm, becoming independent learners and embracing the challenges that pupils of today will face tomorrow.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Respond to Concern Forms/discussions with teacher colleagues by conducting the appropriate assessments or lesson observations, discussing with colleagues, making recommendations and communicating these to parents

Provide advice and support to teaching colleagues and other staff on all SEND matters in line with the SEND Code of Practice (2015)

Teach lessons to individual pupils or groups, as required

Oversee the “assess-plan-do-review” cycle and liaise with Class Teachers to monitor progress of pupils (we use IEPs and pupil profiles for this)

Meet and liaise with parents of SEND pupils, where appropriate

Assess pupils as required, providing appropriate advice and guidance to colleagues

Support pupils and teaching staff in dyslexia and literacy-related difficulties

Write reports for use internally and externally as required, ensuring that appropriate records are maintained

Enter wholeheartedly into the life of the School, supporting colleagues and parents for the benefit of our pupils

To assess, monitor, review and record each child’s progress using appropriate methods, as required

To devise IEPs with realistic targets, as required, liaising with colleagues and parents, and involving the children in evaluating their own progress

To use a variety of teaching methods appropriate to different learning styles, to ensure that each child progresses at a reasonable rate in accordance with their planned programme of work.   

Work with others to plan and co-ordinate work, as appropriate

Keep up to date with changes and developments in the structure of the curriculum; attend relevant courses and disseminate information to colleagues

Take part in school events and activities which may take place at weekends or in the evening, as required

Attend Parents Evenings, meetings, training and external courses, as required

Contribute to, and be supportive of the school’s development plan and take accountability for identified areas of development

This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and the employee may be required to perform duties outside of this brief as is operationally required and at the discretion of their Line Manager.

We have a Growth Mindset ethos for all. Therefore we expect all staff to have the enthusiasm and ability to inspire, motivate, develop and innovate, together with the desire to make a difference.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Applicants must be prepared to undergo appropriate child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.  

Visit School website for details and an application form.