SEND Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Purpose of role: 

To complement the professional work of teachers by taking responsibility for agreed learning activities under an agreed system of supervision. This may involve planning, preparing and delivering learning activities for the students and monitoring students and assessing, recording and reporting on students’ achievement, progress and development. 

Learning activities may take place in a variety of locations dependent upon the needs of the students within the provision and include school, community and home settings. Learning activities may include working in partnership with parents and other agencies to achieve learning objectives for the student and may also include advising and assisting parents/carers to effectively manage behaviours that impact on learning and progress.

Key accountabilities (and specific duties / responsibilities):

Supervision and Guidance

• Responsible to the line manager, but is expected to seek guidance from appropriate sources, including multi-agency partners involved in the effective running of the provision.

Range of Decision Making

• To make decisions using initiative where appropriate within established working practices. The post holder will be expected to use good common sense and initiative in all matters relating to:
• the conduct and behaviour of individuals, groups of pupils and whole classes 
• the correct use and care of materials by individual and small groups of pupils
• the safety, mobility and hygiene and well-being of the pupils

Responsibility for Assets, Materials etc

• To maintain the confidential nature of information relating to the schools, its pupils, parents and carers
• To be responsible for the care of all equipment and materials, within the classroom/designated area of the school in conjunction with other members of staff
• To be responsible for the care of all equipment and materials used in the home and community settings with students and their families.
• The provision, use and storage of equipment and materials prepared by the post holder and used by the children with whom the post holder is working

Range of Duties:

Support for pupils

• Carry out observations in order to assess student needs and contribute to target setting, progression and tracking. Use this information to contribute to multi-agency plans including EHC plans. [Assess the needs of students and use detailed knowledge and specialist skills to support students’ learning
• Using a range of strategies and approaches to establish productive working relationships with students, acting as a role model and setting high expectations in order to remove barriers to learning for students
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all students within the classroom and community settings
• Encourage students to interact and work cooperatively with others and engage all students in activities, whilst respecting the range of learning needs of all students
• Promote independence and employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement of self reliance
• Provide feedback to students in relation to progress and achievement
• Provide objective and accurate feedback to inform progress and review meetings
• Support the learning, social, emotional and personal care needs of individual students in accordance with racial, cultural, religious linguistic and dietary needs

Support for Teachers

• Organise and manage appropriate learning environment and resources
• Provide objective and accurate feedback and reports as required on student achievement, progress and other matters, ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence
• Record progress and achievement in lessons/activities systematically and providing evidence of range and level of progress and attainment
• Work within an established discipline policy to anticipate and manage behaviour constructively, promoting self-control and independence
• Production of lesson plans, worksheet, plans etc
• Within an agreed system of supervision, plan challenging teaching and learning objectives to evaluate and adjust lessons/work plans as appropriate 
• To plan and deliver lessons to cover PPA for Class Teachers.

Support for the curriculum

• Develop, deliver and evaluate a curriculum to support the development of Students personalised outcomes
• Using a range of knowledge and strategies, deliver learning activities to students in a range of locations within agreed system of supervision, adjusting activities according to student responses/needs
• Use ICT effectively to support learning activities and develop students’ competence and independence in its use
• Advise on appropriate deployment and use of specialist aid/resources/equipment
• Select and prepare resources necessary to lead learning activities, taking account of students’ interests and language and cultural backgrounds 

Support for the school

• Comply with and assist with the development of policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting concerns to an appropriate person
• To be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of students within the academy and implementing all associated policies (eg Child Protection)
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all students have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
• Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school
• Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals, in liaison with the teacher, to support achievement and progress of students
• Attend and participate in regular meetings
• Participate in training and other learning activities as required, including parent training and community support and outreach in order to create capacity
• Contribute to the identification and execution of appropriate out of school learning activities which consolidate and extend work carried out in class, where appropriate.
• Facilitate support from appropriate agencies and/or provide direct support where appropriate
• Deliver out of school learning activities within guidelines established by the school
• To support, uphold and contribute to the development of the Council’s Equal Rights policies and practices in respect of both employment issues and the delivery of services to the community
• Recognise own strengths and areas of specialist expertise and use these to lead, advise and support others
• Undergo essential training as required in order to continually extend specialist knowledge and cascade to others as appropriate

Line management responsibilities where appropriate

• Manage/Guide other teaching assistants
• Liaise between managers / teaching staff and teaching assistants
• Hold regular team meetings with managed staff
• Represent teaching assistants at teaching staff/management/other appropriate meetings 
• Undertake recruitment/induction/appraisal/training/mentoring for other teaching assistants

The aim of the Job Description is to indicate the general purpose and level of responsibility of the post. Duties may vary from time to time without changing the character of the post or general level of responsibility. This is an outline Role Description only and the post holder will be expected to undertake duties commensurate within the range and grade of the post or any lesser duties as directed by the Headteacher.