Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant Talent Pool

Location:          Longdon Park School, Egginton, Derbyshire

Salary:              Up to £17,000 dependent on experience

Hours:              37.5hrs per week typically 8.00am – 3.30pm

Contract:          Permanent, term time only

We are looking for Teaching Assistants to add to our Talent Pool for Longdon Park School. 

If you are interested in working with Children with Special Educational Needs and would like to be notified and considered for upcoming vacancies, please submit your application.

Applying for our Talent pool means that we will be able to contact you, if shortlisted, as soon as an opportunity is available in the School or area.

Who we are looking for?

We are looking for people who focus on the positive outcomes for our children and will take responsibility for helping improve their quality of learning.  

No two days are the same at Longdon Park, so we want people who can work at pace to turn ‘can’t do’ into ‘want to’ and are motivated by working with children with complex needs. You should be driven by your belief that every child can achieve and reach their potential.  The ideal candidate will enjoy working with children in a calm and engaging demeanour, whilst being resilient using innovative styles of teaching. 

Whilst previous experience of working in a SEN environment would be desirable, excellent support skills and the right motivation, personal qualities and levels of resilience are just as important. The successful person will have innovative ideas who can inspire even the most disengaged learners. 

If you are looking to join a dedicated team in a school that will welcome your ideas and aim to re-engage the young people we teach, we would like to hear from you. A focus on the positive outcomes of our children and takes responsibility for helping improve the lives of our young people. 

About the School:

Longdon Park School opened in June 2015. We are a co-educational day school catering for pupils aged 7-18 with complex educational needs, communication difficulties and challenging behaviour primarily with a diagnosis of ASD.   We provide a therapeutic, supportive and inclusive learning environment where our young people learn to accept responsibility for their actions, make positive decisions and display pro-social behaviour. We are committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise their potential and supporting them through a personalised, engaging curriculum. Our priority is to develop the foundation knowledge and skills required to make a manageable and smooth transition to the next life stage.

About the Group:

We are part of Acorn Care and Education and can promise you plenty of challenges, and a rich variety of opportunities to develop your career.

We provide Education and Care across a number of schools and residential homes nationally. Our specialist SEN provision, coupled with our expertise within residential care means we offer thousands of vulnerable children and young people across the UK a holistic, wraparound care, residential and education service, empowering them with everything they need to flourish. It is by no accident that 94% of our homes are rated as Outstanding or Good.

We welcome staff who share our commitment to help children experience better days and better lives. Through ongoing development and training, we ensure our staff are well prepared for their jobs and given every opportunity to extend their skills.

Acorn Care and Education is part of the Outcomes First Group.

About the Role:

Working with our class teachers and Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for providing essential support to our SEN pupils with learning difficulties, behavioural, social and physical disabilities. You will build positive relationships with pupils to promote interaction and a constructive learning environment. Work is often carried outside of the classroom environment and you will have the opportunity to assist in the planning and delivery of lessons in a very creative and positive setting.

Our team at Longdon Park are encouraged to take a creative approach, seeking ways to positively engage with and motivate pupils through lessons that promote learning and raise levels of attainment. Smaller class sizes mean you can focus on building a purposeful learning environment that meets individual educational needs of pupils, helping to narrow the gap for pupils who are behind where they should be. You will be joining a supportive and caring team who put a relentless focus on the outcomes of the children and young people in our care.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of supporting vulnerable young people who have demonstrated challenging or complex behaviours
• Experience of using IT effectively
• Relevant TA qualifications, preferably to level 3
• The ability to follow instructions from the Senior Leadership Team and also be able to work independently
• The ability to manage behaviour effectively
• Ability to recognise small steps of progress in young people’s journey and development
• SEN experience desired but not essential 

Why work for us?

A few reasons we think it is a great place to work:

• Continuous professional development & training for a clear career path
• Pension
• Opportunity to enrich the lives of young people and make a positive difference
• Be part of a fantastic team who work hard together and support each other
• No two days are ever the same
• Free School Meals onsite
• “Your Wellbeing Matters”
• Employee Rewards Hub

Acorn Care and Education are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to fully Enhanced DBS.