Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistants EYFS, KS1 and KS2

Join a friendly team in a growing primary school, uniquely located in a park setting in the heart of West London 

Start date: September 2019.

Salary: From £17,655 (pro rata)

Location: Acton, London

Nearest Tube station: Acton Town

Nearest Overland station: Acton Central

Deadline: noon on Monday 24th June

Interview date: Monday 1st July 

Visits to our school are warmly encouraged; to arrange, please call our Office Coordinator, Vanessa Watson on 020 3110 0787.

In September, there will be a number of Teaching Assistant roles available across the school. If you are looking for an opportunity to contribute to propel a new school forward and be part of children’s development at a crucial time in their life, we would love to hear from you.

Joining Ark Byron Primary Academy is an exciting opportunity to help develop a young and growing school (currently in its fourth year), and embark on a rewarding career path within the Ark Multi-Academy Trust. 

Ark Byron Primary Academy is a two-form entry primary school that opened in September 2015.  Currently it has 240 pupils across four year groups from Reception to Year 3, but we are expanding each year, so will open Year 4 in September 2019.  

Ark Byron is in a brand new, purpose-built building in a fantastic park setting on the edge of Acton Park, with views of trees from every room. We make use of this unique resource through integrating outdoor learning into our curriculum.

Our motto, “Courage to reach for the sky!” reflects Ark Byron’s high expectations for every child.  By aiming high and setting ambitious goals, we believe that pupils will be able to reach their full potential, though this will require real effort and persistence.  We support our pupils to show courage and take risks to improve, learn new things and embrace new experiences, so that they become resilient and equipped to deal with life and to be both successful and happy. 

We encourage children and adults to follow the Ark Byron values of “Exploration, Endeavour and Excellence” in everything they do.  

Our community is already very strong, we are fortunate to have an extremely committed and supportive parent body. The diversity of our student body is a source of pride to us, celebrating all backgrounds and cultures. 

Join our school and you will be supported by the expertise of the senior leadership team and experienced network colleagues to develop your career.  This is a great opportunity for those wishing to pursue a career in primary teaching and represents excellent preparation for teacher training programmes such the Ark Teacher Training programme www.arkteachertraining.org.

Our ideal candidate will:

• Have experience working with children/young people in a paid or voluntary capacity

• Have a strong academic background in English and mathematics

• Be a positive role model for the pupils 

• Believe in high expectations and be committed to seeing that every child reaches their full potential.

• Be a good team player

• Be able to inspire learning in and beyond the classroom. 

If you have the drive and enthusiasm for a challenging and rewarding new opportunity, then we’d love to hear from you.

If you would like to discuss the role or have any queries, please contact the school on 020 3110 0787 (Miss Watson).

Apply via our online application form.

Ark is committed to safeguarding children; successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Job Description: Teaching Assistant 

Reporting to: Inclusion Lead

Start date: September 2019

Salary: From £17,655 (pro rata)

The Role

To support pupils, parents, teachers, and the school to establish a supportive and nurturing learning environment in which children make rapid academic progress and form habits of excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing support for learning in the classroom

• Promoting personal and social development both in the classroom and on the playground 

• Teaching groups of learners as needed 

• Feeding back to the teacher on progress made 

• Encouraging children to take responsibility for their own learning and promote development of self-esteem  

Outcomes and Activities

Learning Support

• Facilitate the teaching of groups

• Observe, record and feedback information of pupil performance

• Assist in creating materials for curriculum delivery and display boards

• Assist with whole class teaching

• Assist with behaviour management within and outside the classroom.

• Promote inclusion and acceptance of all pupils in the school, including those with physical, learning and behaviour difficulties

• Work with teachers to assess the needs of individual children

• Work with the SENCO and the class teacher to develop resources for pupils who have: English as a second language, speech or language impairments, or behaviours that interfere with learning and/or relationships

• Assist pupils' achievement outside of the classroom

Other Support

• Supervise pupils in playgrounds, lunchrooms, etc.

• Assist with follow-through for related services with guidance from the SENCO, e.g., speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy

• With the teacher, develop communication with families 

• Attend regular meetings and training, as required

• Participate in trips and visits.

Other

• Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Principal.

Person Specification: Teaching Assistant

Qualification Criteria

• Maths and English GCSE or equivalent at grade C or above

• (preferred) Qualified to degree level

• Right to work in UK.

Behaviours

Personal characteristics

• Belief in the potential of every pupil

• Good role model for our school values

• Helpful, positive, calm and caring nature

• Able to establish good working relationships with all other staff

• Able to follow instructions accurately but make good judgments and lead when required.

Specific skills

• Good communication skills, including written and oral

• Good numeracy and literacy skills

• Competent with computers and other technology

• Good administrative and organisational skills

• Able to lead sessions for pupils after receiving training 

• Able to understand and implement particular strategies and methods to help pupils to improve their learning and enjoyment of learning

• Able to help implement the necessary routines and patterns to establish good behaviour management within the school

• Able, after training/guidance, to deal with minor incidents, first aid, and the personal health and hygiene of the pupils 

• Show discretion and understand the importance of confidentiality

Other desirable training and skills

• Other interests such as Art, ICT,  music (playing an instrument) or sporting activity

Other 

• Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils

• Willingness to undertake training

• This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies.  In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process.  Any omissions or discrepancies in employment history will be explored.