Teaching Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION : Teaching Assistant

REPORTS TO : Director of Curriculum

SALARY : £18,000 - £25,500 actual salary (subject to hours and experience)

HOURS : 8:00am to 4:00pm (negotiable)

39 weeks per year - 10 weeks paid holiday

Working for Koru Independent AP Academy

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and effective Teaching Assistant to join our nurturing and successful Alternative Provision.  

Based in the heart of Harold Hill, our academy specialises in alternative provision and supporting the social and emotional educational needs of young people. Koru Independent AP Academy supports up to 50 students for whom traditional teaching methods have not worked. Students, ranging in age from 11 to 16, join us after being at risk of permanent exclusion from a mainstream school or due to having medical needs that prevent them from attending a mainstream setting.

Our academy is a nurturing, inclusive community where students are able to grow and develop. We strive to ensure success for all our learners academically, socially, emotionally and morally. We build a curriculum around the needs of our students and are proud that our Year 11 students leave with qualifications on par with their mainstream peers and transition into education, training or employment.

PURPOSE OF JOB:

To support the teaching and learning of students in an Alternative Provision setting, working with pupils who may have social, emotional, behavioural, or mental health needs (SEMH), special educational needs (SEN), or have been excluded or at risk of exclusion from mainstream education.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support individual and small groups of students under the direction of the class teacher or SENCO. This involves understanding and respecting the learning styles and preference of student(s) and using this knowledge to support the student(s) when working on their own or in groups.
• Develop positive, trusting relationships with pupils to promote engagement, confidence, and self-esteem.
• Assist with the implementation of individual education plans (IEPs), behaviour support plans, and other personalised support strategies.
• Promote and model positive behaviour, setting clear boundaries and using de-escalation strategies where necessary.
• Contribute to a safe, nurturing, and inclusive classroom environment that promotes emotional well-being and learning
• Support students in developing social and life skills alongside academic progress
• Working under the direction of the teacher, provide the appropriate level of support needed by students to promote independent learning, responding to any signs of distress or conflict and feeding back to the teacher about progress made by students(s). This will include helping the student(s) with the development of literacy and language skills, numeracy skills and access to the curriculum, generally.
• Assist the classroom teacher to plan how learning activities will be implemented and feed back how well the activities achieved the learning objectives.
• Contribute to the maintenance of student records by up-dating individual records as agreed with the teacher
• Work collaboratively with teachers and external agencies to support holistic development
• Assist with the preparation and clearing up of learning materials and classroom resources, including preparation of display materials and photocopying of resources etc.
• Monitor, record, and report on pupil progress and behaviour to teaching staff and other professionals.
• Promote student well-being by encouraging them to develop good relationships with others, develop their self-reliance and self-esteem, help them to adjust to new settings and to practice good standards of health and hygiene.
• Support students during transition back to mainstream school
• Support students in activities, trips and work experience if required
• Promote partnership working between home and KORU and help the teacher to develop and maintain parental interest in their child’s education. Make home visits if appropriate.
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of KORU policies which encourage positive student behaviour and implement agreed behaviour management procedures in the classroom. Have an awareness of child protection issues and policies.
• Undertaking breaks and lunches supervision duties    
• Participate in training and development opportunities and inset days

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. The post holder may be required from time to time to undertake other duties within the school as may be reasonable expected, without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. This is a common occurrence and would not justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience working with children or young people in an educational setting, particularly those with challenging behaviour or SEN.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and respond effectively to challenging situations.
• Ability to work effectively with team members across a wide range of levels and responsibilities
• Ability to interest, encourage, motivate and engage children
• Ability to work using own initiative, exercising good judgement where unsupervised
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all pupils.
• Flexibility, resilience, and a genuine passion for supporting vulnerable learners.
• Some knowledge of basic ICT applications
• Good administrative and organisational skills

Desirable

• A good standard of general education, normally evidenced by 3 or more GCSEs (including Math's and English) at Grade C or above, or equivalents
• Relevant qualifications (e.g., Level 2 or 3 TA qualification, Team Teach, or equivalent behaviour training).
• Experience in an alternative education setting, PRU, or specialist provision.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice or SEMH strategies.

Koru Independent Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including online checks and satisfactory references, including one from their most recent employer. All staff are expected understand and comply with the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures.

Koru Independent AP Academy is an inclusive employer that values diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences and identities. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, supported and able to achieve their full potential.