Teaching Assistant (Level 2)

We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to be part of the founding team at Higham Lane North Academy, a brand-new secondary school in Nuneaton, set to open in September 2025!

General Duties and Responsibilities

Working under the management of the SEND Coordinator with guidance from the relevant teacher, take responsibility for addressing the needs of students with additional needs, individually or in groups, to ensure that they can access the full curriculum, working both inside and outside the classroom.

The post has considerable impact on the well-being of individuals or groups through providing support to pupils with additional personal/special needs and contributing to the assessment of pupil need and progress.

The post holder has no direct responsibility for supervising other staff though may be expected to demonstrate tasks or advise/guide new employees, those on work experience or trainees.

The post has no direct responsibility for financial resources other than occasionally handling small amounts of cash, processing cheques, invoices etc.

The post has some responsibility for physical resources, through the preparation and care of teaching materials/resources, delivery of interventions and secure and accurate record keeping.

Curriculum support:

• Contribute to curriculum planning and evaluation and assist in implementation.

• Assist in the delivery of lessons/sessions and interact with the teacher and pupils as required.

• Undertake agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses.

• Support and use ICT in learning activities & develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use.

• Support individuals or groups during independent /group work, e.g. explain tasks, reinforce key objectives/concepts or vocabulary, use practical apparatus, support less able pupils, extend/challenge more able, keep pupils on task, interested, motivated and engaged.

• Help pupils to develop communication skills.

• Promote inclusion and acceptance of all pupils, encourage them to interact and work co-operatively and engage in activities.

• Assist in the personal, social, emotional development of pupils and development of self-esteem.

•Create, write, update and review targets on pupil passports termly and distribute to staff.

• Use specialist skills/ knowledge/ training to provide support in specialist areas.

• Encourage and reinforce positive interactions between pupils working within any behaviour targets set.

• Identify and report uncharacteristic behaviour patterns.

• Assist with pupil supervision on trips off the premises, under overall guidance of the teacher.

• Provide for general care, safety and welfare of pupils, which includes tasks connected with their social inclusion and support with personal care and physical care (such as placing students in and out of standing frames)

• To train and achieve identified medical competencies (with training and supervision from school nurse) and provide care for specified pupils.

• Following appropriate training and risk assessment, be able to operate specialist equipment, e.g. hoists.

• Supervise students during social times.

• Support the learning of students as directed by teachers.

• Monitor individual/group achievements of key objectives and provide feedback to the teacher.

• Contribute to pupil assessment through observation and reporting.

• Attend annual review meetings.

• Support implementation of strategies to manage pupil behaviour and help manage pupil behaviour.

• Active involvement in day-to-day management of the learning environment including responsibility for the care and preparation of teaching aids, equipment, materials and differentiated resources.

• Undertake routine and non-routine administrative tasks, e.g. produce worksheets, displays.

• Liaise with parents/carers, specialist teachers and other professional staff, share and provide information.

• Keep up to date keyworker meeting records

What we offer

At Higham Lane North Academy, our staff are our most precious resource. We are committed to offering you:

A supportive, collaborative working environment that places staff workload and wellbeing at the heart of all working practices.

A clear behaviour and praise policy that enables all teachers to teach, and all pupils to learn effectively with a highly visible and supportive senior leadership team. This includes a centralized detention system, ensuring that you are fully supported with your practice.

A commitment to an ambitious, broad and balanced knowledge curriculum that is highly considerate of teacher workload and wellbeing, particularly around planning, assessment and feedback.

The opportunity to work with a highly experienced, effective, forward-thinking and ambitious senior leadership and Trust team.

A supportive senior leadership and trust team that will regularly seek your feedback to hear your views on what is going well, and how we can be even more effective, giving you control over your work practice and contributions.

The opportunity to work collaboratively with other schools within our trust, particularly with Higham Lane School and Oak Wood Primary and Oak Wood Secondary Schools.

Employee Support Schemes:

·        Subsidised eye care for extended VDU users

·        A Gym Membership Scheme

·        A Cycle to Work Scheme

·        An Employee Assistance Programme, providing practical and emotional support

·        An Employee Benefits Scheme, offering discounts on everyday essentials.

·        A Health Cash Plan benefit, providing reimbursements for various health-related expenses, including dental treatments, optical care, physiotherapy and more.

Further details about the School

This state-of-the-art school and community resource is at the new, Milby Meadows neighbourhood on Upper Farm Drive, Nuneaton Warwickshire, CV11 6YN. It will grow in line with the local need for additional secondary school places until reaching full capacity as a 920-pupil school. The school will include a Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) with up to 20 places available by 2030.

How to apply

Please complete the Application Form, as well as the Equality Details Form, that you will find on the School’s website (www.hlna.co.uk) and email them to jobs@hlna.co.uk , indicating in the message title the post you are applying for.

If you would like to have a chat about this post, please contact Kirstie Robinson, Headteacher Designate, on 024 7638 8123. The closing date for applications is midday, Thursday 22nd May 2025. Interviews will take place in June 2025.

Please address the following points when completing the ‘Additional Information’ section of the application form: -

•Why you feel your personal qualities and experience make you an excellent candidate for this position.