Teaching Assistant (Maternity Cover - Somerset School)

Teaching Assistant

Salary: £ 14,850 per annum

Location: Taunton, Somerset

Contract type: Part time 4.5 days per week/33.75 hours per week (hours/days to be negotiated at interview

Contract term: One year initially (maternity cover) (following successful 6 month probationary period)

Closing Date: 22nd April 2021 9am

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team supporting the change and improvement of Cambian Somerset School. The senior leadership team has a clear vision for growth and positive change. The provision has a proud and successful tradition of supporting students between the ages of 10 - 18 with SEMH and associated needs, to gain valuable life skills, qualifications and confidence to support their onward journey towards independence. Over the past couple of years the students profile at Somerset School has rapidly changed to include a higher proportion of students on the Autistic Spectrum.

As a Teaching Assistant, you will support our students’ educational, social and emotional growth. At times, it’ll be challenging, as you patiently and skilfully handle positive behaviour management. It will also be just as rewarding being a key influence in our young people’s lives. In this varied Teaching Assistant role, you’ll also help to create teaching resources and a nurturing environment for our students to learn and develop as individuals ensuring they are guided towards achieving their personal best.

As specialists in our field, we recognise that children need to be taught in a different way; a way that is individual and relevant to them. We see time and time again that when children are happy, confident and well equipped to manage the day-to-day challenges of life, they thrive academically.

To achieve this, we take a holistic approach to learning that wraps therapeutic care and educational support around the individual needs of each child. Within small classes in specially designed rooms, children have the space and support they need to progress at their own pace. With a variety of specialist staff on hand, children are well supported in all aspects of their social, emotional and academic development here at Somerset School. That support is extended to our children’s families too. We work closely in partnership to support families, so together we can help our children achieve their potential.

We are looking to recruit committed, empathetic and engaging assistants that will deliver a model of positive behaviour support to empower our young people to make a positive change in their lives, gain self-regulation skills and develop greater lifelong independence.

What do we need from you?

Successful candidates will be part of a dedicated, successful and supportive team who work holistically supporting each other’s practice to deliver a specialist educational services to those with additional and complex needs; including Autism, Asperger’s, Sensory Processing Difficulties and PDA alongside associated difficulties falling within the autistic spectrum for example challenging behaviour, ADHD and Mental Health diagnosis. This is a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with trained, qualified professionals from across our team and to join an expanding, successful educational organisation.

Cambian Somerset School is currently working towards reshaping the way in which specialists support young people into adulthood and seeks to prepare them for possible employment and/or lifelong fulfilment.

We are looking for Teaching Assistants who are:

· Committed to providing educational guidance and support to our young people;

· Positive in assisting teaching staff in the delivery of lessons to young people;

· Passionate about improving the lives of others;

· A positive and consistent role model to others;

· Innovative, engaging enthusiastic and inspirational;

· A creative thinker and implementer;

· An excellent communicator and team player;

· Seeking career development and training.

We pride ourselves on being an Equal Opportunities Employer. And we are committed to safeguarding and protecting the young people and service users within our care. All candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and reference checks.