Teaching Assistant

This role is a chance to join a new primary school as part of a ground-breaking project to push the boundaries of how we do education in this country. School 360 will open its doors in September 2021 and we intend it to be something special.

School 360 is a brand new primary school in Stratford, East London that is part of the Big Education family of schools. The school aims to challenge the education status quo and to think innovatively about learning possibilities. School 360 will offer pupils an education of the head (academics), heart (growth and well-being) and hand (creativity and problem-solving). At the heart of the curriculum is a focus on social justice, both locally and globally, enabled through strong partnerships with the community around us and supported through contact with experts in their fields.

We are looking for a Teaching Assistant for the first class of Reception-age pupils, who has exciting and creative ideas about working with children, and a toolkit of strategies for working with young children in purposeful play. As a founding member of staff for the new school, you will have an opportunity to shape policy and practice, as the school grows and develops.

School 360 will be a different kind of place to work in. We will empower staff to find their voice and their creativity. We will offer personalised and supportive professional development, including opportunities to work with staff from School 21, a large all through school just down the road from School 360. The growing school will offer many leadership and development opportunities. 

Our aim is for children to develop as rounded human beings, and for them to find their own learning pathways. In order to achieve this, the school will focus on:

Oracy: Supported by the work of Voice 21, a partnership project with Cambridge University, School 360 will focus on teaching pupils how to speak with clarity and conviction, how to listen carefully and engage in productive and powerful conversations. Talk will infuse every aspect of the school curriculum, from role play to storytelling, from performances to community listening projects. For us, talk is as important a skill to secure as maths, science, reading and writing skills.

Projects and problem solving: We believe that knowledge is connected and organic, and that the best way to teach this is through exciting projects in which pupils will work in collaborative teams alongside outside experts to explore themes that motivate and are relevant to them. Each of these projects will have a social justice focus, enabling pupils to learn about what matters, and to understand how to effect real change in their school, their community and the world. We will help pupils realise their goals through producing beautiful work as project outcomes.  

Play: We believe that play is not just for playtime. Our learners will learn through intelligent structured play in the lower years, and experience playful learning in the upper years. We see play as a vital tool for building relationships, being healthy in body and mind, developing imagination and problem-solving skills and encouraging creativity. Much of our playful experiences will support pupils to experience life through the eyes of experts in their field.

Wellbeing: Our curriculum will teach pupils techniques to be well in mind and body, and to build happy relationships with others within the school and the wider community. We will explore mindfulness as an approach to wellbeing, and work to develop emotional intelligence and collaboration skills. As the school grows, pupils will connect in cross-age families, sharing meals and conversations, supporting each other’s learning. We will connect pupils with nature through a Forest Schools approach in our carefully designed outdoor areas, and through the use of natural learning resources.

The successful candidate will:

●      Be passionate about working with children

●      Know how adults can create a culture of high expectations

●      Have an understanding of the complex lives some students lead

●      Understand child learning processes and development stages

●      Experience of using an observe, plan, teach cycle in an early years classroom setting

●      Experience of communicating and relating well to children in Early Years and/or Year 1 settings

●      Experience of organising classroom activities and assisting in the development of literacy and mathematics skills within Early Years and Key Stage 1 settings

●      Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills

●      A belief in the unlimited potential of every student and a commitment to inclusive educational provision

ABOUT SCHOOL 360:

●      Inclusive primary school in the heart of Stratford, Newham

●      Cutting edge pedagogy and curriculum

●      Small - only 30 children in Reception in the first year, expanding year-on-year

●      Close relationships with School 21, an all-through school which is very close by, and the possibility to connect with two new secondary schools in close proximity, giving staff more opportunities to grow and develop

●      A network of curriculum partnerships with creative and academic organisations across the Olympic Park, including London College of Fashion, Bow Arts, UCL, Sadlers Wells, and many more

WE WILL OFFER:

●      Outstanding career development possibilities and personalised professional development

●      Exciting possibilities for additional responsibilities and new roles as the school grows and expands

●      The chance to network with outstanding practitioners and learn from the best across the Big Education family of schools and beyond

●      A strong and supportive feedback culture so that staff can develop in areas of their practice that are important to them

●      Opportunities to shape the vision and direction of the new school

For more information, see: https://bigeducation.org/school360/ or or to have a chat about the role email: infoschool360@bigeducation.org. More information about the role can be found in the job pack.

Apply by: 10am on Friday 28 May 2021

Likely interview date: w/b Monday 7 June 2021 

To apply please complete this online application form

School 360 is an equal opportunities employer and particularly welcomes applications from minority ethnic communities, especially those that reflect the make-up of the local community. The school is committed to safeguarding children.