Teaching Assistant with SEND responsibilities

Harris Primary Academy Shortlands is looking for a Teaching Assistant to support individuals and groups of students to enable access to learning, contributing to the development and maintenance of a purposeful, nurturing learning environment. The successful candidate will be involved in first aid related matters and have a basic knowledge of SEND and learning barriers.

This Teaching Assistant role will include supporting a child with type 1 Diabetes, ensuring this child can access the curriculum whilst maintaining their health at all times during the school day.

About Us

Whatever a child’s background or starting point, we want to make sure that they finish Year 6 with the academic skills, social skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.  Every lesson at our school will be creative and there will be plenty of time for children to think, to play, to discover and wonder.

Each child will be taught in the way that suits them best and we will step in quickly if a change is needed.  For some children, this might involve one-to-one support if they are finding something difficult and for others it could mean stretching them more to keep them interested.  

Our school will be relaxed and comfortable but pupils will know that good behaviour is expected of them.  They will be frequently praised and rewarded for trying their best and for being kind, hard-working and well-behaved.

We want the school to feel friendly and welcoming and will always make sure that every pupil has at least one friend.  Our children will be taught to respect each other and their teachers.   

There will be a zero tolerance approach to any type of bullying.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• To supervise and provide particular support for identified students, in 1:1, group or whole class situations, ensuring their safety and access to learning.
• To assist in the development of appropriate resources, schemes of work and teaching strategies, working with the teacher to ensure the provision supports each identified student’s learning needs.
• To assist in evaluating identified students’ progress through agreed assessment activities.
• To provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on students’ achievement, progress and needs.
• To lead small group sessions and interventions as appropriate.
• To attend to the students’ personal needs where required, and implement related personal programmes, including social, health, physical, hygiene, first aid and welfare matters.
• To support with behaviour management, using appropriate strategies in line with academy policy.
• To contribute to creating a purposeful and supportive learning environment.
• Undertake structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes as appropriate, adjusting activities to ensure achievement of learning goals.
• To assist with the supervision of students out of lesson times, including playtimes and undertaking lunchtime duty.
• To establish good relationships with students, acting as a role model and being aware of and responding appropriately to individual needs.
• To promote the inclusion and acceptance of all students.
• To be aware of and support difference and ensure all students have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
• To support students with their learning and development in respect of local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy, Key Stage and/or subject specific, as directed by the teacher.
• To encourage students to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher.
• To set challenging and demanding expectations, promoting self-esteem and independence.
• To prepare the classroom as directed for lessons and clear afterwards and assist with the display of students’ work.
• To prepare and maintain equipment/resources as directed by the teacher and assist students in their use.
• To undertake student record keeping as requested.
• To establish and maintain positive relationships with parents/carers, gathering and reporting information as directed.
• To provide clerical/admin support as required e.g. photocopying, typing, filing.
• To ensure the effective/efficient deployment of resources as appropriate.
• To attend relevant meetings as required.
• To accompany teaching staff and students on visits, trips and off site activities as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Basic knowledge of SEND and learning barriers
• Some knowledge of strategies in working with young people with challenging behaviours
• Knowledge of some of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues in the workplace
• Experience of working directly with young people in an education or training environment, supporting the learning of students
• Experience of establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders, at all levels
• Experience of managing and being responsible for own workload

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact us via e-mail, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application.

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.