Verbal Behaviour Assistant (SEND)

Name of School: The Avenue School 

Job Title: Verbal Behaviour Assistant (SEND)

Address of School: Christchurch Avenue London NW6 7BH

Name of Headteacher: Rachel Rai 

Salary: Scale 1: Points 2 to 3 (£25,854 - £26,238 Plus SEN Allowance (£1,455) FTE. Actual starting salary (pro rata), £23,673 including SEN Allowance.

Hours: 36 hours per week – term time only + INSET days

Closing Date: Friday 12th April 2024 

Shortlisting - Week beginning Monday 15th April 2024

Interviews - Week beginning Monday 22nd April 2024 

Start Date: ASAP

The Avenue School (rated OUTSTANDING by Ofsted in October 2023) is part of The Rise Partnership Trust, and committed to championing unique potential and pursuing excellence in all that we do by providing the most effective education, therapy, support, and provision for our pupils.

The Avenue School is a growing school, expanding to reach full capacity of 104 places serving the needs of pupils with autism and complex needs. 

Our Trust mission: ‘love, learn, laugh’, underpins our key aim to improve our pupils’ lives and outcomes through outstanding educational practice and provision, while also setting challenging and aspirational goals designed to empower our pupils and enhance their life choices. The education and well-being we provide depends on forging excellent partnerships between home and school. 

We strongly believe that school is the opportunity for children to discover and unlock hidden talents in a fun and nurturing environment, as we believe every child has the ability to do amazing things if a school provides the right opportunities.

We are seeking to appoint Verbal Behaviour Assistants to join our school, where we strive to ensure our environment supports children to be happy, safe and educated in a tailored manner in order for them to achieve their potential.

What is Verbal Behaviour?

- Verbal Behaviour is an approach that applies behavioural principles to language development.

- Teaching methodologies used are evidence based and developed from an initial text written by Skinner.

- Verbal Behaviour focusses on the reasons why we engage in different types of communication.

- It helps us identify areas of communication that our pupils find difficult and how to teach them most effectively 

- Verbal Behaviour doesn’t just have to be vocal communication. 

- Individuals can engage in Verbal Behaviour in multiple modes using sign language, communication books, electronic devices etc.

- All of our teaching is delivered in the context of the Multi-Agency Support the individual receives.

We can offer you:

• A place within a committed Verbal Behaviour team;

• High quality professional development opportunities;

• Tailored CPD programme and training to develop understanding of the Verbal Behaviour methodology, starting with a robust induction programme.

• Calm, purposeful and well-resourced learning environments;

• A forward-thinking approach to teaching and learning throughout the school;

We are looking for:

• Positive, energetic and creative learning support and teaching assistants with a love of teaching and learning;

• Applicants who have a keen interest in developing skills in Verbal Behaviour;

• Learning support and Teaching assistants who have experience in positively managing behaviour;

• Experience or knowledge of autism and/or severe learning difficulties an advantage.

• Applicants who are interested in developing their knowledge and understanding in evidence based teaching methods (or in Verbal Behaviour/ABA).

The advertised role is not eligible for visa sponsorship, only applicants with the automatic right to work in the UK should apply.

Please find the Job Description and Person Specification attached, completed application forms can be sent to:

Email:        recruitment@therisepartnershiptrust.co.uk

Telephone:       0203 829 4690

Safeguarding Statement *

The Rise Partnership Trust take its’ responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and child protection very seriously. All appointments to the school are subject to Enhanced Disclosure by the Disclosure and Barring Service and comprehensive pre-employment checks.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

·        All unspent convictions and conditional cautions

·        All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.