Teaching Assistant

About the role

About the role

Exciting Opportunity for 2024!
Come and join an expanding Trust, where every child really does matter.

Teaching Assistant/ Student support – starting November 2024
****************************************************************

Grade H4 – pro rata, based on 32 hours per week

Probationary contract for six months and then made permanent.

Term time only + 5 inset days

**Full time salary pa - £24,077.82 - £25,379.06

****************************************************************

Our mission is simple. To provide life-changing experiences for our pupils that equate to outstanding educational provision.

Can you become part of our team?

Larwood Academy Trust-Vision and Ambition.

Following its inception in Nov 2016, Larwood Academy Trust has set out to create an outstanding educational pathway for pupils with social, emotional and mental health related issues. Any pupil who joins the Trust (at any time) will experience teaching, support, care and experiences that allow them to flourish, and achieve way beyond what previous expectations may have been for them.  They can take pride in their membership of such a journey. The Trust recognises the very challenging circumstances that many pupils are in when they arrive and via quality teaching, care and support, we are able to proudly say that we change lives.

Our structure is such that we can offer a pathway for special educational needs that can incorporate primary and secondary ages, a range of needs including autism, and a broad spectrum of provision that enables change, and re-engagement with education and success that has never been experienced before. We are able to succeed, where due to a range of issues, other placements have failed.

Overall, we aim to be the best type of this provision in the country.

Brandles School is a dynamic, exciting and progressive secondary special school with an innovative and constantly evolving curriculum for boys with social, emotional and mental health related difficulties. Brandles had an Ofsted inspection in June 2024 which was graded GOOD.

“Pupils work hard to aspire to the school values, 'ready, respectful and safe'. It

provides them with a simple approach of how they should behave at school.

Relationships between adults and pupils are positive. They support the high

expectations the school has for pupils' conduct and attitudes to learning. Pupils

know that they can share any concerns. Adults will help to resolve them.”

Due to our continued and planned growth of the Trust, applications are invited for the position of Teaching Assistant (TA)/ Student Support Staff to start from November 2024

Good behaviour management skills, either whole class or with individual pupils is a key part of the role. Whilst training is available, experience of working with children in some capacity is advantageous. The ability to remain positive with pupils who may exhibit challenging and demanding behaviour, the ability to work with pupils to develop their social skills, follow school policies and maintain a sense of humour are all essential.

Student Support staff play a crucial role in Brandles School. There are three Student Support Staff working as a team. The majority of their time is spent assisting with students that need a different approach to the learning environment and often working one to one with a student. Building a supportive relationship is the key to success for both student and Student Support Staff.

Students that require support from Student Support Staff often display challenging behaviours so the role requires people with patience and resilience  and every day is seen as a new day with students.

Ideally candidates are sought with experience of working with pupils with social, emotional and mental health related difficulties in a mainstream or Special School environment.

However, as already noted you may have been working with children in a different setting. You would be required to undertake a number of duties supporting pupils, which may include:

• Withdrawal work and ‘one to one’ for pupil progression;
• Whole class assistance working with a teacher;
• Behaviour management of individual pupils and classes of pupils - training will be provided.

You may have particular skills and a passion for developing certain areas of support within a particular subject area. If this is the case, this would be explored with you.

All staff are trained in the use of Hertfordshire Steps as a behaviour management system.

Candidates must have the ability to be flexible on a day-to-day basis.

****************************************************************

Larwood Academy Trust recognises the importance of excellent and well-trained staff. We have a range of well-being initiatives and numerous opportunities for growth and development. This includes:

• Financial benefits such as access to a range of discounts with various stores and activities via  Perkbox
• Direct access to a doctor at a time/place that suits you using Schools UK insurance
• Free staff fitness session (on site) each week
• Free access to a high quality fitness room
• Access to counselling and physiotherapy should you need it (subject to conditions)
• Dedicated training program
• Opportunities for increased hours and responsibility where appropriate

All appointments are subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary pre-employment checks, including two references, enhanced DBS certificate and occupational health checks as part of our safeguarding and induction procedures.

Please note also that prospective applicants with certain criminal records are barred from employment in regulated activity or from working in certain roles in a school setting.

We encourage visiting our school prior to submitting an application. Visit appointments will be by arrangement with the school office - Please call Mrs Beverley Rogers on 01462 896351.

Please visit our school websites to find out more about us: 

www.larwood.herts.sch.uk

Please complete the application form online as per the instructions at www.teachinherts.com.