Job Description

POST:Teaching Assistants (Level 2) - SEN, Secondary Phase.

RESPONSIBLE TO:ThePrincipal, under the day-to-day management and leadership of the Learning Zone Leader

RESPONSIBLE FOR:N/A

GRADE:NJC SCP 15-17, (£13,729 - £14,327) per annum pro-rata’d to part time hours

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:Academy Leadership Team; DSEN Leadership Team; relevant teaching and support staff; LA representatives; partner professionals; parents; local community; other Oasis Academies and Oasis Community Learning central staff.

LOCATION:Oasis Academy: Shirley Park

WORKING PATTERN:32.5 hours per week (8.15am-3.45pm), Monday – Friday, Term Time only

JOB PURPOSE:To complement the professional work of teachers by taking responsibility for agreed learning activities under an agreed system of supervision, supported by direction from teaching staff / CL / LZL and in line with academy policies and guidance. This may involve planning, preparing and delivering learning activities for individuals / groups in the classroom or outside the main teaching area and monitoring pupils, assessing, recording and reporting on pupil’s achievement, progress and development.

DISCLOSURE LEVEL:Enhanced

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support for Pupils

  • Supervise and provide particular support for a pupil or groups of pupils, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and equal access to learning activities
  • Assist with the development and implementation of effective Individual Education/Behaviour Plans and Personal Care Programmes
  • Have regular access to all information on pupils to support pupil progress including Educational Psychologist reports
  • Establish constructive relationships with pupils and interact with them according to individual needs for best pupil outcomes
  • Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils in the classroom
  • Encourage all pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher
  • Have regular constructive link with teachers in order to prepare suitably differentiated resources and set challenging and demanding expectations according to academy data
  • Promote self-esteem and independence of all pupils
  • Provide feedback and complete routine marking for pupils in relation to progress and achievement under guidance of the teacher
  • Ensure that students are understand and are aware of the learning objectives and lesson outcomes and understand the methods they are going to use to achieve them
  • Use appropriate strategies when pupils encounter difficulties to ensure good progress is made

Support for teachers

  • Create and maintain a purposeful, orderly and supportive environment, in accordance with lesson plans and assist with the display of pupils’ work in classroom and Ozone
  • Use and develop classroom strategies, in liaison with the teacher, to support pupils to achieve learning objectives
  • Assist with the planning of learning activities in order to support individual pupil needs
  • Monitor pupils’ responses to learning activities and accurately record achievement/progress as directed
  • Provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on pupils achievement, progress, problems, error and misconceptions etc. and contribute to ideas on how to make best student progress
  • Be proactive in the classroom and promote good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour
  • Establish constructive, regular relationships with parents/carers and contribute to academy understanding on positive home strategies to use for best student outcome
  • Administer routine tests, invigilate exams and undertake routine marking of pupils’ work, accurately recording achievement and progress
  • Provide clerical/admin. support e.g. photocopying, typing, filing, money, administer coursework etc. as required by teacher to enable student progress

Support for the curriculum

  • Undertake structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses
  • Undertake programmes linked to local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy,KS3, early years recording achievement and progress and feeding back to the teacher
  • Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use
  • Using teacher link and academy data, prepare, maintain and use resources required to meet the specific student needs, learning objectives and learning activities and assist pupils in there use
  • Be responsible for record keeping as agreed by Learning Zone Leader, through monitoring, evaluation and observation of pupil work against learning objectives and lesson outcomes

Support for the academy

  • Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
  • Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
  • Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the academy
  • Appreciate and support the role of other professionals
  • Attend and participate in relevant meetings as required
  • Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required
  • Assist with the supervision of pupils out of lesson times, including before and after school and at lunchtime as required
  • Accompany teaching staff and pupils on visits, trips and out of school activities as required and take responsibility for a group under the supervision of the teacher

The person undertaking this role is expected to work within the policies, ethos and aims of the Academy and to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Principal. The post holder will be expected to have an agreed flexible working pattern to ensure that all relevant functions are fulfilled through direct dialogue with employees, contractors and community members.

Safeguarding Children

Oasis Community Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced CRB checks.

The person undertaking this role is expected to work within the policies, ethos and aims of the Academy and to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Principal. The post holder will be expected to have an agreed flexible working pattern to ensure that all relevant functions, including extra-curricular activities, are fulfilled through direct dialogue with employees, contractors and community members.

The above responsibilities are subject to the general duties and responsibilities contained in the Statement of Conditions of Employment.

The duties of this post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or level of responsibility entailed.

The post holder will be subject to performance objectives agreed annually with the relevant body and these objectives will be reviewed annually.

Agreed by Postholder: ______(Print Name)

Postholder signature: ______

Date: ______

Teaching Assistant DSEN

Level 2

Person Specification

Our Purpose

Oasis Academies exist to provide a rich and balanced educational environment which caters for the whole person - academically, vocationally, socially, morally, spiritually, physically, emotionally and environmentally. Our task is to serve our students as well as to provide a learning hub for the entire community. In this way we will raise aspirations, unlock potential and work to achieve excellence through encouraging a ‘can do’ culture which nurtures confident and competent people.

Oasis Community Learning Ethos

Our ethos is an expression of our character - it is a statement of who we are and therefore the lens through which we assess all we do. Our work is motivated and inspired by the life, message and example of Christ, which shapes and guides every aspect of each of our schools. This is foundational to our belief that all people are created and loved by God as equal and unique beings, and to our commitment to model inclusion and compassion throughout all the aspects of the life and culture of each Academy community.

For further information, please refer to the Oasis Community Learning Purpose, Ethos and Values document which accompanies this job description.

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications /
At least to GCSE or equivalent including Maths, English grade C or above
NVQ 2 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent experience
/
  • Relevant Post 16 educational qualifications
  • Degree qualified

Leadership and management /
Self-motivated and committed to self-development
/
  • Evidence of recent relevant professional development

Experience, Skills and knowledge /
  • Previous DSEN experience
  • Experience within a workplace or other appropriate environment
  • Experience of working effectively within a team
  • Recent experience of a multi-tasking role
  • Understanding of child development and learning
  • An awareness of specific learning difficulties such as ADHD, Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia
  • Good Literacy, Numeracy and ICT skills
Good organisational skills
Proficient use of Microsoft applications- Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet
Ability to encourage learning by building positive relationships
  • Good interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise effectively with other staff
  • Calm and adaptable with an ability to work within a flexible and busy environment
  • High expectations of behaviour and ability to challenge without confrontation
/
  • Experience of working within a Academy or school environment
  • Successful experience of working with young people
  • Experience of using behaviour management strategies and techniques with young people
  • A knowledge and understanding of specific learning difficulties such as ADHD, Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia

Personal Qualities /
  • Able to deal with people from a broad cross-section of backgrounds at all levels internally and externally
  • Ability to remain discrete when privy to confidential information
  • Willingness to learn new skills as necessary.
  • Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
  • Willingness to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.
  • Motivation to work with children and young people
  • Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people
  • Have a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.