Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Overview and Responsibilities

SEN Higher Level Teaching Assistant 

Location:  Darwen

Salary: £14.00 - £15.28 p/hr 

Hours: 40 hours per week – Term Time Only 

The Aurora Group 

The Aurora Group is an innovative provider of education and care for children, young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities.  Aurora Woodlands School is an independent day school in Lancashire providing specialist education for young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties (SEMH).

We are currently looking for an experienced Higher Level Teaching Assistant in our Aurora Woodlands School in Darwen. 

The Role

As a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, your role will be to support the Class Teacher with all elements of the day to day running of the class/s and to teach whole classes, groups and individual lessons in consultation with the Class Teacher. You’ll take the lead in the absence of a Class teacher, and assess, record and report on development, progress and attainment.

To facilitate this, you’ll be expected to know and understand the Class Teacher’s curriculum planning and to plan, prepare and deliver assigned programmes of teaching and learning activities to individual, small groups and/or classes modifying and adapting activities as necessary within agreed systems of supervision.

Where necessary this may include supporting with care needs from time to time as well as positive behaviour management adopting a tailored approach to the individual child.

You will be expected to establish a warm, caring and supportive relationship with pupils in order to support them feeling safe and enabling them to enjoy and learn during their time at the School, and to promote and encourage independence and personal development in pupils and maintain high expectations of behaviour at all times.

Like many SEN environments; your duties are likely to vary and therefore candidates will need to be flexible and be able to lend a hand whenever required.

Skills and Qualifications

Successful candidates are likely to demonstrate: 

• The Higher Level Teaching Assistant Diploma or equivalent Level 4 qualification is required
• Full UK driving licence and access to your own car desirable 
• GCSE pass above C (or 4 in the new GCSE system) in English and Maths
• Relevant knowledge and experience of pupils with SEN or SEMH/ASD  
• Understanding of the Safeguarding principles and Child Protection procedures
• Experience of managing a range of approaches to behaviour, including managing behaviours that challenge.
• Ability to adapt
• The desire to put the child first and treat them as an individual  
• Be positive and creative in assisting to meet pupils’ individual needs 

Benefits and Additional Information

What’s on offer?

Training and DevelopmentWithin Aurora, we strongly believe that learning and development should not be limited to just the children and young people we support. We offer wide range of programmes and opportunities to all our employees to improve your skills and further your career. 

Save money on your bills!!

With the cost of living rising we have a fantastic benefit through Perkbox to help with cutting costs and help make your money go further. Perkbox is a free app for you to use on the go wherever you are. You can get deals and discounts to save money on things like your weekly food bill, phone plans, internet, eating out, gym memberships, insurance and more. You can also use Perkbox for our cycle to work scheme and car scheme. 

FREE Lunch! All staff are able to take advantage of school lunches whilst onsite, at no cost

Competitive Pay and Reward

Every year we compare the market rates of pay and rewards to insure they are comparable or better to other similar organisations. We also offer Enhanced Annual Leave, Company Sick Pay, Pension and Life Assurance.

UK Health Cash Plan

This plan can help cover your day to day healthcare expenditure such as optician and dental bills. You and your children are covered on this plan and you can also choose to upgrade and add a partner to enjoy the benefits with you.

Employee Assistance Programme

Your health and wellbeing is very important to us and we have support available on a wide variety of issues, helping you with online tools, information and via a freephone counselling service available 24/7. 

Refer a friend for £1,000

We’ll reward you for recommending friends and family to come and join the company (*terms apply)

How to apply?

Please complete an online application form in full, remembering to include all employment and education details. If you need any assistance or would like any more information please contact Karen in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at karen.barnfield@the-aurora-group.com

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.