Qualified Teaching Assistant and/or HLTA

Merrywood Education is a therapeutic special needs school for children aged 5-16. We work within a trauma informed and therapeutic model that develops team members to understand the science behind children's behaviour and trauma symptoms.

Working as a close team we value the wellbeing of our team; offering a range of support mechanisms to increase our team members skills, mental health and wellbeing.

Class sizes are small, with high levels of staff across the school to ensure a happy and productive working environment. We offer a range of training and development opportunities to maximise skills, knowledge and innovative practice.

As a therapeutic learning assistant you will:

> Organise outside-the-classroom learning activities, which include sports and/or school outings

> Work closely with both parents of children to achieve a sound family partnership

> Develop conventional teaching methods so as to meet individual needs of each child

> Prepare resources with which to teach each child as frequently as is required

> Carry out administrative duties in the nature of keeping and maintaining records of each child’s progress

> Work with fellow team members to identify specific needs of each child

> Work hand-in-hand with the classroom teachers to ensure that activities that are being put in place for children are related to national curriculum

> Work closely with other professionals like educational psychologists or physiotherapists

> Teach and mentor children, both collectively and individually

> Look after children’s social and emotional needs

> Work closely with the Speech and Language Therapist to ensure children are receiving the best possible interventions

> Attend review meetings so as to plan and have a broader view of better ways to be more effective when dealing with children

> Communicate with children to determine their needs and ensure they are equally met

> Observe children to find out changes in behaviour or in other areas and report such observations to the classroom teacher

> Help children in personal care, such as hygiene, clothing and independence skills

Requirements:

As a therapeutic teaching assistant should be able to manage the different behaviours that each child exhibits at every given time.

> He/she should have interest in children’s education

> He/she must possess good and effective communication skills so as to be able to determine the needs of each child and help him/her when necessary. The need to be attentive to and be patient with children at all times is also important.

> Good verbal and numerical skills are also important

> Excellent interpersonal skills to be able to freely relate with people from diverse background

> The ability to be sensitive to the needs of children and to be fair, objective and ensure their additional needs are met.

> Ability to work effectively as part of a team

> Preferably 3 years experience in a mainstream educational setting

> Preferably 1 years experience within an alternative education provision

> Operate at all times within the stated policies and practices of the school

> The school takes the safety of children seriously. All staff are expected to follow the school’s Child Protection Procedures.

> Take account of wider curriculum developments and the need for exceptional pastoral care

> Take part in marketing and liaison activities such as Open Evenings, Parents Evenings, Review days and events with partner schools

> Reflective and trauma informed skills or the desire to learn more about nuero science

> Have good knowledge of positive de-escalation skills and patience when dealing with challenging situations

> Understand the curriculum and have a good knowledge base of using connected curriculum styles

> Understands the need to work in a mindful and therapeutic environment

> Has very good organisation, planning and creative skills.

> Can adapt to difficult situations

> Has very positive communication skills with parents and professionals

> Be willing to learn and develop your professional development

> Basic IT skills

> Be able to develop specific knowledge and expertise to work with groups of children to deliver aspects of the curriculum

Job Types: Permanent, Full-time

Pay: £22,262.00 per year

Benefits:

• Wellness programme

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Education:

• GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
• Teaching assistant qualification or similar
• HLTA qualification

Experience:

• Special education: 1 year (preferred)
• education: 1 year