Support Assistant Special Needs

Salary:          N4 £20,836 - £21,544 actual pro rata salary

Hours:           37 hours per week, Term Time Only

Contract:      Fixed Term - Maternity Cover until July 2025 or the return of the postholder

Start date:   ASAP

Location:     Gosforth Junior High Academy

You will be employed by the Gosforth Group and may need to work across all locations within the Multi Academy Trust as required.

About the Trust

Gosforth Group are a thriving and ambitious Multi Academy Trust, committed to excellence in education, where all students are valued equally, regardless of their background or ability.

Create your future’ encapsulates our purpose as a Multi Academy Trust: to educate, support and nurture all our students so they can achieve their potential and fulfil their ambitious aspirations.

We are extremely proud of what we have achieved so far and as a collective group, and we have an ambitious vision for future growth. Currently, the Gosforth Group comprises of 6 academies, providing education to approx. 6000 students in middle, secondary and post 16-settings, across Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside.

We employ over approx. 650 colleagues across the group, who are responsible for creating and sustaining a culture of empowerment, growth and unrivalled support, making the Gosforth Group a special place to both work and learn.

About the Academy

‘Pupils are polite and courteous. Pupils' behaviour is exceptionally good.’ - Ofsted, 2023

 ‘Staff enjoy working at the school. They feel valued by leaders and well-supported.’ - Ofsted, 2023

Gosforth Junior High Academy is a thriving middle school where staff are highly valued and supported. As a school we are committed to providing the very best education for pupils from Year 5 to Year 8.

About the role

The post holder will, in the main, be responsible for children with complex medical needs and will be required to support the child during the school day. This will include undertaking appropriate training to ensure medical and personal needs can be met. All training will be provided by school, with the opportunity to undergo this training before September.

When not required to support these children, the post holder will work as part of a team to provide general educational support for students. This will include support with learning and pastoral issues.

Inspected in November 2023, the school was awarded a ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted citing that we have high ambitions and expectations of our students and that they are exceptionally well behaved. We strongly recommend you read our report, which can be found here.

What we are looking for

·        The ability to work effectively within a supportive team environment

·        The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with our young people

·        The ability to work with students with Special Needs

·        Excellent communication and ICT skills 

·        An interest and commitment to the whole school community – in particular, sports

What we can offer you

·        An opportunity to work with highly skilled professionals

·        Enthusiastic and motivated students who ‘are engaged in their learning and curious to learn more.’ (Ofsted, 2023)

·        An exciting and extensive commitment to professional development

·        A school with its community at heart

·        An exciting programme of staff well-being activities

·        Wider career development opportunities to be involved in across the Gosforth Group

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a difference within a positive and exciting environment. If you share our community’s ethos of progression, diversity and dynamism then we would be delighted to hear from you.

We hope you’ll visit our website to find out more about us. 

https://www.juniorhighacademy.org.uk/

https://www.gosforthroup.org.uk 

If you would like to visit our school or have any questions about the role, please email Mrs

Tracey Wood, PA to the Principal, at Tracey.Wood@ga.newcastle.sch.uk. Please

note that there is not an expectation for you to visit the school before

application.

To apply

Please complete an application form and email to hr@ga.newcastle.sch.uk

Applications are shortlisted for interview as they are received, and so early application is encouraged. We reserve the right to commence the interview process and close the vacancy prior to this date.

Closing date:  9.00am Wednesday 11th September 2024

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. This means certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide and you can view our Policy on the Employment of Ex-offenders here. 

Gosforth Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. References will normally be requested prior to interview for those candidates shortlisted. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, along with other relevant pre-employment checks, including an online check.

The Trust is committed to equality, inclusion and diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Following the shortlisting process, where applicable, candidates who attend interview, will be reimbursed reasonable expenses for travel and accommodation.