ALS (Additional Learning Support) Coordinator

We are the National College for Digital Skills, the top performing specialist institution for the Computer Science BTEC and are passionate about educating, supporting and creating the next generation of digital pioneers.

As a small college in Victoria, central London, we have a very diverse student body from a wide range of backgrounds and are committed to using tech as a tool for social mobility. We offer a supportive culture for students and staff and our excellent industry links ensure you get regular formal and informal CPD to support your teaching and technical knowledge and development.

We are passionate about high quality teaching and learning, using industry’s problems to bring education to life for our learners and thinking of innovative new approaches to communicating some of tech’s more challenging concepts!

Our students achieve highly across all subjects and progress to an amazing range of destinations.

We received Good with Outstanding features in our first Ofsted inspection in October 2018, and again in March 2023.

Purpose of the Role

We are looking for a dynamic and inspirational coordinator to play a central role in leading and developing our provision for learners with additional needs. This role will be based at our London Victoria campus, and will involve some travel to our Manchester campus.

You will work with the Head of Learner Services to define, articulate and implement our shared vision and values of the college to support learners with additional needs in achieving their expected outcomes. You will also work with the Dean of the Apprenticeship programme to ensure adult learners with additional needs are supported by teaching staff and in their work placements.

You will hold a key role in the college and are expected to demonstrate outstanding skills in working with the leadership team, parents and carers, external agencies and learners to implement the strategic vision of the college, working with these individuals and groups to ensure we provide a high quality of education to our learners with additional needs.

You will be accountable for ensuring that exam access arrangements are organised to meet the needs of learners, annual reviews are completed for learners with EHCPs, the pastoral team and teaching staff are aware of strategies that support learners with additional needs, and that reasonable adjustments for these learners are in place.

Key aspects of the role:

• To ensure the establishment and maintenance of a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment for all learners at Ada.
• To ensure learners with special educational needs are receiving high quality teaching and the needs of learners across the Sixth Form and Apprenticeship programme are catered for by having operational responsibility for SEND.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Quality of education for SEND learners across both Programmes

• To ensure learners with special educational needs are receiving high quality teaching and their needs are catered for.
• To work with a full range of external agencies to support the educational needs of individual learners and their wider life.
• To complete all required paperwork for learners on Education Health and Care Plans, ensuring the college is delivering high quality support and interventions to meet their individual needs and that this is regularly reviewed, alongside parents/carers, other staff members and relevant external agencies and to represent the college and key students at meetings with external professionals, feeding back information with other members of staff as required.
• To assess or to arrange for the assessment of learners for exam access arrangements.
• To work alongside the Exams Officer to secure additional exam access arrangements, as required.
• To lead on the creation of learner passports to support teaching and support staff, and for adult learners their employers, to implement reasonable adjustments.
• To work with the Head of Learner Services and leadership team to ensure staff across both programmes are trained in their roles to support learners with additional needs.
• To secure additional funding through High Needs Funding applications and ensure this funding is deployed appropriately.
• To work with the Head of Learner Services to lead aspects of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the sixth form staff building their practice and knowledge in line with key responsibilities including Safeguarding training, Behaviour, SEND support, PSHE, Trips, Access arrangement support (e.g. scribes and readers).
• To work with the Apprenticeship Team to ensure apprentices in London and Manchester with SEND support requirements are receiving appropriate assessment, guidance and support.
• To meet directly with apprentices, and on occasion employers, to facilitate appropriate support and adaptations in the workplace.

Leadership & Management

• To lead, inspire, challenge, motivate and empower other teaching staff to attain challenging outcomes.
• To establish clear expectations and constructive working relationships amongst staff.
• To line manage other members of staff as required as the provision for SEND grows.
• To work alongside the sixth form SLT to ensure that parents / carers are well-informed of their child’s progress in particular through regular parents / carers consultation evenings.

The full job description and detailed person specification are available in the accompanying document or on our website. The duties and responsibilities described above and in the document are not exhaustive and additional duties or responsibilities may be required of this position. The job description will be reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure that it relates to the job to be performed. 

Safeguarding

Ada, the National College for Digital Skill is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and references will be sought from previous employers prior to commencing employment. Other related pre-employment checks appropriate to the post will also be carried out.

 Equal opportunities

Ada. National College for Digital Skills recognises that equality of opportunity and the recognition and promotion of diversity are integral to its strengths.

Applicants with disabilities

Ada, the National College for Digital Skills is keen to increase the number of disabled people it employs. We therefore encourage applications from individuals with a disability who are able to carry out the duties of the post. If you have special needs in relation to your application please contact our HR Department via hr@ada.ac.uk.

Variations to this Job Description

This is a description of the job as it is at present, and is current at date of issue. The job description will be reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure that appropriate revisions are incorporated, and that it relates to the job to be performed.

Sponsorship

Sadly, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role so we can only accept applications from candidates who will have the legal right to work and remain in the United Kingdom.