Prep Teaching Assistant

All School staff are expected to:

a.    Work towards and support the School vision and the current School objectives outlined in the School Development Plan;

b.    Support and contribute to the School’s responsibility for safeguarding pupils;

c.    Regularly review own practice, set personal development targets and take responsibility for own continuous professional development;

d.    Work within the Schools Health and Safety policy to ensure a safe working environment for staff, pupils and visitors;

e.    Work within the Equal Opportunities Policy to promote equality of opportunity for all pupils and staff, both current and prospective;

f.     Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with pupils, parents and colleagues;

g.    Engage actively in the performance review process;

h.    Adhere to policies as set out in the Staff Handbook and Regulations;

i.     Undertake other reasonable duties related to the job purpose required from time to time;

j.     Adhere to School Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies.

JOB TITLE: Teaching Assistant – Prep Department

Accountability

The Teaching Assistant is accountable to the Head of MSJ via the Head of Prep, the Deputy Head Academic around matters relating to curriculum, teaching and learning, and the Deputy Head Pastoral on matters relating to pupil wellbeing and pastoral care.

Purpose of the Job

Under the direction of the Class teacher, the Teaching Assistant is to support pupils within School in order to facilitate their access to a broad and balanced curriculum. The successful candidate will also need to assist the class teacher in providing a stimulating educational environment in which all pupils can achieve their potential in the following ways:

General Duties

• Support and assist with the educational, physical, cultural, emotional and social needs of all pupils;
• Work closely with the Head of Prep to provide an outstanding level of care and education;
• Help pupils to learn as effectively as possible both in group sessions and individually;
• Ensure the smooth daily operation of classrooms;

Learning and Development

• Clarify and explain instructions to pupils, ensuring they are supported and clear about expectations;
• Reinforce the learning principles being introduced by the teacher;
• Monitor, observe and record each pupils’ achievements to inform next steps and planning requirements for the class teacher;
• Ensure specific additional needs are planned and catered for appropriately, liaising with the Head of Prep and SENCO where appropriate. Participating in lesson planning and annual review meetings of individual pupils where needed;
• Model and reinforce excellent learning, language, behaviour, numeracy, literacy and presentation skills;
• Provide displays to value pupil achievements and support their continued learning and development;
• Promote personal and social development and citizenship skills.

Looking after the welfare of the pupils

• Attend to the health, welfare and safety of the pupils at all times, including external play areas and unwell pupils;
• Assist and support physical needs, whilst encouraging and teaching independence skills;
• Establish a supportive relationship with pupils to promote good levels of self-esteem;
• Dress minor wounds and deal with health requirements as necessary (e.g. use of asthmatic inhalers);
• Help maintain formal records of first aid treatments, subject to suitable training and instruction being provided;
• Always follow positive behaviour management strategies;
• Ensure meal and snack times are pleasant sociable occasions, providing an opportunity for pupils to learn about interaction and sharing. Ensure that the pupils’ medical and dietary requirements are followed carefully;
• Understand the need for confidentiality linked to home/pupil/teacher/school/work and to keep confidences appropriately;
• Update the Head of Prep and other staff where appropriate about pastoral matters.

Communication

• Encourage and foster close relationships with pupils and their parents, offering help and guidance where appropriate;
• Provide feedback about pupils to the Class Teacher and/or the Head of Prep in the first instance, and parents where appropriate, regarding pupil achievement, progress and wellbeing;
• Liaise with the Prep staff team to support transition and learning and development opportunities;
• Ensure all methods of communication including e-mails, messages, pupil developmental journals etc. are kept up-to-date and professional.
• Ensure all methods of communication including e-mails, messages, pupil developmental journals are kept up-to-date and professional.

Managing ratios and resources

• Ensure staff ratios are maintained throughout the day;
• Promote and encourage a culture of respect in relation to all resources (indoors and outdoors) and ensure they are maintained to a high standard and tidied, organised and stored appropriately by all staff.

Working with Others

• Provide an exemplary, professional role model for other practitioners;
• Promote a culture of inclusion and teamwork, working well with all other staff.

Training and development of self and others

• Attend INSET, training days and relevant staff meetings as required;
• Take a wide interest in all subject areas and be prepared to further extend knowledge by attending relevant training;
• Actively participate in regular performance management cycles, completing all paperwork to support and identify areas of development and training needs.

Other Duties

• Carry out break and lunch duties when required;
• Assist the teacher in the morning in setting up the classroom;
• Check homework diaries, issue spellings and change reading books;
• Tidying up the classroom at the end of the lesson and the corridor at the end of each day. Check for left items, tuck in chairs, check bookshelf is tidy and ensure resources such as pencils, are ready for the next day to name a few;
• Undertake other duties which may be required, to meet the needs of the service.