SEN Learning Support Assistant

Blossom House is a specialist independent day school in London for children with speech, language and communication difficulties. A highly supportive and nurturing place to learn, our school has a positive and inspiring atmosphere created by our dedicated, professional and caring staff.

Do you want to be part of a dedicated and friendly multi-disciplinary team of Teachers, Therapists and Learning Support Assistants helping children with social and communication difficulties to blossom and thrive?

Do you have a passion for learning, excellent inter-personal skills and are confident, enthusiastic, calm, supportive, resilient and adaptable?

We welcome you to apply to join our team.

About the Adapted Curriculum:

Situated within the school, the Adapted Curriculum is specialist SEN provision for Early Years and Primary children with complex social communication disorders and/or a diagnosis of ASD. Many of the children may present as non-verbal or have limited verbal abilities, and our aim is to provide them with a nurturing environment to develop their social communication and emotional regulation, within an education setting to facilitate their access to learning alongside their peers. Class sizes are a maximum of 6 pupils supported by a Class Teacher, two Learning Support Assistants and Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists. The children in the Adapted Curriculum do not access the National Curriculum, but instead are provided with a functional curriculum where communication is the main focus.

What the role involves:

The role involves supporting children and assisting the class teacher and therapists with general pupil self-care, maintain the learning environments and assist with administration. You may be required to provide ad-hoc or dedicated 1:1 support to specific children and also to provide whole-class support in lessons under the direction of the Teacher or Therapist. You will be supported to implement specific strategies to support the students’ communication and sensory needs and in the management of challenging behaviours that frequently present within this cohort.

The ideal candidate will have:

·        Supporting our students can sometimes be challenging, mental and physical resilience are qualities necessary for all our staff.

·        Confidence, enthusiasm and a passion for learning.

·        An ability and confidence to function independently as and when required.

·        Excellent English skills (clear written and spoken English) along with good reading, writing and numeracy skills.

·        The ability to build good working relationships with children, teachers, parents and carers.

·        Experience of working with children with Special Education Needs (SEN), particularly children on the Autism Spectrum which includes the age group 3 – 11.

·        Experience of providing personal self-care support to pupils will be an advantage. Please note that providing self-care support on occasion is an important expectation of the role.

·        The ability to manage a small group of children with complex social communication needs with patience and empathy.

·        The ability to promote positive behaviour in a nurturing environment is essential.

·        Supporting our students can sometimes be challenging, mental and physical resilience are qualities necessary for all our staff.

This role is a Permanent, Term-Time only role,

Monday - Friday, 08:30am - 17:00pm,

Salary: £25,317 - £28,800 pro rata, depending on experience (£21,700 - £24,656 salary for term-time, 36 weeks pa)

To Start: ASAP

Closing date: 7th January 2025