Teaching Assistant TA3

We would like to extend a warm welcome from all pupils, staff, governors and trustees of Rhyddings. Rhyddings serves the East Lancashire old mill town of Oswaldtwistle and surrounding area of Hyndburn. It has been at the heart of the community for over 90 years and although a smaller than average high school, but expanding, we cater for pupils from a diverse range of backgrounds. The school enjoys good transport links via the M65 corridor and adjoining networks of M6 and M66, and public transport, with good bus and rail links.

Rhyddings are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, committed, skilled and highly effective Teaching Assistant TA3 to further support our successful teaching assistant team. We are looking for an excellent TA3 to specialise in supporting those pupils who arrive at the school with English as an additional language, or early stages of English language acquisition. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work across the 11-16 age range directly supporting the pupils 1:1, in small groups and in class supporting the class teacher. A significant investment in CPD for TAs has developed specialisms in Phonics, supporting those at an early stage of reading, EAL support and the four areas of SEND need. This is underpinned by research evidence and the EEF ‘5 a day’. The successful candidate will receive any necessary training for this specific role.

Experience of working in schools, in either secondary or primary settings, and with young people with SEND and or EAL, supporting curriculum delivery alongside teaching staff for both planned and unforeseen absences is at the core of this post. They will be effective and efficient and able to form positive working relationships in all aspects of the role.

The need to support pupils with EHCP’s, 1-1 targeted specific interventions and support and promote independence in the classroom, based on teacher direction is key to this role.

An understanding of language acquisition and development is key and being bi or multilingual is desirable but not essential. School receives pupils that are new to the country that represent a broad range of native level languages and all at different stages of development. These pupils are not necessarily SEND pupils and the role will fall under the guise of the English and Languages departments rather than necessarily with the SEND Team. However, they are not mutually exclusive, but are mutually supportive and you will be part of the wider TA and HLTA teams. You will work closely with the school’s Assistant Headteacher, TAs, pastoral teams and teachers to secure the best levels of pupil progress and achievement.

Have high aspirations for all learners with SEND.

The SEND/TA Team at Rhyddings currently consists of an Assistant Headteacher, SENDCo, 3 x HLTA’s and a team of supportive TA1 to TA3’s. Together they are mutually supportive and provide a holistic approach to supporting pupils both in the classroom and in our Hub, nurture provision and Learning Support Area - The Base.

They are a likeminded, mutually supportive team with a wealth of experience, being highly adaptive and dedicated to our young people.

They also work closely with teaching staff and the wider pastoral and inclusion teams.

We have a comprehensive offer of professional development. This includes regular CPD opportunities across the year for whole staff, teams and individuals. 

All members of our community have access and use Office 365 including collaborative learning tools such as MS Teams and OneNote through wireless and portable technologies.

We have access to regular CPD both in school, external courses and through our local collaboration as a trust school, a partner of the Pendle Lancashire SCITT and nationally through wider organisations. At the heart of the LET Education Trust is the intention to provide the best career support, development and opportunity to all staff.

Our SEND planning meetings are developmental and this is further supported by our dedicated weekly SEND team update and daily ‘end of the day’ catch-up time. This is a further opportunity to share and discuss best practice and next steps.

The LET Education Trust’s Wellbeing Charter can be found here LET Wellbeing Charter.