Teaching Assistant

Are you compassionate, adaptable and a good communicator? Do you want to work for an organisation where you can make a difference to the lives of young people with learning difficulties? If so ONELAB College, Tower Hamlets could be the ideal employer for you. Every day is different on our site and there is never a dull moment. The college has been supporting young people for 2 years and we are a fast-growing dynamic young organisation. You could be part of our future. Our employees make us what we are and everyone plays a part in our continued success. 

ONELAB inspires learners aged 16-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) through a creative curriculum encompassing design, digital media and entrepreneurship which provides clear pathways to BTEC and UEL qualifications and opportunities in the creative economy, fostering both employment and self-employment.

At ONELAB, we embrace an inclusive and immersive vocational methodology. Through this our SEND students not only navigate and interpret the world around them but also discover their unique voices.

Our person-centred approach to learning unlocks hidden potential, develops creative skills and yields remarkable outcomes, behavioural transformation and positive impact for our students and their families.

We are looking for a Teaching Assistant who will:

• Support the Instructor in the delivery of the curriculum
• Support young people with special educational needs and disabilities (16-25 years old) to engage fully with the curriculum and enable learners to become more independent learners
• Undertake specified targeted work with young people under the direction of the Instructor
• Undertake work and support programmes to enable access to learning for ONELAB learners
• Assist the Instructor in the management of the learners and the classroom studio space
• Use initiative to support wellbeing of learners.
• Provide constructive feedback to the learners and be able to recognise and record their progress
• Engage in all training provided and apply knowledge and skills within the role

Teaching Assistant: Duties and Responsibilities

Support for Learners, Instructors and the Curriculum:

• Support Instructor(s) and other professional agencies to provide effective support for learning activities
• Awareness of, and work within, College policies and procedures
• Work with SEND learners, providing an appropriate level of emotional and physical support where necessary
• Provide support under the direction and supervision of Instructor(s) to assist learners to access the curriculum and participate fully at College
• Support learners to understand instructions, support independent learning and inclusion of all learners
• Provide support to learners who have communication difficulties, also where English is an additional language
• Implement and contribute to planned learning activities as agreed with Instructor(s), adjusting activities according to learners’ responses, as appropriate
• Participate in supporting the plan, execution and evaluation of learning activities with Instructor(s), providing feedback to Instructor(s) on learner progress (both orally and written)
• Support Instructor(s) in behaviour management and keeping learners on task, based on the expectations for individual learners
• Provide support for learners with challenging behaviour taking account of support plans and risk assessments under the direct supervision of the Instructor(s)
• Support the Instructor(s) in monitoring, assessing and recording learner progress/activities
• Provide feedback to learners in relation to attainment and progress under the guidance of Instructor(s)
• Support the use of ICT in the curriculum
• Support learning by arranging/providing resources for lessons/activities under the direction of Instructor(s) and in line with health and safety requirements
• Support learners in their social development and their emotional well-being, reporting problems to Instructor(s) as appropriate
• Assist in the development of learner support plans
• Collaboratively work with volunteers and other teaching assistants in the studio, as required
• Undertake learner record keeping and maintenance of records as requested
• Invigilate examinations and tests, as required
• Assist with the supervision of learners before College, break times, lunchtimes and after College activities, as required
• Assist in escorting and supervising learners on educational visits and out of College activities under the direction of Instructor(s)
• Support learners to maintain a clean, safe and tidy learning environment, ensuring classroom studio spaces are organised and clean
• Support learners in developing and implementing their own personal and social development
• Provide basic first aid, liaising with senior leaders and medical staff and if appropriate referral to health service in emergency cases
• May be asked to administer medications subject to agreement and in line with College policy as appropriate
• Establish a safe, purposeful and stimulating environment for learners, rooted in mutual respect and establish a framework for discipline
• Support Instructor(s) to manage classes effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to learners’ needs in order to inspire, motivate and challenge learners
• Maintain good relationships with learners, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary
• Be a positive role model and demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour, which are expected of learners
• Have high expectations of behaviour, promoting self-control and independence of all learners

Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

• Regularly review the effectiveness of your support and assessment procedures and its impact on learners’ progress, attainment and wellbeing, refining your approaches where necessary, responding to the advice and feedback from colleagues and/or Instructors
• Be responsible for improving your support work through participating fully in training and development opportunities identified by ONELAB College, or as developed as an outcome of your performance appraisals
• Participate in any arrangements for further training (CPD) and professional development as identified by the Senior Leadership Team at ONELAB College

Whole ONELAB College Responsibilities:

• Ensure good practice with regard to punctuality, respect for colleagues and conduct in accordance with ONELAB College policies and procedures
• Participate in all meetings (which may sometimes occur outside education hours)
• Consult with parents and other persons or agencies outside ONELAB College as required
• Carry out any additional tasks or responsibilities as are reasonably compatible with this job description and its objectives
• To communicate information in a clear, legible, objective and professional manner, in a variety of ways, using the required level of confidentiality. This includes the use of e-mail and computer-based systems as they come into use
• To remain agile in approach as ONELAB College is a dynamic environment that requires understanding, empathy, consideration etc. for all

This is an exciting opportunity to work, Monday to Friday (37.5 hrs per week) term time only on a freelance contract.

N.B. for the right person they may be opportunities to progress your career and to successfully gain permanent full time employment.