Teaching Assistant

We are seeking to recruit an experienced Teaching Assistant to join the team at King's Hawford Prep School on a full time basis. This post would suit someone who can be flexible, is a team player and is keen to become involved in the wider life of a very dynamic school.

Role and responsibilities

Learning

• Prepare the classroom before sessions.
• Assist with the planning of teaching activities.
• Work under the direction of the classroom teacher, assisting pupils in small groups/individuals.
• Assist in the educational and social development of pupils under the direction and guidance of the Head, SENCO and class teachers.
• Assist in the implementation of Individual Education Programmes for pupils and help monitor their progress and provide feedback to teachers.
• Provide support for individual pupils inside and outside the classroom to enable them to participate fully in activities.
• Work with other professionals, such as speech therapists and occupational therapists, as necessary.
• Support pupils with emotional or behavioural problems and help develop their social skills, reporting any issues when required.
• Listen to pupils read and read to pupils as a class, group, or one-to-one.
• Support with phonics as a class, group or on a one-to-one basis.

Administrative Duties

• Assist with photocopying and routine classroom administrative tasks.
• Maintain classroom and corridor display areas.
• Prepare and present displays of pupils’ work.
• Keep the classroom in a tidy and safe order.
• Supervise outdoor play activities where required.
• Assist class teachers with maintaining pupils’ records.
• Attend team and staff meetings.
• Attend INSET days.

Pastoral Care

• Supervise cloakroom and toilet visits.
• Assist at mid-morning break.
• Assist with changing and dressing for P.E. and swimming.
• Assist with lunch.
• Participate in playground and lunch duty.
• Assist in the general movement of pupils around the School.
• Be proactive in matters relating to health and safety, safeguarding and child protection.

Supporting Duties

• Assist with after-school clubs or late club/room twice a week.
• Early morning duty if required, on a rota basis.
• Attend and support school open mornings and speech days if required.
• Assist with parent evenings if required.
• Support at school events when required.
• Provide support outside of normal classes, such as covering absences or going on school trips.
• Undertake professional duties that may be reasonably assigned by the Head.

Safeguarding responsibilities of the successful candidate

Staff are advised to maintain an attitude of “it could be happening here and probably is” as far as safeguarding is concerned and should always act in the best interest of the child.

All staff are expected to actively promote and safeguard the welfare of all pupils. As this post involves significant contact with children and the postholder will be responsible for children, they will be considered to be in regulated activity and must report any concerns in a timely manner.

All staff must also attend annual safeguarding training and have proper regard for the School’s safeguarding policy and procedures.

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills required

• Support the aims and ethos of the School and the King’s Foundation.
• Be an active and willing member of the School and classroom team.
• Take responsibility for the delivery of specific tasks to assist children with learning difficulties.
• Demonstrate excellent numeracy, literacy and communication skills.
• Use ICT effectively to support learning.
• Set a good example in terms of dress, punctuality and attendance.
• Promote a positive approach to working with pupils and demonstrate the ability to motivate, inspire and build rapport.
• Demonstrate a strong regard for pupils’ safety and well-being.
• Respect diversity.
• Demonstrate excellent team working and interpersonal skills.
• Deal with sensitive information in a confidential manner.
• Offer creative ability.
• Work calmly and with patience.
• Take a flexible approach to work and have a “can do” attitude.
• Show empathy with pupils facing barriers to their learning.
• Form and maintain appropriate professional relationships and boundaries with pupils, teachers, parents and other colleagues.
• Offer excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Promote a professional attitude to work.
• Keep up to date with educational policy and training relating to the role.
• A knowledge of safeguarding practices in an education setting.

Qualifications required

• TA NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent).
• Paediatric first aid certificate is desirable; however, training can be provided.

Hours of work

This is a permanent, full-time position, 37.5 hours per week, term time only, plus supporting duties.

Start date: As soon as possible

How to apply

Visit the vacancies page of the School website www.ksw.org.uk/careers to find out more about the benefits of working at King’s and to hear why our staff love being a member of the School community.

Please read the applicant information pack below for a full job description and person specification.

To apply, candidates should complete the TES online application form. Enquiries about the role are welcomed and can be sent to the HR team at recruitment@ksw.org.uk

Closing date for applications: 9am, Tuesday 27th August 2024

The King’s Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete a self-declaration form in relation to any criminal record or information that may make you unsuitable to work with children, and will be subject to an online search.

In order to provide our pupils with a well-rounded and enriched educational experience that is truly representative of the world in which they grow up in, the King’s Foundation strives to place equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that we build a community which is truly representative of all backgrounds and experiences. As such we believe that we will do that best if our employees come from different backgrounds and if we create an environment of inclusion and belonging for them.