Teaching Assistant
- Job title: Teaching Assistant (One to One)
- Job Type: Full time and Fixed term
- Salary: £19,500 per annum
- Department: The Junior School
- Reporting to: The Principal of the Junior School and Director of Studies
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: January 2023
- Closing Date: 18 January 2023 at 9:00 am
We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Teaching Assistant to provide one to one support for a pupil with Autism Spectrum Condition currently in Year 4.
The pupil is a very able individual who has made excellent progress to date. The Teaching Assistant will ensure that the pupil has full access to the delivered curriculum, integrating as fully as possible in the activities generally undertaken by the other pupils in the class.
This is a fixed-term post, to the end of the Summer Term in July 2023 in the first instance. However, there is scope for the role to continue on a one year rolling contract until the pupil leaves Year 6.
The Department
The Junior School is one of the largest, if not the largest Key Stage 2 Independent Junior School in the country. There are 445 pupils from Years 3 to 6 in five classes in each of these four year groups.
Our broad and creative curriculum is planned around clear learning objectives for every subject area in each year group. We promote high levels of achievement and effort, ensuring our pupils aim high in all they do. We push the boundaries beyond mere acquisition of knowledge: we want our pupils to develop the confidence to investigate and enquire, to solve problems, and to take personal responsibility for their learning.
In addition to developing children’s academic and creative talents, we have a team of staff dedicated to nurturing our pupils’ wellbeing. To develop a sense of community and belonging from day one at Highgate, our pupils all belong to a form group and one of our four houses.
There are over 60 clubs for pupils to choose from in the Junior School, and time is set aside for each pupil to take part in a co-curricular activity of their choice. We encourage social responsibility through our charity work, both locally and further afield.
Main Responsibilities
Teaching and Learning
- Develop a constructive relationship with the pupil, providing one to one support during their academic lessons
- Create and maintain a purposeful, orderly and supportive environment, in accordance with the teacher’s lesson plan and objectives
- Use strategies, in liaison with the Learning Support Department and class teachers, to support the pupil to achieve the learning goals
- Motivate and encourage the pupil to participate in all activities during lessons
- Provide positive reinforcements, praise and rewards
- Provide support, in liaison with the Learning Support Department, if the pupil is unable to remain in any lesson
- Provide detailed and regular feedback to all involved on the pupil’s achievements, progress and any relevant difficulties
- Joining in professional discussions and staff meetings which may be after school
- Accompanying and assisting on School visits and outings as well as in any in-school workshops and events
Pastoral Care
- Taking care of the pupil in the classroom and School buildings; comfort them when they are sick and distressed; assisting them with washing or cleaning when necessary (e.g. after being sick); give individual attention when it is required
- Supporting the pupil at break time, encouraging positive peer relationships; helping the pupil acquire strategies for coping with the playground environment; making sure that they are safe, obeying the playground rules and learning the arts of cooperation and fair play
- Supervising the pupil at lunchtime in the Dining Hall, encouraging healthy eating and good table manners
- Accompanying the pupil as required as they move around the school
- Administering basic first aid should the pupil become unwell or suffer an injury
- Helping the pupil prepare for sport, exercise and swimming lessons, supervising them changing where necessary
The Teaching Assistant (One to One) will form part of a team of Teaching Assistants that are essential to the smooth running of the life of this successful Junior School. Within the Junior School this team is directed by the Learning Support Department and the Director of Studies.
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 GCSEs or equivalent including English and Maths
- Previous experience of working with children of this age group, ideally within a Junior School setting
- Previous experience of working with children with Autism Spectrum Condition
Desirable
- Graduate qualification or equivalent
- First Aid Certificate/First Aid for Children Certificate
- An appropriate childcare qualification
- SEND qualifications
- Skills / Knowledge
Essential
- ICT competence
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Literate and numerate to a high level
- Able to show initiative and work without supervision
- Able to manage and prioritise workloads, commitments and deadlines
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Personal Attributes
Essential
- Friendly, sympathetic and supportive
- Empathy for pupils, staff and the community
- Energetic, motivated and enthusiastic
- Willing to make a full contribution to the life of the school
- Reliability and punctuality
- A healthy sense of humour
- A ‘can do’ attitude and, most importantly, the flexibility needed to work successfully in the Junior School environment
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 21% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 11% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.
Lunch | A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Staff wellbeing
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Charitable work and sustainability
As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure
- Closing Date: 18th January 2023
- Timing of interviews: Mid January 2023
Contact: Alison Lloyd, Director of Studies JS is happy to answer any questions about this post.
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Inclusion
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Please read before you apply
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.
Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.