Protocol are looking for an experienced Special Educational and Disabilities Teaching Assistant/ SEND TA to work with students within Gateshead.
Special Education Needs and Disability Teaching Assistants, also known as SEND Teaching Assistant’s, work under the guidance of teaching and SEND teaching staff, undertaking support programmes that enable access to learning for all pupils with special educational needs or learning disabilities.
A SEND Teaching Assistant (TA) will support pupils with all stages of the national Key Stage curriculum, levels 2 through 4, between the ages of 5 and 16.
Within this role you will utilise your knowledge of learning support, communication skills and creativity to develop a varied approach to helping pupils with Special Education Needs and Disabilities.
You will need to use your passion for inspiring children to enjoy learning, encouraging them to take pride in their achievements, be confident in their abilities and play an active role in school life. Using a mix of resources to assist you broaden a pupil’s understanding and develop innovative ways to provide a supportive learning environment, where pupils can expand their knowledge.
Becoming a SEND TA is an excellent opportunity to make a big difference in a pupil’s education, to build upon your teaching support skills and to gain experience in a wide range of teaching methods, aids, and approaches.
Is a SEND Teaching Assistant job a good fit for you?
If you have an interest in teaching children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, working as a SEND Teaching Assistant is an invaluable opportunity to gain classroom experience.
If you are already a mainstream education TA, moving into a SEND role will enable you to adapt your teaching support skills to suit the specialised needs of children with learning difficulties.
It is important that in a SEND TA role, you gain knowledge of the broad variety of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) that are used. This experience will help you understand how to help each pupil access and enjoy various learning activities.
Having previous in-school teaching experience is desirable, but if you can demonstrate experience in caring for and supporting children or young adults aged between 5 to 16-years-old, involvement in voluntary excursions and evidence of personal knowledge of SEND and ALN, you may find that schools are supportive of new Teaching Assistants looking to specialise.
Your duties as a SEND Teaching Assistant will include:
- Supervise pupils with SEND and ALN, ensuring their safety and ability to access learning activities and understand the information presented.
- Aid the execution of education plans suitable to each pupils’ learning objectives.
- Build a trusting relationship with all pupils and communicate according to their understanding.
- Promote inclusion and acceptance, support diversity and ensure pupils have equal access to learning and development.
- Promote class interaction and ensure pupils engage throughout the lessons.
- Provide opportunities for developing independence.
- Create a purposeful, orderly and supportive environment.
- Assist with the display of pupils’ work and the planning of learning activities.
- Undertake administrative tasks as needed.
- Assist pupils with practical activities using a variety of teaching aids.
- Under the guidance of teaching staff, provide feedback to pupils, parents and carers about their progress, achievements and any problems that may have arisen.
- Promote good behaviour and encourage pupils to take accountability for their actions.
- Support the pupils with computer technology to access learning activities and assist them to develop competent usage.
- Prepare, maintain and use learning resources and assist pupils to use them.
- Follow child protection, health, safety, security, confidentiality and data protection policies and procedures, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- Assist with pupil supervision, including before and after school and in break times.
- Accompany teaching staff and pupils on school trips and after school activities, taking responsibility for a group of pupils under the teacher’s supervision when needed.
Are you a good fit for a SEND Teaching Assistant job?
To succeed as a SEND Teaching Assistant, you will need to draw upon your understanding of Additional Learning Needs, and have:
- A good understanding of the national Key Stage Curriculum, preferred.
- Knowledge of various teaching methods appropriate for SEND pupils.
- A sound understanding of child development and learning.
- Demonstrate active listening skills and strong verbal communication skills.
- A dedication to establishing positive relationships with pupils and understanding their needs.
- The ability to provide individual attention, reassurance and support with learning tasks.
- Willingness and ability to adapt in response to changing circumstances.
- Monitor pupils’ responses and adapt to achieve the intended learning outcomes.
- The confidence to evaluate learning needs and actively seek new teaching methods.
- Provide feedback to pupils in a constructive way that reinforces learning.
- The ability to handle complex and sensitive issues with empathy and understanding.
- To be a supportive member of the SEND team.
- An interest in developing your personal and professional progress.
If this sounds like you - don't delay, apply today.
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.
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