SEN Teaching Assistant

Main Purpose of this Role

Teaching Assistants are to work under the guidance of the teacher in planning and implementing the whole curriculum with individuals, groups, or the whole class. They provide general support to the teacher in managing and organising the pupils and the classroom, ensuring appropriate support for each pupil based on each pupil's needs. This requires close collaboration with other professionals, such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and/or physiotherapists. They may be required to supervise the whole class and deliver pre-prepared activities within agreed staffing levels and appropriate risk assessments.

Teaching Assistants are responsible for using behaviour management strategies in line with the school's policies and procedures to contribute to a purposeful learning environment for pupils, appropriate to their age and needs. They assist the teacher in creating and maintaining a purposeful, orderly, and supportive learning environment for all pupils, particularly helping to overcome barriers to learning, including physical, emotional, and behavioural difficulties and promote inclusion of all pupils, ensuring they have equal opportunities to learn and develop.

Key Responsibilities and Duties of this Role

Support for pupils

o Support pupils' learning in the most effective way, working with multidisciplinary teams to promote learning for each pupil.

o Assist pupils with personal care needs, which may include social, health, hygiene, and welfare matters, such as changing incontinence pads/soiled clothing/sanitary wear, following agreed local manual handling procedures, and administering prescribed medication under agreed guidance.

o Support pupils through the delivery of specific learning programmes designed by other professionals e.g. occupational health, speech therapists, and physiotherapists.

o Encourage pupils to interact and work cooperatively, ensuring all pupils are engaged in appropriate activities based on their age and needs.

o Demonstrate knowledge of complex special needs and the ability to use appropriate programmes such as Total Communication strategies and TeamTeach.

o Recognise that pupils may have communication difficulties and be able to use alternative communication techniques if required.