SEND General Teaching Assistant

At West Cliff Primary School we do believe that the purpose and the goals of education are the same for every child. We aim to ensure that the learning needs of all children are identified and met. We aim to make the path forward as smooth as possible for all children. From time to time, however, some children need extra help with their schoolwork. Such help may only be needed in certain areas or for a short time, and, whenever possible, we provide this support in class with extra assistance from a teaching assistant and if needed, adapted schoolwork. Pupils that need further support will spend time in our "Rockpool" - Targeted Mainstream Provision (TMP) for children with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) for the primary need of Social, Emotional and Mental Health. The provision for each child is tailored to their individual needs, with academic input, work on their EHCP targets, and addressing the gaps in their Boxall profile. Each bespoke timetable created by senior staff will ensure that gaps in each child's development will be reduced and that their strengths and abilities are nurtured and allowed to flourish within a small, safe environment. We support children in moving between the Rockpool and the relevant mainstream class, so that our children can develop friendships with their peers and gradually increase the time spent with their year group cohort. Your role We are looking for a caring, nurturing Teaching Assistant to join our team. You will be working in various classes to support SEND pupils, as well as spending time in our Rockpool. This is a wonderfully rewarding opportunity to see your positive influence upon the pupils' development. You will work within our provision alongside the class teacher and other support staff. You will work under the guidance of the class teacher and will also liaise with the SENCO, support staff and other professionals in order to provide appropriate support to our pupils. We encourage applications from candidates who have a passion for primary education and wish to work in a setting which offers reward and challenge and where no two days are the same., The supporting information section of your application should clearly evidence your ability to meet the requirements we have outlined in the job description & person specification. This will be used to shortlist applicants for this role and therefore it is imperative that you provide evidence as requested. References When completing your application, please provide two employment referees. Generally, this is your current and most recent employer. Please note your referee should ideally be a previous line manager or someone in a position of authority. We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We have a robust child protection policy and all staff will receive training relevant to their role at induction and throughout employment at the school. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Please note this post is in regulated activity and exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS criminal records and barred list check for work with children. An online search may be undertaken as part of the recruitment process on information available in the public domain. Candidates should disclose anything that may be relevant in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies and process applications on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes.

• English and Maths GCSE level 'C' or above or equivalent
• Level 2 Teaching Assistant qualification of equivalent
You will:
• Have previous experience in this type of role.
• Have a genuine interest in supporting children with special educational needs.
• Be able to develop positive working relationships with pupils, parents, staff and other professionals.
• Be willing to undertake and act on relevant professional development and training.
• Be able to support in the delivery of high-quality learning experiences for all pupils.
• Have high expectations of learning and behaviour and inspire and motivate our children.
• Be supportive, nurturing and understanding.
• Seek to make learning exciting and a positive experience.
• Work well as part of a team.
• Demonstrate good communication skills both orally and written.
  
  We were given the National Nurturing Schools Award in December 2023, following our work with Nurture UK. We received a glowing report, which included lots of positive comments, such as:
• 'I really like school. It is a very calm place.' (pupil)
• 'West Cliff is a happy place to be. You want them to enjoy school and they certainly do.' (parent)
• 'The difference that school has made is amazing. I can't put it into words.' (parent)
• 'The school does a lot for [staff] wellbeing.' (staff)
• 'The senior leadership team regularly reflects on workload to make it more manageable.' (staff)
• 'If we need anything, we can turn to each other. 'There are so many knowledgeable staff who are always willing to help.' (staff)
• 'We are part of something bigger: a trust-wide family that supports and nurtures us too.' (staff)