Teaching Assistant - Full-time

Strood Academy are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic Teaching Assistant who will assist in the support and inclusion of SEN and EAL pupils within the school. Working within a class, our successful candidates will join a well-established team of Teaching Assistants who provide appropriate one-to-one support for an individual pupil, or a small group of pupils within class of any ability and in any curriculum area., Working for Strood Academy: Since opening in 2009, our academy has transformed the educational opportunities and outcomes for girls and boys in Strood. The improvement in academic performance has been driven by a talented and committed workforce, the hard work of our students, and support from parents and our community. Our new buildings in Carnation Road were designed in partnership with Nicholas Hare and built by BAM as our main contractor at a cost of £26m. They opened in September 2012 and have outstanding learning environments and outside play areas as well as fantastic sports facilities. The buildings reflect our educational vision of creating a mature and purposeful educational environment where children of all abilities can learn and thrive.
Our vision is to be an inclusive community where we are all kind, respectful, and resilient in our journey towards excellence. Our students thrive through an enriching and diverse curriculum that offers a global perspective, empowering all to become inquisitive lifelong learners.
Our core values are to be:
+ Inquisitive
+ Respectful
+ Resilient
+ Kind
Our purpose at Strood Academy is to:
+ nurture students' aspirations and build resilience within an environment of tolerance, respect and empathy;
+ shape leaders within a global community;
+ develop and celebrate knowledgeable and inquiring minds to promote lifelong learning and;
+ help young people develop into well-educated, considerate and caring citizens.
We have a growing roll call of 1400 children, including 200 in Sixth Form. Working in our academy takes a lot of dedication and hard work, but for the right individuals, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience and contribute significantly to personal and professional development.
Why work at Strood Academy?
+ Our recent OFSTED inspection has confirmed that the academy continues to be judged 'Good' and is very strong in many aspects and areas. The full report can be found on our website and I would like to share a quote which reflects the culture and ambition we all have for our students.
'The principal advocates a culture of high expectations, aspirations and traditional values. Leaders' high expectations are reflected in the ambitious International Baccalaureate curriculum. This provides a global perspective that encourages pupils to be inquisitive lifelong learners.
+ Centralised behaviour system and detentions - simple for teachers to follow allowing disruptive-free classrooms.
+ Our commitment to the development of all staff - CPD on Wednesday afternoons and the opportunity to collaborate with staff from other schools in the LAT. Also all staff at Strood receive regular coaching feedback through our on-line platform on-track.
+ Strood academy is easily accessible by A2 and the high speed train can allow for travel into London in less than 30 minutes.
+ We have a common sense approach to workload. All teachers are expected to feedback or live mark. We also work closely as a Trust allowing for centralised resources to be shared across our secondary schools.
'We set unapologetically high expectations, challenging our pupils to believe in their ability and have the choice in life they truly deserve. We ensure our pupils are at the forefront of tomorrow. We offer our pupils a commitment to excellence based on high-quality teaching and a wide range of experiences beyond the classroom. We deliver innovative teaching and learning through our broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum allowing our pupils to experience a rich variety of subjects.Our staff are dedicated to providing an exceptional learning environment where pupils are challenged and stretched to achieve their personal best.' - Jon Richardson, Principal

Our successful candidate will provide support for pupils who have a range of specific needs; an opportunity to make a real difference to their development. Applicants should be adaptable, personable and committed to providing an excellent service on behalf of the school and wider Trust, and above all else our appointed candidate will have a positive work ethic and can-do attitude. Experience of working with young people (particularly primary aged) with SEMH/SLCN and also delivering small group interventions would be desirable.

This is a really exciting time to be joining the team at Strood Academy as we have recently opened a state-of-the-art Special Resource Provision that caters for pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As part of the Trust's and Strood Academy's fully inclusive ethos, we believe that the SRP will be of great value to all students in the school.
This is a permanent opportunity offering an actual salary of £20,215 per annum (£23,114 full-time equivalent), working 37 hours per week, term time + 2 weeks of inset.
Do you know a great Teaching Assistant who would like to hear about opportunities with Leigh Academies Trust? If so, make a referral today for the chance to receive £100 as a 'thank you'. Simply complete the referral form by clicking here. T&C's apply.