Job Title: Learning Support Assistant

Location: Aldridge

At Aldridge School we aim to ensure that every young person achieves their potential by providing an education that challenges them intellectually and offers them a wide range of opportunities to develop and stretch their unique talents and interests. 

We believe that education is more than just grades. Grades are certainly the 'passport' that pupils need to move on to the next stage of their lives, and we will do whatever it takes to ensure they are able to achieve their aspirations. However, the real art of education is to develop confident, resilient, and independent young people who are in possession of the 'passport' that grades provide. 

We feel that our aims are best achieved by providing a challenging learning environment that is built upon a formula of high expectations, inspired and passionate teaching, and strong pastoral support. 

We expect our pupils to arrive at school on time, complete their homework, bring the right equipment, and apply themselves to their studies with intellectual curiosity and academic endeavour. We have high expectations, but our staff work relentlessly to support our pupils in meeting these. 

Find more information here: Aldridge School - Home

Want to make a difference to young people?

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes for our students. We are looking for a Learning Support Assistant to join our team. Reporting to the SENDCo you will undertake:

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

·         Assist in the educational and social development of key pupils under the direction and guidance of the head teacher, SENCO and PLC manager.

·         Support in the implementation and running of programmes aimed to promote pupil progress and social development.

·         Provide support for individual students, who have recently made the transition to secondary education, inside and outside the classroom to enable them to fully participate in activities

·         Support with the differentiation of teaching and learning.

·         Work with other professionals as necessary

·         Support students with emotional or behavioural problems and help develop their social/emotional skills.

·         Keep a record of the nature and effectiveness of support/intervention strategies used with students and assist in the implementation of learning

·         Plans for students and help monitor their progress via Support Records

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Pay range: Grade 3 SCP 4-6 TTO pro-rata

Qualifications and Skills: 

·        ·Ability to show initiative in supporting the effective inclusion of an individual child and small groups of students.

·         Use of other equipment technology, e.g. laptop, photocopier.

·         Understanding of the principles of child development and learning processes.

·         Ability to differentiate for the needs of students effectively

·         Ability to self–evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities.

·         Ability to relate well to children and adults

·         Empathy and understanding for children who have social, emotional and mental health/communication needs

·         Work constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and responsibilities and your own position within these.

·         Very good literacy and numeracy skills.

·        Experience of working with students who are working significantly below age expectations

·         Experience and knowledge of working with the Primary School curriculum and/ or experience of working in a Special School setting.

·         Supporting children with Special Educational Needs

·         Supporting children with behavioural needs

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For full details of the post please see attached Job Description and Person Specification

 Why The Mercian Trust?

As one Trust we share a common purpose.  We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education.  When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community. Our recent achievements include:

Sustainable Growth - becoming one of the largest and most diverse trusts in the region

Social Mobility & Social Justice - National recognition for the Trust’s two selective grammar schools who the most successful on the number of local disadvantaged students passing the entrance and joining the schools

Increasing Opportunities – Opening brand-new purpose-built campus in Walsall Town Centre including an alternative provision for students at risk at permanent exclusion from mainstream schools alongside a Digital Skills Hub to provide professionals and employers

Pioneering Spirit – National recognition for pioneering work around youth mental health, including establishing an in-house multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and allied health professionals delivering interventions and providing support to vulnerable students

Outward Looking – Organising and hosting the region’s first Youth Suicide Conference (2023) and Youth Violence Conference (2024) at Villa Park

Innovation and Improvement – A multi-million-pound investment in the digital infrastructure of Trust schools and our Digital Skills Hub underpinning the ongoing transformation of how staff teach, students learn, leaders lead and the whole Trust operates in readiness for the AI-supercharged careers and workplaces of the future.

Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more:  The Mercian Trust - Home

What can we offer you:

Benefits: 

Financial, Health and Lifestyle

• discounts on everyday purchases (Eden Red)
• a comprehensive free of charge health plan (UK Health Care)
• a cycle to work scheme via Halfords

For further benefits including education sector leading CPD: The Mercian Trust - What we can offer you

The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.

The Mercian Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. 

Please take time to read our policies attached to this advert.