Job Title: Teaching Assistant

Location: The Aspire Academy

Grade/Scale: NJC Spine 5-6 - £24,790 - £25,183 FTE (pro rata based on hours worked)

Contract: 22.5 hours per week, 4.5 hours per day – Monday-Friday; Term Time Only, Fixed Term for 12 months with a view to making permanent. Fortnightly shift pattern to be shared across two roles.  

The Aspire Academy is seeking to appoint a Driver(s) and Education Support Assistant to transport our pupils to and from school each day and as an Education Support Assistant you will be required to provide support to young people with educational, social and emotional needs, both in and out of the classroom, to ensure they have a safe and healthy environment in which to learn and develop.

Driver:  It is essential the successful applicant holds a clean, cat D1 driving license.  The ideal candidate should have knowledge of the locality and experience of transporting school-aged young people.

Main duties will include:

·         Responsibility for the vehicle condition and road worthiness (daily checks).

·         Driving in a considerate manner and conforming to the Highway Code.

·         Responsibility for the safety and safeguarding of the passengers, on and off the vehicle.

·         Assisting in the co-ordination of travel routes with other drivers.

·         Sharing information with appropriate school staff regarding pupils.

The successful applicant(s), will have the following personal attributes:

·         A positive and professional manner.

·         Excellent communication skills.

·         Flexible, resilient, a good team player and be relentlessly reasonable.

·         Ability to adhere to the Aspire ethos, vision and values.

Education Support Assistant: In conjunction with the other Project Team Workers, the Education Support Assistant will find creative solutions to resolve young people issues.

Provide care and Support for Young People and liaise with their family:

·         To work closely alongside teaching staff to ensure all pupils, including those who are in receipt of pupil premium funding, make the required progress and maximize their potential.

·         Collecting young people at the beginning of the day and delivering them home using school transport (approximately 5 - 10 hours per week).

·         Promote the wellbeing of young people by being a point of contact if they need to talk to someone outside the classroom and on journey.

·         To provide targeted additional support within the classroom for those most at risk of placement breakdown.

·         To monitor minutes out of lesson, behaviour, achievements and targets of key young people.

·         To encourage and support young people to engage them in all education activities.

·         To provide timetabled support of young people in their lessons.

Supporting Young People with Trips, Visits and Placements:

·         To support work experience and college links, e.g. with lifts and independent travel.

·         To support independent travel and skills of daily living training.

Other Duties:

·         To be available at: breakfast club (when not transporting pupils), break time and lunchtime and all other unstructured time as required.

·         To keep accurate behaviour records of young people within Arbor (M.I.S).

·         To complete all reasonable requests of the Headteacher through the Project Team Leader.

§        To undertake appropriate CPD relevant to the development of the role.

Wider Responsibilities – Both Roles

·        Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to the designated safeguarding lead.

·        To be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of pupils, including supporting them with their attendance.

·        Ensure all information is treated confidentially and have absolute discretion at all times.

·        To adhere to school health and safety policy, including risk assessment and safety systems.

·        To adhere to school policy on equality and diversity.

·        To contribute to the overall ethos/aims of the school.

·        To appreciate and support the roles of other professionals.

·        As a member of a small organisation, the post holder will be required to support all school staff and may be required to assist in a diverse range of duties.

·        To adhere to the school staff code of conduct.

·        Any other tasks or activities deemed relevant as per management instruction.

The Aspire Academy are seeking a positive, flexible, caring individual who is willing to contribute fully to the life of the school and who is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. 

Please see the attached Application pack including a Welcome from The Head Teacher and more information about The Aspire Academy and Esteem MAT.

Please review the attached Job Description to learn more about the role and what we are looking for in the successful candidate.

Benefits Include: 

- Teacher's Pension Scheme / LGPS Pension Scheme (16.6% employer contributions) 

- Generous holiday entitlement 

- Access to Westfield Health membership scheme including cashback schemes for health and retail benefits, discounted gym memberships, and free confidential advice.  

- Access to National College CPD platform.  

For further information, please contact Louise Laing (Finance and HR Manager) on llaing@theaspireacademy.org.uk

We reserve the right to interview suitable candidates upon application and may close the application process prior to this date