Okehampton Primary  are seeking an enthusiastic and committed teaching assistant to join our team to support learning across the school.

We are a busy and friendly school, with lots going on. At Okehampton Primary School, it has been our ongoing goal to ensure that the children have the best experiences of school. We believe that a good attitude to learning starts with self-belief and self-esteem. This allows children to tackle any obstacles that may be ahead of them, both academically and emotionally.

Striving towards success and having aspiration, accumulates in a positive and regarding learning experience and results in good achievement across the curriculum. 

We see parental involvement in a child's education as a partnership. Working together with common goals ensures that the children have the best care and guidance that we can offer to help them succeed.

Our Trust comprises of 19 schools, 3 Colleges, 15 Primaries, and one All Through SEMH Special school. Established in 2018.  We are situated in beautiful Devon on the out the outskirts of the stunning Dartmoor National Park. The schools vary in size and are all unique. Our schools are a large part of their local communities, and we value those relationships with families and locals.

The Trust was created to enable schools and staff to work closely together in providing the best education possible for our children. We achieve this through meaningful collaboration both within our schools and beyond our Trust to ensure schools are able to secure and sustain improvement.

Our work is built on our shared values and an unwavering belief that education improves the life chances for the children in our care. We aim for everyone in our organisation, staff and children, to be the best they can be and are relentless in our ambition to achieve this. We want our children to look back on their school experience with a sense of achievement and joy and we provide a wealth of additional curriculum experiences to enrich their learning.

We care deeply about the children in our schools and work with kindness, compassion, manners and respect. By modelling and expecting these behaviours from our children, we aim to grow future citizens who will positively contribute to society, creating a brighter future for our world.

Our vision and values are what we build our schools upon, with Ambition, Co-operation & Transformation being at the heart.

As an established Trust, DMAT can offer a wide range of benefits for our employees:

• Cycle to work scheme
• Tech Scheme
• Eyecare Vouchers
• Access to Discounts
• CPD opportunities
• Extensive Health & Wellbeing Package
• Long Service Days
• On site Parking – In some locations
• Excellent Training Package
• Employee Recognition Scheme 

Why choose DMAT?

DMAT are an inclusive and forward-looking trust, who seek to nurture our children and employees to be the best they can be. 

Summary of Role:

·        To work under the instruction guidance of teaching/senior staff to undertake work/care/support programmes, to enable access to learning for pupils and to assist the teacher in the management of pupils and the classroom.  Work may be carried out in the classroom or may regularly take place outside the main teaching area.

·        To ensure that all policies, statutory frameworks, and systems are implemented in the interest of supporting young children remaining safe and learning in all areas of the EYFS.

·        This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: 

·        To work under instruction/guidance to enable access to learning by:

·        Attending to the welfare and personal care of pupils including those with special educational needs.

·        Delivering pre-determined learning/care/support programmes.

·        Implementing literacy/numeracy programmes.

·        Assisting with the planning cycle.

·        Undertaking general clerical/administrative support for the teacher/department.

General Duties

Support the children by:

·        Creating and maintaining a purposeful, orderly and supportive environment, in accordance with lesson plans.

·        Assisting with the display of pupils’ work.

·        Using strategies, in liaison with the teacher, to support pupils to achieve learning goals.

·        Assisting with the planning of learning activities on a regular basis.

·        Monitoring pupils’ responses to learning activities and accurately recording achievement/progress as directed.

·        Providing detailed and regular feedback to teachers on pupils’ achievement, progress, problems etc.

·        Promoting good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

·        Establishing constructive relationships with parents/carers and where appropriate participating in feedback sessions with parents alongside the teacher.

·        Supervising and providing particular support for pupils, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities.

·        Assisting with the development and implementation of Individual Education/Behaviour Plans and Personal Care Programmes.

·        Establishing constructive relationships with pupils and interacting with them according to individual needs.

·        Promoting the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils.

·        Encouraging pupils to interact with others and to engage in activities led by the teacher.

·        Setting challenging and demanding expectations and promoting self-esteem and independence.

·        Providing feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement under the guidance of the teacher.

Support the curriculum by:

·        Undertaking structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes and adjusting activities according to pupil responses.

·        Undertaking programmes linked to local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy, recording achievement and progress and feeding back to the teacher.

·        Supporting the use of technology in learning activities and developing pupils’ competence and independence in its use.

·        Preparing, maintaining and using equipment/resources required to meet the lesson plans/relevant learning activity and assisting pupils in their use.

Support the school by:

·        Being aware of and complying with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, and reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.

·        Being aware of and supporting difference and ensuring all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.

·        Contributing to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school.

·        Appreciating and supporting the role of other professionals.

·        Attending relevant meetings as required.

·        Participating in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.

·        Assisting with the supervision of pupils out of lesson times, including before and after school and at lunchtimes as required.

·        Accompanying teaching staff and pupils on visits, trips and out of school activities as required and taking responsibility for a group under the supervision.