DSP Assistant

Brooke Weston Trust; Corby; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Employee discounts

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Brooke Weston Trust is seeking a DSP Assistant for Corby Business Academy's Unit Provision to support SEND students, working closely with teaching staff and other professionals to tailor support and help learners access the curriculum.

You will assist with personalised learning plans, promote a safe, inclusive environment, and contribute to development of life skills across classroom and community activities for over 100 students.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children with SEND or in an education setting.
• Ability to work as part of a team and follow plans.
• Commitment to inclusive, nurturing learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and small group support to SEND students.
• Assist with personalised learning and support plans.
• Promote a safe and inclusive learning environment.

Skills

SEND support

Teamwork

Classroom support

Student welfare

Job description

We are searching for a DSP Assistant to join our friendly and supportive team. This role is based within our Unit Provision, where we specialise in supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This is a highly rewarding position that offers the opportunity to make a real and lasting impact on our students' learning, development, and wellbeing. What is a DSP Assistant? It is a Designated Specialist Provision Assistant which means this role is focus on working closely with teaching staff and other professionals to provide tailored support for students within the Unit Provision. You will play a key role in helping students access the curriculum, build confidence, and develop essential life skills. All our students have an Educational Healthcare Plan and require bespoke support. This is a varied role with responsibilities in the classroom, supporting in the community, PE and other duties that help ensure the smooth running of the Unit Provision where we have over 100 students.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individual and small group support to SEND students
• Assist with the implementation of personalised learning and support plans
• Promote a safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment

Corby Business Academy's Unit Provision is a well-established, Specialist Educational Needs setting that delivers a highly personalised and inclusive curriculum for students with a broad range of additional needs, including cognition and learning difficulties, communication and interaction needs, and autism. The provision is rooted in a strong ethos of nurture, aspiration and individualised support, ensuring that all students are able to access meaningful learning appropriate to their developmental stage. The curriculum is carefully designed to meet students working from Pre-Key Stage standards through to Entry Level pathways, rather than following a traditional GCSE model. This allows learning to be both appropriate and ambitious, focusing on securing small steps of progress and embedding key skills through repetition and overlearning. Teaching is highly adaptive, responsive to individual needs, and delivered through a multi-sensory approach that enables students to engage, explore and succeed. Students follow bespoke learning pathways that prioritise communication, cognition, independence and social development alongside core academic skills. Opportunities are carefully structured to develop functional literacy and numeracy, while also placing equal importance on life skills, emotional regulation and personal development. Staff use a range of strategies, including visual supports, structured routines and practical learning experiences, to ensure that all students can access and retain knowledge. Preparation for Adulthood is central to the curriculum design. Students are supported to develop essential skills for independent living, employability and community participation. This includes opportunities to build confidence in real-life contexts, engage in meaningful enrichment activities and develop the resilience and adaptability needed for their next steps. The Unit Provision benefits from small class sizes and a high staff-to-student ratio, enabling strong relationships and a deep understanding of individual needs. Each class is supported by a skilled teacher and teaching assistant(s), ensuring consistent, targeted support and a safe, structured learning environment. Overall, the Unit Provision offers a rich, multi-sensory and highly supportive learning experience where every student is valued as an individual. Through adaptive teaching, a focus on Preparation for Adulthood and a commitment to celebrating progress at all levels, students are empowered to achieve their potential and develop the skills they need for a successful and fulfilling future.

Key Attributes

• A caring, patient, and empathetic approach
• Passion for supporting children with SEND
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Flexibility and a positive attitude

Corby Business Academy is a school committed to providing the very best for the community it serves. We have already undergone significant change in recent years under new leadership and our goals for further development remain ambitious. We work relentlessly in providing a high quality broad and balanced curriculum with stimulating learning experiences for all our students. This is underpinned by our strong sense of common purpose that is palpable in the Academy's day to day operation. We aim to actively encourage students to participate in all areas of academy life, motivating and inspiring them to unlock their potential and realise their ambitions. Our staff have an uncompromising commitment to this and work closely with one another to support and develop students as well as one another. In April 2023 the Academy was judged to be GOOD in all areas by OFSTED, who highlighted that: "Leaders have brought about significant improvement at this school. They focus on providing an ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and / or disabilities (SEND)". "Leaders have raised their expectations of pupils' behaviour and conduct, which is having a positive impact. Pupils behave very well in lessons. During lesson changeover times and at breaktimes, the school is calm and orderly". "Parents and carers are positive about the education their children receive. One view shared by many was, 'My child has thrived, been supported, encouraged, cared for and listened to at this school'."

Benefits at Brooke Weston Trust

• Collaborative and Ambitious colleagues with the support of a committed team who work to maintain high standards and expectations
• Be the difference - At Brooke Weston Trust we believe every child deserves the best possible start, giving them a \"ticket for life.\" If you want to use your skills with an organisation committed to making a difference and improving lives, this is the place for you

About Brooke Weston Trust

Our Trust was formed more than 30 years ago with a simple and clear mission - to transform educational performance in all of our communities. Working in some of the most challenging contexts, we improve our students' achievements by making long term commitments to the community and championing new approaches to improve the life chances for young people. Our members of staff are essential to realising this vision, and a happy, motivated and supported team will deliver the best possible experiences for our young people. We place great emphasis on creating a supportive and collaborative working environment in all our schools, where all staff can share best practice through our colleague networks. Brooke Weston Trust staff have access to first class professional development through our Centre for Professional Development, which is also home to the Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays. An additional 3 days after 5 years' service and the ability to purchase up to 10 days additional leave per year.
• One wellbeing day a year, in addition to your annual leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, covering high street supermarkets, days out and holidays, health and beauty, dining out plus lots more.
• A freshly prepared breakfast and hot or cold lunch each day when you work in one of our Trust schools
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your role requires you to be a member of a professional body, BWT will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Your Care, an independent, external organisation. Your Care is available for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, both face to face and online.
• Additional health benefits including a Health Care cash plan and access to an online GP
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Ongoing opportunities for training and development and access to the BWT Centre for Professional Development