Higher Level Support Assistant

Newcastle City Council; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Friendly team

CPD opportunities

EAP access

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Eye tests

Bike to work

Job summary

Newcastle Bridges School is seeking an enthusiastic Higher Level Support Assistant in Newcastle upon Tyne to help progress pupils with complex health needs. You will work within Newcastle Bridges School and potentially other Prosper Learning Trust sites to plan, monitor and assess alongside the class teacher, supporting pupils across groups and individuals.

The role requires strong teamwork, a responsive approach to learning barriers, and the ability to manage fellow support staff.

Qualifications

• Experience of advancing pupils’ progress in a range of classroom settings.
• Ability to organise, lead and motivate a team and to work constructively as part of a team.
• 5 GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) including Maths and English.
• NVQ Level 4 DfE recognised Teaching Assistant, SEND Assistant, EYFS or Childcare qualification or higher qualification with relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Participate in planning, monitoring and assessment arrangements in partnership with the class teacher.
• Take a responsive approach to children’s needs to help address barriers to learning and well-being.
• Respond positively and effectively to unexpected problems and situations.
• Manage and supervise other support assistants within the classroom.

Skills

Pupil progress

Team leadership

Planning & assessment

Education

5 GCSEs incl Maths & English (C/4+)

NVQ Level 4 or equivalent Teaching Assistant/SEND/EYFS/Childcare

Job description

Newcastle Bridges School Drayton Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3RU

Are you seeking a new role?

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated Higher Level Support Assistant to start ASAP.

This role is perfect for a positive and professional individual with:

• Experience of advancing pupils’ progress in a range of classroom settings, including working with individuals, small groups and whole classes
• The ability to organise, lead and motivate a team and to work constructively as part of a team
• 5 GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) including Maths and English
• NVQ Level 4 DfE recognised Teaching Assistant SEND Assistant, EYFS or Childcare qualification or higher qualification with relevant experience

As a valued member of our team, you will:

• Participate in planning, monitoring and assessment arrangements in partnership with the class teacher
• Take a responsive approach to children’s needs to help address barriers to learning and well-being
• Respond positively and effectively to unexpected problems and situations
• Manage and supervise other support assistants within the classroom

Does this sound like the role for you?

Newcastle Bridges School provides excellent educational opportunities to young people whose education has been interrupted by mental or physical ill-health or school based non-attendance. We seek to support each young person's access to a full-time, broad and balanced education appropriate to their potential and their educational needs and encourage reintegration into mainstream whenever relevant.The successful candidates with therefore contribute to supporting some of the most vulnerable young people within the city and surrounding areas, striving to make a difference to their lives.

Newcastle Bridges School was judged by Ofsted to be once again ‘Outstanding’ in May 2022.

Ferndene Hospital at Prudhoe (Redburn, Stephenson (MSU), Fraser, and Riding Wards): provides regional and national Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Services (CAMHS) for children and young people between the ages of 13 and 18. Tier 4 CAMHS are for patients with more complex needs usually requiring inpatient treatment.

The Great North Children’s Hospital is a regional hospital for many specialised services within paediatrics. The intake of patients covers a wide Geographical area; north to the Scottish Borders, west to Cumbria and south to North Yorkshire. It also serves the national and international community as a centre of excellence. The Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital provides care for children who need medical or surgical help for conditions involving the heart, lungs and airways. It is one of two units in the UK to carry out heart and lung transplants on children.

Newcastle Bridges School at Kenton offers education to pupils aged 11-16 years old who are unable to access mainstream school due to medical and mental health needs.It offers a smaller and more nurturing environment than most mainstream secondary settings. A secondary curriculum is followed and pupils sit external exams.

The Medical Pathway Team are based within this provision and provide education to pupils in the community who are unable to access the Kenton Provision for medical reasons, supporting them in a transition back to an education setting appropriate to the individual learner.

To learn more about Newcastle Bridges School and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit our websites.

Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds.Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and kindness.We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.

The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region:

• Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years)
• Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years)
• Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years)
• Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years)
• Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years)

The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Newcastle Bridges School but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.

Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust

• A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
• Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group
• Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates
• Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace
• Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
• Bike 2 Work scheme

For more information on why we think you should work for us see our Trust website, where you will also find videos of what our current staff think.

Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.