Learning Mentor (Teaching Assistant)

Great Western Academy; Swindon; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent CPD program

State-of-the-art facilities

Laptop provided to staff and pupils

Medical and wellbeing support

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Great Western Academy invites applications for Learning Mentors (Teaching Assistants) to join our SEND team and support students with additional needs within a hub-based approach. You will work closely with teachers, parents and professionals to help every student progress, guided by our ethos of Achievement, Care and Excellence.

The role will involve assisting in classroom learning, implementing individualised support plans, and contributing to safeguarding and wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Strong track record of working with students, their parents, and a range of professionals within and beyond the school to ensure every student makes the best progress possible.

Responsibilities

• Join the SEND team as Learning Mentor (Teaching Assistant) in a hub focusing on a field of SEND provision.
• Support students with additional needs to access learning and achieve progress.
• Collaborate with teachers, parents and outside professionals to safeguard and promote student wellbeing.

Job description

Great Western Academy is looking for a new member of staff to join the team of Learning Mentors (Teaching Assistants).

See Job Description for full salary information.

Great Western Academy opened in September 2018 and now accommodates over 1,000 students in years 7 to 11 and the Sixth Form. The school is heavily oversubscribed in years 7 to 11 and the Sixth Form is flourishing. Our philosophy of Achievement, Care and Excellence permeates all we do, with Care firmly at the centre of this. We use the phrase “Work Hard, Be Kind” to summarise what we expect of students and to create a culture of positive support where students behave well and are able to thrive, whatever their needs, and where they are proactively and effectively safeguarded.

Great Western Academy welcomes all students; the SEND team promotes our inclusive approach and ensures that students with additional needs are fully supported with their learning. The successful candidate will usually be able to demonstrate a strong track record of working with students, their parents, and a range of professionals within and beyond the school to ensure that every student is supported to make the best progress possible. However, applications are also welcome from candidates new to working in a SEND team who show enthusiasm for providing all students with the best opportunities possible and who are willing and able to quickly learn from our established team.

The successful candidate will join our SEND team, reporting to our experienced SENDCo. Each member of our team is placed in a specialist hub, focusing on a particular field of SEND provision (Cognition and learning, communication and interaction and Social, Emotional and Mental health). Our vision is that our learning mentors will each focus on a particular field of additional needs provision (or have the potential to do so with appropriate training and support). Experience, qualifications, or simply a strong interest in a specific area of SEND work would be an asset to any application.

Great Western Academy supports staff career progression. Two of our three Hub Leaders started their careers at Great Western Academy as Learning Mentors. There is also an opportunity for overtime 2 evenings a week for suitable candidates to lead our enrichment sessions.

Additional benefits of working at GWA include:

Excellent CPD program

State of the art facilities - including dedicated student support area for SEND students

Leading edge ICT, including a laptop provided for all staff and pupils

Medical and Wellbeing Support Service

Easy access to the A419 with free parking on site

Great Western Academy aims to radically improve the life chances of every student who attends. We use our brand-new building and state-of-the-art facilities (including a purpose-designed SEND suite) to help achieve this, but it is the fantastic team of staff who turn our vision into reality. If you have the proven ability to contribute to our inclusive approach in the classroom and beyond then we would be delighted to hear from you.

Further details are available on the Academy website and in the information documents attached. If you have further questions prior to application, please contact Charlotte Greenwood (Assistant Business Manager) on [e-mail]