Teaching Assistant

St Andrew's Academy; Ilkeston; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS Pension

Holiday entitlement

Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan

Discount for Teachers

Eye tests

Cycle to work scheme

Institute of Education opportunities

Job summary

St Andrew’s Academy, a day special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties and ASD, seeks a Grade 6 Teaching Assistant to support teaching and learning and help pupils develop confidence, independence and life skills. You will work closely with teachers to deliver personalised learning experiences tailored to individual needs.

The role covers planning and delivering learning activities, supporting behaviour strategies, personal care when required, and helping create a safe, inclusive

Qualifications

• Experience supporting pupils with a range of special educational needs and disabilities including severe learning difficulties (SLD).
• Ability to contribute to personalised learning programmes and individual education plans.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills to work with teachers, pupils and families.

Responsibilities

• Providing high-quality support to pupils with a range of special educational needs and disabilities.
• Supporting the delivery of personalised learning programmes and individual education plans.
• Working with individuals and small groups to promote learning, communication and independence.
• Supporting pupils with communication, sensory, physical and emotional needs.
• Taking an active role in planning, preparing and delivering learning activities under the direction of the teacher.
• Supporting and implementing positive behaviour strategies to promote a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• Assisting with personal care, intimate care and mobility needs where required.
• Building positive relationships with pupils, colleagues, families and external professionals.
• Taking responsibility for aspects of classroom organisation and supporting the wider teaching team.

Job description

Do you have the passion, experience and dedication to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with additional needs? Are you ready to take the next step in your career and play a key role in supporting pupils to achieve their full potential?

We are seeking an enthusiastic, caring and experienced Grade 6 Teaching Assistant to join our dedicated team at our special school.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about inclusive education and committed to providing exceptional support to pupils with a range of complex learning needs, including severe learning difficulties (SLD).

As a Grade 6 Teaching Assistant, you will play an important role in supporting teaching and learning, helping pupils develop their confidence, independence and life skills. You will work closely with teachers and other professionals to deliver engaging, personalised learning experiences that meet the individual needs of our pupils.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing high-quality support to pupils with a range of special educational needs and disabilities.
• Supporting the delivery of personalised learning programmes and individual education plans.
• Working with individuals and small groups to promote learning, communication and independence.
• Supporting pupils with communication, sensory, physical and emotional needs.
• Taking an active role in planning, preparing and delivering learning activities under the direction of the teacher.
• Supporting and implementing positive behaviour strategies to promote a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• Assisting with personal care, intimate care and mobility needs where required.
• Building positive relationships with pupils, colleagues, families and external professionals.
• Taking responsibility for aspects of classroom organisation and supporting the wider teaching team.

St Andrew’s is a day special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties and ASD aged 11 -19 years. Our Special settings cater for children and young people with a wide range of Special Educational Needs from children with profound medical needs and life limiting conditions, those with severe, moderate and sensory

needs through to young people with social emotional and mental health needs that require support and understanding to help them to navigate their world.

Please note, St Andrew’s Academy is a school that is based over two sites. During your employment at our school, you may be asked to work at either site, but any moves would be discussed with yourself prior.

Our main site is based at St Andrew’s View, Breadsall Hilltop, Derby, DE21 4EW and most students on site are in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 with a small number of students who are aged 16-19.

Our FE (Further Education) Campus is based at 66 Whitaker Road, Derby, DE23 6AR. All students here are aged 16-19 and this site is based close to the city centre.

All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position.

AtShaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life.Whether you’re supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, orleading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful.

Ourvalues—opportunity, integrity, community, and equity—guide everything wedo. Our vision is “Opening doors to the world through the power oflearning.” We bring this to life through our mission: workingtogether to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voicematters, and every learner thrives.

Weare a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools,proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury.

Ourpeople are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their developmentthrough high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent development programmes,and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled,confident professionals. We champion wellbeing, value every voice, and foster aculture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make a realdifference.

Youwill join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and astrong professional community drive success. Every academy within our Trust hasan equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital role in shaping tailoredlearning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures.

Ifyou have the passion, dedication, and drive to help shape lives and createfutures filled with promise, we would love you to join our team.

Together,let’s make the remarkable happen.

Webelieve every child has the potential to be extraordinary.

Makea life-changing difference in one of our special schools

Ourspecial schools are inspiring, welcoming and truly life-changing places towork. Every day, our dedicated teams help children and young people with a widerange of special educational needs and disabilities to discover theirstrengths, achieve their ambitions and live happy, fulfilling lives.

Ourpupils include children and young people with profound and multiple learningdisabilities, complex medical needs, sensory impairments, moderate and severelearning difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Everypupil is unique, and every achievement and milestone is recognised andcelebrated.

Joinus and help transform lives, including your own.

ShawEducation Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching orSupport Staff employment:

• Anexcellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / TeachersPension (Teaching Staff)
• Support Staff only based onworking full time, all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your firstday of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’service including Bank Holidays)
• Accessto Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed tosupport your well-being.
• FreeDiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusivediscounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offersfrom hundreds of the biggest brands.
• FreeEye Tests
• Cycleto work scheme
• Access to our Institute ofEducation and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute andflourish in your role and in the Trust.

We know our people are the key to our success and so we’recommitted to ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is arewarding one.

Colleagueswithin the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses bothin-house and professionally accredited. These courses include a variety of theNational Professional Qualifications and the Early Carer Teacher Programmedelivered by Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for AmbitionInstitute.

• Experiencedleadership and subject-specific support.
• Guidancefrom former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
• Accessto the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.
• Opportunitiesto work with different schools within the Trust as a ProfessionalAdvocate.
• Participatingin peer reviews.
• Accessto a suite of online courses.
• Placementprojects within our family of schools.

Actual Salary: £23,212 - £25,572
Working Hours: 35 hours per week, Term time only plus 5 days INSET