Teaching Assistant

HARRIS FEDERATION; London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An established educational institution is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant to support children in their learning journey. This role involves working closely with students, including those with special educational needs, to ensure they thrive in a nurturing environment. You will assist in developing teaching strategies, supervise classroom activities, and help maintain a positive atmosphere for learning. Join a community that values creativity and compassion, and be part of a mission to empower the next generation of learners. If you are passionate about education and making a difference in children's lives, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Qualifications to degree level or equivalent are essential.
• Experience of working directly with children in an educational environment.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals and groups of children, including those with SEND.
• Assist in developing resources and teaching strategies.
• Supervise and support children's learning and personal needs.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Literacy skills

Numeracy skills

ICT skills

Flexibility

Initiative

Education

Degree level qualifications

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Us

At Harris Primary Academy Benson, we aim to make learning irresistible, ensuring our children develop a genuine, life-long love of learning. We strive for every child to flourish by delivering an enjoyable curriculum that allows all pupils to succeed academically, physically, emotionally, and socially.

There is plenty of time for fun and creativity throughout the school day, and everything we do is underpinned by dedicated teaching of reading, writing, and maths. This combination means our children become eager, confident, and imaginative learners.

Our pupils are at the heart of everything we do at the academy. It is our unwavering ambition to empower all our children to become compassionate, polite, and ambitious global citizens of the future.

We are extremely proud to be part of the Harris Federation, which comprises over 50 primary, secondary, and all-through academies across London. As part of this thriving community of schools, we benefit from the ability to share, learn, support, and challenge each other.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Harris Primary Academy Benson is looking for a Teaching Assistant to support individuals and groups of children at the academy, including those with SEND. This will involve supporting learning in the classroom and attending to children’s personal needs where required, including social, health, physical, hygiene, first aid and welfare matters.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supervising and supporting identified children in 1:1, group or whole class situations, ensuring their safety and access to learning in a purposeful and supportive learning environment.
• Assisting in developing resources, schemes of work and teaching strategies, working with the teacher to ensure the provision supports learning needs.
• Assisting in evaluating identified children’s progress and providing feedback on their achievements, progress and needs.
• Leading small group sessions and interventions as appropriate.
• Attending to children’s personal needs where required.
• Supporting with behaviour management.
• Undertaking learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities to ensure achievement of learning goals.
• Assisting with the supervision of children out of lesson times, including playtimes and undertaking lunchtime duty.
• Supporting children with their learning and development in respect of local and national learning strategies.
• Preparing the classroom for lessons, clearing afterwards and assisting with the display of children’s work.
• Preparing and maintaining resources and assisting children in their use.
• Undertaking record keeping as requested.
• Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with parents/carers, gathering and reporting information as directed.
• Providing administrative support as required.
• Accompanying teaching staff and children on visits, trips and off site activities as required.

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualifications to degree level or equivalent.
• Basic knowledge of SEND and learning barriers.
• Some knowledge of strategies in working with young people with challenging behaviours.
• Knowledge of some of the social issues facing children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues in the workplace.
• Experience of working directly with children in an education or training environment, supporting learning.
• Experience of establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders, at all levels.
• Experience of managing and being responsible for own workload.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with an excellent standard of written and spoken English.
• Good administrative and organisational skills.
• Ability to interest, encourage, motivate and engage children.
• Ability to work effectively with team members across a wide range of levels and responsibilities.
• Good ICT skills, including a working knowledge of Microsoft packages and the ability to update records and databases.
• Ability to work using own initiative, exercising good judgement where unsupervised.
• Flexibility of approach to work.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercising tact and diplomacy.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.