Level 3 Teaching Assistant - Ref TV57023

LEVEL 3 TEACHING ASSISTANT – INTERNAL ALTERNATIVE PROVISION

Salary: £20,528 - £23,511 actual salary pro rata (Grade 5, SCP 9-17)
Term Time Only  (Plus 5 INSET Days)
35 hours per week Monday to Friday
8.30am – 4.00pm
PERMANENT
Start date 1st January 2024

This post is specifically working in our new Internal Alternative Provision – a 6-8 place facility for children who require additional support to access mainstream lessons effectively.

We are really excited to be opening an Internal Alternative Provision in the coming year. Our provision is for children with emerging issues related to social or behavioural needs following the pandemic.

This is a really exciting phase in our Academy’s development, as we are an expanding Academy and we have been developing Restorative Practice for some time and have an excellent reputation for support with students who find mainstream lessons challenging.  You will be working alongside teachers and support staff in our Academy, including working alongside experienced teachers and members of the Academy’s Senior Leadership Team and alongside staff who have experience in this area. You will be able to have an input in helping us to establish the provision within this new resource base with significant training and development also available to you. This is a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to be at the forefront of this new development and to shape the future of short-term internal provision at the Academy. We are a fully inclusive school and enjoy the challenge of meeting the needs of every child in a unique way as can be seen from our progress for our students whatever their starting points.

If you are an energetic, enthusiastic and an outstanding (L3 ideally) teaching assistant with experience of working with challenging students and possess the ability to genuinely inspire our children, ensuring they make good progress and enjoy learning, we want you to consider this exciting opportunity. Specialisms in supporting students to excel at any key stage, but ideally Y6, KS3-4 would be a considerable advantage, but you will also be able to access some excellent CPD opportunities and training as we establish this provision in the new year.

Joseph Leckie Academy is a vibrant, exciting and innovative mixed 11-18 Converter Academy with an overall progress positive scores for a number of years. With our excellent results and being graded as “Good” across all areas by Ofsted (October 2021) and our continual desire and drive to continue moving forward, this is an exciting time for you to join our team. The Academy has remained as one of the top non-selective secondary school for progress in Walsall based on validated results and is one of the highest performing schools in the region for student progress.

Ofsted commented that: “Pupils are proud of their school. Their attendance and punctuality are good. Pupils are safe. The school is calm and purposeful, and disruption to learning is rare. Few pupils underachieve and most flourish. Pupils of all abilities are enthusiastic learners who enjoy their learning. Pupils play and work happily together. There are few disagreements and staff resolve issues swiftly. Pupils work well with adults in school. Pupils value the opportunity to learn about social, moral, and cultural issues. They treat others with respect and will speak out if something is not right. They talk confidently with adults.”

“Subject leaders have adapted the curriculum to ensure pupils with SEND flourish. Teachers work to overcome any barriers to learning for these pupils. Teachers deploy teaching assistants effectively so that pupils get good support. Teachers share information about the lesson with teaching assistants in advance. Together, they shape the lesson to meet pupils’ needs. They spend time with each pupil so that they know what to do. Once settled, they assist other pupils. Pupils with SEND speak highly of this strong support. They say, ‘support staff know us well.’”

“We pride ourselves on our high expectations of all learners. This creates a calm learning environment where teachers can teach and students can learn as was clearly supported by the feedback from Ofsted. We offer a highly supportive environment and are committed to ensuring outstanding teaching, behaviour, progress and achievement. Staff are proud to work in our Academy.”

This is a fantastic opportunity for an outstanding candidate to join our dynamic team at the forefront of change and to make a real difference to our drive to continue to develop this unique provision as well as contributing to raising standards across the Academy.   If you believe that you have the skills and abilities to take on this role, we would love to hear from you.

Experience of working with primary/secondary age students and supporting subject knowledge in a variety of subjects as a TA would be an advantage. The successful candidate may be asked to work with students across different years/ages and support them with varied behaviour strategies, support them in their learning or work within other areas as needed by the Academy.

We can offer you:

• Friendly and supportive staff across the Academy.
• Excellent support and professional development opportunities and pathways for progression, for example our own in-house CPD programmes for different levels as well as external programmes, from ECT to National Professional Qualifications for progression to middle leaders and beyond.
• Excellent pastoral systems and expertise to support positive behaviours.
• A well established and supportive Induction programme for all staff at all levels which TA’s are welcome to join.
• A well-established, experienced and dedicated SEND, pastoral and senior leadership team.
• A well resourced and staffed Pastoral / SEND team.
• Opportunities to shadow other colleagues, learning from the best;
• Supportive, fun, dedicated, creative and talented colleagues across the Academy and a high focus on pastoral care and inclusion.
• A high focus on staff well-being with staff social events, staff swimming, well-being counsellor, well-being co-ordinator for staff, monthly breakfasts, employee assistance programme and much more…
• A large and expanding Academy at the forefront of change and growth, with high standards and an ambitious desire to better the lives of our students and impact further on our wider community.
• The opportunity to be at the forefront of change in this new provision/initiative and make a real difference to the lives of children.

You will have:

• Practical skills and expertise as outlined in the Job description including a Level 3 TA qualification and/or Level 3 experience – or other relevant experience that would support outstanding behaviour and inclusion practices.
• Experience of supporting students one-to one and/or small groups independently with accessing the curriculum, and with behaviour, emotional and well-being activities and programmes.
• A passion and vision for inclusive provision / SEMH and the importance of this provision to students and their futures.
• A commitment and dedication for working with students in their personal, social and emotional needs as well as their academic development.
• Create an irresistible learning experience for every single child.
• A belief that all behaviour is communication of an unmet need.
• Believe that ‘every day, in every way, everyone matters’.
• Be a courageous, innovative teaching assistant who is not afraid to try something new and learn from that.
• A reflective practitioner, adapting your practice in response to children’s changing needs.
• Experience of working with children at Y6 or KS3-4.
• The ability to motivate and inspire students whatever their starting point and to help them overcome the barriers to learning.
• The ability to stimulate curiosity, interest and enjoyment in learning.
• Confidence in dealing with students across different age ranges particularly Key Stage 3.
• Creative skills and a professional approach.
• High expectations of students.
• The determination to support in raising student achievement within the classroom and beyond.
• The passion to enrich the lives of our students and contribute to the development of Cultural Capital to enhance the life opportunities for our students.
• Engagement in professional development opportunities.
• Team skills and the ability to work independently with a group of students or on a one to one basis when needed.
• Outstanding inter-personal and communication skills with students, colleagues and parents.
• A clear understanding of the importance of Safeguarding.

Further details and an application form can be obtained from Mrs Samantha Richards or our website.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 30th November 2023 at midday.

Joseph Leckie Academy is committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of students and candidates will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

Joseph Leckie Academy
Walstead Road West, Walsall, WS5 4PG
Tel: 01922 721071 Fax: 01922 641497
Email: hr@josephleckieacademy.co.uk
Associate Principal: Ms Rachel Cook