Senior Learning Support Assistant

Job Description

Senior Learning Support Assistant

LGS Band 3 (point depending upon previous experience)

34.17 hours per week (8.20 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.)

39 working weeks (44.3 paid weeks)

Actual annual salary from £13,786

Start Date - To be agreed

The Learning Academy, home to our Special Educational Needs (SEN) department, is integral to the ongoing success of the school, and our Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) are a vital part of the team. We are implementing a number of innovative and exciting changes and we are looking for a Senior LSA to take on a critical role in the team, combining day to day in-class support work with additional management responsibilities.

The role will involve:

• Proactive in-class support, working in collaboration with teaching staff to implement strategies aimed at enhancing independent access to the curriculum for SEN students;
• Promoting positive behaviour, raising esteem and encouraging an aspirational culture;
• Supporting SENCo in the planning, implementation and administration of SEN provision;
• Organisation and management of provision for pupils with access arrangements;
• Liaison with primary schools regarding SEN student visits;
• Organising and managing break, lunchtime and homework clubs;
• Assisting SENCo in management of LSA team including arranging cover for absence.

This is a challenging but rewarding role which will require you to have:

A proven track record of success, working as an LSA with KS3/KS4 students;
Specialist expertise in one or more of;

• physical/sensory needs;
• social communication/interaction;
• special learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia);
• EAL/Speech and Language;

Outstanding organisational skills and an ability to prioritise a busy workload;
Strong interpersonal skills, initiative and an aptitude for management;
An enthusiastic, can-do attitude with a good sense of humour.

This is an exciting time to join our school. You will be a key part of a positive, aspirational and fun team that values the contribution of its LSAs immensely. Ongoing professional development will be encouraged.

We welcome visits to the school, so please come and see us in action! The full job description is attached, together with application forms.

Please email the completed application form, recruitment monitoring information and SD2 form to: christine.freshwater@tla.essex.sch.uk or post to Christine Freshwater, Personnel Officer at The Thomas Lord Audley School. Please do not hesitate to contact Christine by email or on 01206 244116 should you require any further information regarding this position.

The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. A disclosure check from the Disclosure and Barring Service will be sought for successful candidates.

Information about the School

The Thomas Lord Audley School is a high performing, over-subscribed 11-16 comprehensive school with just under 800 students (capacity 840), situated to the south of Colchester. It is the "most improved school in Essex" (Essex LA September 2016). It serves a diverse catchment area including Old Heath, Monkwick, Shrub End and the villages to the south of Colchester including the community of Mersea Island.

Categorised as good and rapidly improving in its recent Ofsted inspection, it has been commended for the quality of its leadership, the standard of its teaching, and the welfare, behaviour and achievement of its pupils.

On 1 September 2016, the school joined The Sigma Trust, a partnership of schools with The Stanway School, St Helena School, Clacton County High School, Monkwick Junior School and Monkwick Infants School and Nursery. In the past, the school has benefited from the Stanway Federation’s programme of seconding high quality staff between schools and the development of wide-ranging in-service training which has led to on-going school improvement. Working in collaboration with all the schools within The Sigma Trust can only enhance this development.

Safeguarding The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.