Job Description

MIDDAY ASSISTANTS: 1:1 basis allocated to specific children with Autism

We are looking to appoint patient, caring and enthusiastic Midday Assistants to join our Alderton Family in order to support vulnerable children to manage the demands of lunchtimes. This includes supporting them to express their wants and needs, support with routines and following instructions, supervising and encouraging them when eating, supporting communication using specific strategies for Autism such as visuals and signing, and supporting them to socially interact with others. Training and support will be provided- the most important thing is to have a caring and committed attitude to support vulnerable children.

This is a great opportunity for an individual who is understanding of the needs of pupils with Autism, has some experience working with children who may need support in different ways. The ideal person would be someone who is patient, caring and has a desire to support pupils who are vulnerable. Our pupils are funny, kind and gentle and need a supportive Midday Assistant who will value them and care for them as individuals.

The ideal candidate will also be reliable, caring, flexible and enthusiastic who enjoys interacting with children and who likes working as part of a team. There may be times when this individual will need to support the general Midday team and Supervisor to manage the effective running of lunchtimes, providing First Aid and managing the interactions of children at play. It is essential that all members of the team have good communication skills, are flexible and supportive and happy to step in as needed.

Previous experience of working in a school would be an advantage, but training and support will be provided by our friendly Midday team.

In addition to the above, your role will include:

· Specific support of a child with Autism who will require specific support to communicate, follow routines and express their wants and needs

· To maintain the safety, welfare and good conduct of the pupils during the lunchtime break.

· Duties will include supervising the dining hall, administering first aid and supporting children's play.

· Able to understand and follow school procedures and policies

The successful candidate should:

· Be flexible and committed

· Respect and understand a child's right to play

· Be able to interact with children to make lunch time enjoyable

· Enjoy working with children, is patient and supportive

· Physically fit and able

· Able to take direction and follow set routines

· Equipped with good English and strong communication skills

Information about the School

“The Alderton Family: Belong, Aspire, Achieve. Securing Strong Futures Together.”

Welcome to our school! The Alderton Junior School is a 2 form entry Junior School for pupils between the ages of 7 to 11 years. We are a forward-thinking school, working in collaboration with 15 other local schools as part of the Epping Forest Schools Multi-Academy Trust. We share our site with The Alderton Infant School, with whom we share our values and work very closely. We are situated in Loughton, Essex, close to transport links into Central London but with the countryside, community feel of the Epping Forest Area.

Our vision is clear, to provide pupils with an exceptional education that is inclusive and challenging for all learners and provides wider opportunities for all. We are the Alderton family and nurture every individual so that everyone who joins our family feels that they are safe and that they belong. We instil in our pupils our school values and we believe strongly in the power of hope, compassion, kindness, collaboration and belonging. We provide our pupils with exciting learning opportunities that enhance their academic as well as social and physical development so that they are confident, independent and ready for the next stages of their education.

Visits to the school are encouraged. Candidates should contact the school to discuss arrangements for an appointment. Candidates are also encouraged to review the information on our website. For further information please visit our website www.aldertonjunior.co.uk or contact office@ajs.efspt.org.

We are part of The Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust of fifteen Primary and one Special School all based in the Epping Forest District. Along with our SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training), School Improvement Team, Well-being Service and Resourced Provisions based in three of our schools, we are a leading educational organisation in Epping Forest.

EFSPT was formed in 2018 from a consortium of schools that had worked together for over 20 years, and are committed to collaborative working to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and school communities. The schools maintain their identities but work in a highly collaborative manner supported by a small but very experienced Central Team.

Our Mission is to provide an exceptional education that is inclusive and challenging for all and which provides wider opportunities for the children within the EFSPT to flourish.

EFSPT is committed to Trauma Perceptive Practice; the Essex approach to understanding behaviour and supporting emotional well-being. Being trauma-perceptive means that through our values, policies and practice, we are able to effectively support the children, families and communities in our Trust, creating spaces of belonging and safety that enable everyone to flourish, become resilient and learn.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and we are committed to safeguarding our schools’ communities. The appointment will therefore be subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS checks.

West Essex SCITT is an outstanding provider of Initial Teacher Training. We currently have student finance or self funded postgraduate trainee teacher vacancies available to start in September 2024 across all of our 16 primary schools.

Please visit the below website for further information;

https://www.westessexscitt.co.uk/