Job Description

Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School is seeking to appoint a SEND Learning Support Assistant to provide 1:1 support for a pupil with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Thisis a fixed term contract linked to a named child.

Working as part of a supportive team, you will need to be calm, kind, patient, resilient, flexible and consistent. Building a safe, secure and trusting relationship with the pupil will be central to this role. We are looking for someone who can remain calm and emotionally available during challenging situations and who understands the importance of looking beyond behaviour to consider the underlying need or communication.

The successful candidate will need to be confident in supporting a child during periods of heightened emotion, following agreed regulation, de-escalation and safety plans consistently. Appropriate training and support will be provided.

This role is for 28.3 hours per week, Monday-Friday, and a genuine commitment to supporting children with additional needs is essential.

The successful applicant will:

· Have experience of supporting pupils with additional needs, particularly Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs
· Have experience of, or a willingness to develop their understanding of, supporting pupils who can display dysregulated behaviour
· Understand the importance of developing safe, trusting and consistent relationships with pupils
· Be able to remain calm, regulated and consistent
· Be able to respond to behaviour with curiosity and empathy while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries
· Understand the importance of co-regulation and supporting a pupil to develop their emotional regulation skills
· Be able to recognise possible triggers and early signs of dysregulation and respond proactively
· Be able to follow agreed behaviour, regulation and risk-management plans consistently
· Be enthusiastic, confident, resilient and able to show initiative
· Be able to work in partnership with the SENDCo, class teacher, other support staff and external professionals
· Establish a constructive relationship with the pupil, acting as a positive and consistent role model
· Promote the pupil's inclusion and sense of belonging within the wider school community
· Support the pupil to develop positive relationships and interactions with peers
· Encourage engagement in learning through the pupil's interests, strengths and individualised provision
· Establish constructive and professional relationships with parents/carers
· Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
· Be committed to promoting equality of opportunity and ensuring all pupils are supported to learn and develop
· Hold at least an A-C/4-9 pass in GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent)

The successful applicant would be expected to:

· Provide consistent 1:1 support in accordance with the pupil's individual needs and provision
· Prioritise the development of a positive, secure and trusting relationship with the pupil
· Support the pupil to recognise and manage emotions through co-regulation and explicitly taught regulation strategies
· Implement agreed proactive strategies to reduce dysregulation and support successful engagement
· Respond calmly and consistently during periods of heightened emotion and challenging behaviour, following agreed school procedures and individual plans
· Support the pupil to access an individualised and differentiated curriculum, including play-based, practical and interest-led learning where appropriate
· Support the pupil to gradually increase their ability to access classroom learning and interact positively with peers
· Encourage independence and develop the pupil's confidence and self-esteem
· Assist with the development and implementation of One Plans/EHCP provision, individual regulation plans and risk assessments as appropriate
· Observe, monitor and record engagement, regulation, triggers, successful strategies and progress
· Work closely with the class teacher and SENDCo to review and adapt provision in response to the pupil's needs
· Create simple visual and practical resources to support communication, regulation, learning and transitions
· Supervise and support the pupil during less structured parts of the school day, including break and lunchtime, as required
· Support the pupil on educational visits and with access to the wider life of the school
· Work collaboratively with other teaching assistants and members of the wider school team
· Attend INSET days and other training as identified by the Headteacher

What we can offer you:

· High-quality support and relevant training
· A supportive team committed to understanding and meeting pupils' individual needs
· Opportunities to work alongside external professionals and specialist services
· Ongoing guidance from the SENDCo and wider school team
· The opportunity to make a significant difference to a child's experience of school
· Being part of a recognised Ofsted Outstanding provision