Job title:Teaching Assistant Level 3

Job Ref No:1383

At:Wallace Road Nursery School

Salary:Grade F Point 16-18 £17419-18070 pro-rata

Hours:Monday-Friday 12.30-3.30pm Monday to Friday

Weeks per Year:38

4. Purpose of job

Purpose of Job

To work as part of a team to provide an effective and nurturing learning environment for children aged 2 until they turn 3. To help with the children’s transition to the next stage of nursery school, and to be a key worker to the equivalent of 4 ‘full session’ children.

We are looking for a level 3 teaching assistant to join our small and friendly team.Thecandidate will beworking afternoons in the new 2-year-old unit which started in September and due to its success is opening in the afternoon as well to provide 12 term time places. The TA3 is a key worker to the equivalent of 4 full session children and will be responsible for supporting children in the learning environment. The Teaching Assistant (Level 3) will also be welcomed and to paid weekly staff meetings on Wednesday afternoons after school.

About Us

Wallace Road is a 78 place maintained Nursery School in Northampton who provides full and part time education to 3-4 year olds, and part time education for twelve 2 year olds, increasing to 24 2 year olds after Easter 2017. We’ve been a nursery since WWII but had a new build 10 years ago. We have a friendly and well established team of 11 staff working within the Nursery and the admin office. The nursery is open every weekday, term time only 8.45 am until 3.30pm.

The Role

The Teaching Assistant (Level 3) is line managed by the Head Teacher and their main responsibility is to implement plans/ programmes, by working with individuals and groups of children to ensure that children’s needs are met and the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is delivered. In the team, there are Early Years Practitioners who lead the room and team, Teaching Assistants (level 3) and Early Years Assistants. Both EYP and TA3 have key worker responsibilities.

Main accountabilities

  • The job holder has Key Worker responsibilities for a group of children, tracking their progress, record keeping and providing information and support for the parents, whilst maintaining confidential files, reports and developmental records for assessment purposes, for reference for core groups, case conferences and court when necessary.
  • To support the EYP in planning suitable indoor and outdoor areas of activities and activities for the provision of a caring and stimulating environment for a number of children aged 2 to 3 encompassing the Early Years Foundation Stage. This may include responsibility for a particular area of the curriculum.
  • To support the partnership between education, social services, health, parents and the voluntary sector to improve the life chances of children under five who live in the designated area.
  • The job holder carries out the 2-year-old checks for a small designated group of key children, and meet with parents to support their understanding of the development of their child.
  • The TA3supports the EYP to help implement plans/ programmes with individuals and groups of children and has responsibility for feeding back progress/ issues to other Key Workers. The TA3 provides information and support for parents and liaises with other professionals as required. The job holder may assist setting up the learning environment and record keeping.
  • To report any cause for concern regarding a child’s health or welfare to the designated senior member of staff and to record any accidents to children reporting to the child’s key worker where appropriate.
  • To undertake home visits to children and their families, under the supervision of the EYP, working individually with parents and children respecting and understanding their individual needs and maintaining courtesy and confidentiality at all times, working in accordance with the Relationships Policy
  • To participate in visits and outings which extend the curriculum as well as other social activities which are part of the nursery’s involvement in the community.

Knowledge, experience and training

  • The job holder should have attained the basic level of secondary education and be literate and numerate.
  • NVQ level 3 qualification in Early Years or equivalent.
  • Proven experience of working with children under the age of five.
  • Experience of working in a team
  • Able to help provide an environment that delivers both education and care and enhances children’s learning opportunities.
  • A working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
  • Able to monitor and assess child and family needs and communicate both as appropriate to the team working brief.
  • Good communication skills - able to record information, write up assessment and reports as necessary to the service and able to deal effectively with a wide range of people and situations.
  • Experience of working in an environment of confidentiality
  • Understanding of child protection issues.

Planning, organising and controlling

  • The learning environment is planned on the basis of observations with reference to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum to meet the varied needs of the children. Daily work can change depending on families in the setting and staffing.
  • The job holder supports the EYP in setting activities. Eg. 1. Helping create a learning environment which meets the needs of individuals, incorporating observations and scaffolding of learning to ensure that appropriate support is in place for children. 2. Helping todesign the activity offered during the home visit.

Communication

  • Interaction is about building good relationships with children and parents, colleagues and other staff at the centre/ setting; to be a point of contact for the parents of key children and to provide a friendly and supportive interface for them.
  • The job holder must be able to communicate and interact effectively with children, treating them as individuals and with respect. They must be able to listen to what they are saying and respond appropriately.
  • The job holder needs to work with tact and discretion when interacting with parents. They make home visits during their key children’s’ time to take details, discuss needs of the child and to show parents the child’s achievement records. They will promote good family relationships and encourage the parents to participate in the life and ethos of the nursery.
  • They work as part of a small team and good communication is necessary for effective and efficient service delivery. The team must be able to take over work if colleagues are not in work so sharing information and good organisational practices are necessary.

Physical Effort and/or strain

  • The job requires physical effort on a daily basis when setting up/moving the learning environment around eg. Moving tables, chairs, equipment/resources, climbing frames etc
  • Working with very young children involves working at a low level, bending down, picking up and carrying children throughout the day

Working Environment

  • The job involves working in outdoor areas in all weather conditions at least once a day for periods of up to 3 hours. In the summer, outdoor working can be more frequent and intensive.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We operate a safer recruitment practice. Offers will be made subject to an enhanced clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as full medical clearance and satisfactory references. References will be sought for shortlisted candidates prior to interview.