TITLE OF JOB : LEAD TEACHING ASSISTANT – LEVEL E (incorporating aspects of Level F)

LOCATION : WHEATFIELDS JUNIOR SCHOOL

GRADE : H5/H6 (also incorporates aspects of H6)

1. JOB OUTLINE

a) REASON JOB EXISTS

To provide a high level of support to teachers and teaching assistants in the management of pupils' learning.

b) DUTIES

The jobholder need not fulfil all of the duties listed below, but must be spending at least 50% of his/her time on some or all of the duties in bold script.

¨  Manage a team of Teaching Assistants

¨  Within an agreed system of supervision, plan, deliver and evaluate programmes of work that meet teaching and learning objectives, including intervention programmes

¨  Provide planned long term cover for classes (to include active teaching) as PPA cover, Leadership cover, illness or other planned release activities. Hours to be agreed on an individual basis, depending on working hours and other responsibilities. These hours will be paid at H6.

¨  Supervise whole classes during the short-term absence of a teacher

¨  Use specialist curricular knowledge or experience to support pupils' learning

¨  Working closely with the Inclusion Leader, plan for and help deliver weekly assembly time TA meetings

¨  Working closely with the Inclusion Leader, lead the TA team, to include sharing responsibility for TA observations and appraisals

¨  Co-ordinate short term cover requests, involving HLTAs

¨  Assist with the development and implementation of individual education plans for specific children

¨  Supervise, and provide individual support for, pupils (including those with identified special educational needs), as directed by the class teacher

¨  Assist with the planning and delivery of learning activities for children, both inside and outside the classroom

¨  Organise/ prepare classrooms and resources and assist with the display of pupils' work

¨  Attend to pupils' personal needs, including social, health, hygiene, first-aid and welfare matters

¨  Provide clerical/admin support to teaching staff, e.g. photocopying, filing, collecting money, record keeping etc

¨  Accompany teachers and pupils on out-of-school activities and take responsibility for a group, under the direction of a teacher

¨  Liaise with parents and carers, under the direction of a teacher

¨  Administer routine tests and provide teachers with assessment information for specific children.

¨  Communicate with teachers to ensure that planning and expectations are clear and that progress/ assessment information is passed on between TA and teacher

¨  Supervise a Behaviour Duty for one break time a week (unless agreed otherwise)

¨  Take on one Midday Supervisor Duty per week (unless agreed otherwise)

The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present. The post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations that may from time to time be necessary. The jobholder is one of a team of teachers and assistants who support the learning of pupils. Flexibility by all staff is important in order to meet the varied needs of pupils.

c) EQUALITIES

Be aware of and support difference and ensure that pupils have equality of access to opportunities to learn and develop

d) HEALTH AND SAFETY

Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection; and report all concerns to an appropriate person. In the first instance, this would usually be the Class Teacher. See the school’s safeguarding policies for more information.

e) CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU

This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with children or vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced disclosure will be sought through the Criminal Records Bureau as part of Hertfordshire County Council’s pre-employment checks. Please note that additional information referring to the Criminal Records Bureau is in the guidance notes to the application form.

f) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The jobholder is required to contribute to and support the overall aims and ethos of the school.

All staff are required to participate in training and other learning activities, and in performance management/ appraisal and development, as required by the school's policies and practice.

2. LINE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION

Teaching Assistants may be directed by a member of the teaching staff in relation to specific children who are the responsibility of the Class Teacher.

All teaching Assistants on Grade H5 are line managed and appraised by the Assistant Headteacher. This process is supported by the Deputy Headteacher. The school's appraisal/ performance management policies and practice determine the frequency of meetings.

The post holder may be required to supervise/ appraise other staff. This is particularly applicable to the Lead TA role.

3. JOB CONTEXT

This job is one of a set of teaching assistant jobs whose evaluated pay grade is determined by the level of responsibilities. The lowest pay grade is at Level A, the highest at Level F. The set of job descriptions allows some employees to grow into the next job description provided:

a)  the school has sufficient work of the right level that would justify the next job description, and

b) the jobholder has gained sufficient knowledge and skill, either through qualification or through experience, to fulfil the duties of the next job description.

4. CONTACTS

The jobholder works with teachers and pupils and has occasional contact with parents and carers.

5. KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

¨  Experience of working with or caring for children of the relevant age

¨  Ability to lead, organise and motivate a team (if taking on Lead TA Role)

¨  Good numeracy and literacy skills (preferably equivalent to NVQ level 2 or GCSE grade C in English and Maths)

¨  HLTA status

¨  Basic knowledge of first-aid

¨  Ability to use ICT to support learning

¨  Understanding of learning programmes and strategies or the ability to learn quickly

¨  Ability to work with a minimum of supervision and within a team

¨  Ability to manage pupils in a classroom setting and take sole responsibility for a class

6. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The job may involve lifting children after falls/ accidents or assisting with moving resources/ furniture. The postholder must take care not to undertake any physical effort which they feel may cause them injury. The job may include clearing up blood or other bodily fluids of children after accidents or sudden illness.

Safeguarding

Wheatfields Junior School is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role involves working closely with children and all applicants will need to have had an enhanced DBS check.

Signed (Postholder) ______Date ______

Signed (Line Manger) ______Date ______

Signed (Headteacher) ______Date ______

H5 lead TA final job description