Graduate Teaching Assistant

Our TAs work as part of a thriving SEND team to support the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision in our Academy. They will be committed to equality of opportunity for all young people, and will have an unwavering belief in the potential of every young person to be successful no matter their starting points.

Our TAs will work closely with our SENDCo, other leaders within the SEND team and all teaching and associate staff within the Academy. TAs will provide both in-class support and differentiation for learners with SEND, and deliver small group and one-to-one interventions as appropriate. Our SEND team can access world-class training and professional development opportunities through our SEND network within the Harris Federation and we support all our TAs in developing their skills and experience so as to even better support our students.

The development of our students academically, personally and professionally is at the heart of everything we do at Harris Academy Battersea. Our values of Knowledge, Integrity and Resilience embody the qualities we seek to promote and expect to see in our young people. Our Teaching Assistants will take a key role in the communication and reiteration of our vision and mission to our students: ‘We develop aspirational young people to thrive in a changing world’. At HABS, we believe that every student with SEND should be aspirational about their future and deserve the best possible support so that they can thrive.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supervising and supporting identified students in 1:1, group or whole class situations, ensuring their safety and access to learning in a purposeful and supportive learning environment.
• Assisting in developing resources, schemes of work and teaching strategies, working with the teacher to ensure the provision supports learning needs.
• Assisting in evaluating identified students’ progress and providing feedback on their achievements, progress and needs.
• Leading small group sessions and interventions as appropriate.
• Attending to students’ personal needs where required.
• Supporting with behaviour management.
• Undertaking learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities to ensure achievement of learning goals.
• Assisting with the supervision of students out of lesson times, including playtimes and undertaking lunchtime duty.
• Supporting students with their learning and development in respect of local and national learning strategies.
• Preparing the classroom for lessons, clearing afterwards and assisting with the display of students’ work.
• Preparing and maintaining resources and assisting students in their use.
• Undertaking record keeping as requested.
• Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with parents/carers, gathering and reporting information as directed.
• Providing administrative support as required.
• Accompanying teaching staff and students on visits, trips and off site activities as required.

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualifications to degree level or equivalent
• Basic knowledge of SEND and learning barriers
• Some knowledge of strategies in working with young people with challenging behaviours
• Knowledge of some of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues in the workplace
• Experience of working directly with young people in an education or training environment, supporting the learning of students
• Experience of establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders, at all levels
• Experience of managing and being responsible for own workload
• Good literacy and numeracy skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with an excellent standard of written and spoken English
• Good administrative and organisational skills
• Ability to interest, encourage, motivate and engage children
• Ability to work effectively with team members across a wide range of levels and responsibilities
• Good ICT skills, including a working knowledge of Microsoft packages and the ability to update records and databases.
• Ability to work using own initiative, exercising good judgement where unsupervised
• Flexibility of approach to work
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercising tact and diplomacy

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includesour Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more aboutour benefitson our website.