The role of Teaching Assistant is essential to the smooth running of the life of this busy and successful Junior School. Working as part of a team, under the direction of the Director of Studies, Heads of Year, and the Learning Support Department the Teaching Assistant will support the learning and emotional and physical wellbeing of children throughout the Junior School.

Teaching and Learning

• Working alongside class teachers to support and enrich the learning of all individuals within a class
• Working with individual children and small groups to support and enrich learning in all subjects, but particularly in Literacy and Numeracy
• Working with individual children and small groups to support social development
• Working closely with Learning Support Department to support children with additional needs
• Working closely with teachers to provide a stimulating learning environment for the children
• Organising class equipment, setting up activities, and clearing up after activities
• Mounting and displaying children’s work
• Assisting teachers with the preparation of classroom materials to include photocopying and laminating
• Assisting teachers with the marking of Reading Responses
• Taking registration if a form tutor is absent and supervising (although not teaching) a form for short periods of teacher absence
• Joining in professional discussions and staff meetings during the school day and after school
• Liaising with teachers, Heads of Year, the Learning Support Department and the Director of Studies regarding the progress of individual children
• Keeping form tutors and any other relevant members of staff informed about any matters that affect the children
• Accompanying and assisting on School visits and outings as well as in the running of workshops and events held at School

Pastoral Care

• Taking care of children in the classroom and School buildings; comfort them when they are sick and distressed; assisting them with washing or cleaning when necessary (e.g. after being sick); give individual attention when it is required
• Supervising children at break times as needed. Help children acquire strategies for coping with the playground environment; making sure that they are safe, obeying the playground rules and learning the arts of cooperation and fair play
• Supervising children at lunchtime in the Dining Hall, encouraging healthy eating and good table manners
• Administering basic first aid when the children are hurt
• Accompanying children as required as they move from one building to another
• Helping children prepare for sport, exercise and swimming lessons, supervising them changing where necessary

These duties and responsibilities are intended as a guide. They are not exhaustive: the Teaching Assistant will be expected to undertake any reasonable task or responsibility as required by the Director of Studies or the Principal of the Junior School.

Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, overseas police check if necessary and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.

• Criteria
• How will these be tested or verified?
• Qualifications/Experience

• Essential

  • Minimum 5 GCSEs or equivalent including English and Maths
  • Previous experience of working with children of this age group, ideally within a Junior School setting

   

  Desirable:

  • Graduate qualification or equivalent
  • First Aid Certificate/First Aid for Children Certificate
  • An appropriate childcare qualification
• Skills/Knowledge

• Essential

  • ICT competence
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Literate and numerate to a high level
  • Able to show initiative and work without supervision
  • Able to manage and prioritise workloads, commitments and deadlines
  • Ability to work as part of a team

   

  Desirable

  • Artistic flair to create displays and resource
• Personal Attributes

• Essential

  • Friendly, sympathetic and supportive
  • Empathy for pupils, staff and the community
  • Energetic, motivated and enthusiastic
  • Willing to make a full contribution to the life of the school
  • Reliability and punctuality
  • A healthy sense of humour
  • A ‘can do’ attitude and, most importantly, the flexibility needed to work successfully in the Junior School environment