Pre-Prep Teaching Assistant – 1 year FTC
- Job title: Pre-prep Teaching Assistant - 1 year FTC
- Job Type: Part time, 3 days per week 8:15am - 3:30pm
- Salary: As per Teaching Assistant pay scale
- Department: Pre-prep school
- Reporting to: Pre-Prep Principal
- Location: Highgate, North London, Junior School
- Start: ASAP
- Closing Date: 4 October 2023 at 5:00 pm
Are you a skilled Teaching Assistant looking for a new opportunity to work in a leading coeducational independent school? The role is based in our friendly and dynamic Pre-Prep School working in a supportive and exciting environment with a dedicated team of staff. Under the direction of the Class Teacher, you’ll support our pupils and be committed to providing a quality learning experience, as well completing a range of duties both inside and outside the classroom.
The Department
Highgate Pre-Preparatory School is an academically selective, coeducational school with approximately 180 pupils.
Staff at the Pre-Prep enjoy a collaborative approach to teaching and learning, with teachers, assistants and SLT working closely to ensure all children achieve their potential. For staff new to Highgate, regardless of experience, there is a strong and supportive framework of induction to the School.
The Pre-Preparatory School is housed in its own building in Bishopswood Road, Highgate, adjacent to the School’s playing fields. The Pre-Preparatory building was recently extended to provide additional classrooms, a new library and a medical room.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Classroom Environment and Resources
- Help to provide a stimulating learning environment for the children under the direction of the teacher
- Welcome the children into the classroom on arrival and assist with settling them in. Relay to the class teacher any messages given by parents
- Change reading books in book folders; prepare record sheets in reading file
- Mount and display the children’s work in accordance with the School’s display policy. Assist with captions and labels for displays
- File learning in children’s books and prepare resources for assembly in accordance with the class teacher’s instructions
- Prepare reading record books, exercise books, homework folders, tray and peg labels in collaboration with the class teacher
- Assist in the clearing up, cleaning and storage of classroom equipment, including clearing display boards and removing staples
- Maintain stocks of paper, exercise books, pencils, art and writing materials in the classroom and advise teacher if stocks run low
- Photocopy worksheets for use in school and for homework
- File homework sheets in children’s files
- Help with preparation and clearing away of art and craft, science and other activities
Care of Children in the School
- Take care of children in the classroom and school building; comfort them when they are sick and distressed; assisting them with washing or cleaning when necessary (e.g. after being sick); encourage independence in dressing; give individual attention when it is needed
- Administer basic first aid when the children are hurt and record such incidents in the School’s accident book
- Encourage good discipline and behaviour both in and out of the classroom, in accordance with the School’s policy
- Observe any children closely, and report any incidences of aggressive or anti-social behaviour, or any other concerns about individuals, to the class teacher
Care of Children in the Dining Hall and Main Playground
- Provide continuity of care for the children throughout the lunch-time breaks and, if required, during mid-morning breaks, too; accompany the class to the dining room, sit with the children at the table and help to serve them
- Organise and supervise a range of activities in the playground, including games and quiet activities; help children acquire strategies for coping with the playground environment; make sure that they are safe, obey the playground rules and learn the arts of co-operation and fair play
The Curriculum and Children’s Learning
- Help with all aspects of the curriculum; work as needed with individual children and groups, encouraging the development of children’s skills particularly in literacy, mathematics
- Together with the class teacher, hear children read individually and in a group on a daily basis and help to monitor their progress, keeping careful records
Assessment and Record Keeping
- Make observations of the children’s play and behaviour and discuss any significant matters with the Teacher
Parents
- Welcome parents who visit the classroom and work closely with them
- Liaise with parents over day-to-day matters and relay messages to the Class Teacher
Accompanying Children
- Take children to the Mallinson Sports Centre and help them to prepare for Sport and Exercise and swimming lessons; accompany small groups of children on walks; develop their interest in their local environment; assist on school visits and outings; all in accordance with the guidelines set out in the School’s health and safety document
Team work
- Provide reliable support for the Class Teacher at all times; keep them informed of all matters that affect the children; join in professional discussions and staff meetings after-school; be willing to work with other teachers and children
- Assist with plays and productions, Sports Day, concerts, Open Days and other school events
- Accompany classes on outings, staying on occasions beyond the end of the usual working day for this purpose
- If required, undertake to help within the broader context of the School, carrying out other reasonable duties to support its smooth and efficient organisation
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 Class Teacher.
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Qualifications/Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with children of this age group, ideally within a Pre-Prep School setting
- Skills/Knowledge
Essential
- The ability to establish good relations with colleagues and pupils
- Awareness and understanding of safeguarding and welfare of children
- Personal Attributes
Essential
- Committed to providing a quality learning experience for our pupils
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues
- Flexible, can-do approach
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 21% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 11% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.
Lunch | A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Staff wellbeing
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Charitable work and sustainability
As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure
- Closing Date: 4th October 2023
- Timing of interviews: w/c 26th June, 2023
Contact: Recruitment Team are happy to answer any questions about this post.
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Apply here