HARRIS ACADEMY ORPINGTON: Teaching Assistant

Inspire and transform learning with us. We are looking for Teaching Assistants to support individuals and groups of students to enable access to learning, contributing to the development and maintenance of a purposeful, nurturing learning environment.

We are happy to accept applications from both graduates and non-graduates for these positions.

The successful candidate will need to have a basic knowledge of SEND and learning barriers, and will work alongside the class teachers to support children in all areas of the curriculum and will also assist in the preparation of the learning environment, liaising with parents, maintaining pupil records and carrying out a range of administrative tasks to support the teacher. Relevant experience of working with children and qualifications are desirable.

About Us

Harris Academy Orpington opened in September 2016, joining the highly successful Federation of Harris academies in London. We are on our journey to outstanding and are ambitious and looking forward to an exciting future as we highlight our work as a Health Science Specialist school, with students being given access to recognised professional qualifications and careers.

At Harris Academy Orpington, we have the most incredible facilities, staff and students and we are very proud of the work that our students do here. We have developed a curriculum that is ambitious and broad. We believe people need to nurture an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and have designed a curriculum that does just that.

We aim to ensure that every student is inspired and supported to achieve his/her personal best and learning comes first. Our motto is “Together We Can” and if you are interested in joining us, we would be very pleased to meet you.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your role will be:

• To supervise and provide particular support for identified students, in 1:1, group or whole class situations, ensuring their safety and access to learning.
• To assist in the development of appropriate resources, schemes of work and teaching strategies, working with the teacher to ensure the provision supports each identified student’s learning needs.
• To assist in evaluating identified students’ progress through agreed assessment activities.
• To provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on students’ achievement, progress and needs.
• To lead small group sessions and interventions as appropriate.
• To attend to the students’ personal needs where required.
• To support with behaviour management, using appropriate strategies in line with academy policy.
• To contribute to creating a purposeful and supportive learning environment.
• Undertake structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes as appropriate, adjusting activities to ensure achievement of learning goals.

Qualifications, Knowledge & Training

• 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

• 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.

Personal Skills, Abilities & Qualities

• 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 as part of a team; working effectively with people across a wide range of levels and responsibilities.
• Computer literate – must have good ICT skills including a working knowledge of MS packages e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel etc, as well as using and updating records and databases.
• Ability to work using own initiative, exercising good judgement where unsupervised.
• Flexibility of approach to work.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality; having tact and diplomacy where necessary.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact us via e-mail, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application.

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.

Professional Development & Benefits

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 includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan including access to a virtual GP, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.