Vacancy: Teaching Assistant (Emotional Literacy and Pastoral Support)
School
River Mead School
Job reference
RM/ELSA
Closing date
9am on 24 June 2022
Interview date
To be confirmed
Start date
1 September 2022
Contract type
Permanent
Salary
Grade G, Spinal Point 12 - £11.73 per hour
Hours
35 hours per week (plus 2.5 per week as an MDSA)
Location
Lowbourne, Melksham SN12 7ED
Role overview
The Mead Trust is looking to appoint a Teaching Assistant with Emotional Literacy (ELSA) and Pastoral Support (PSA) responsibilities, to work at River Mead School in Melksham. The role will include Teaching Assistant responsibilities, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for an experienced TA ready to take the next step in their career.
Our Trust is inclusive, passionate, and principled. Children are at the heart of everything we do, and our mission is to provide Inspirational Learning for All. There are three schools in our Trust, based across four sites. They are The Mead Primary School (Hilperton), The Mead at Wingfield, Castle Mead School in Trowbridge and River Mead School in Melksham. Each of our schools work together to deliver the best they possibly can for all of our children, but are individual and have their own communities and identities. We’re proud of our exceptional team of skilled, dedicated staff and recognise that every single person makes a difference, every single day.
This post will be based at River Mead School, but as well as joining the school team, you will also become a part of the ELSA/PSA team, working with your counterparts at the other schools within our Trust.
We would like to hear from you if you are:
• Inclusive, passionate, and principled. These are our Trust core principles, and everyone who works for us embodies these in their own unique way
• Able to work under the direction of the Headteacher and Inclusion Lead, but also able use your own initiative to make things happen, be creative and problem solve
• Able to support children and their families with their learning and emotional needs
• Experienced in managing behaviour in a positive, inclusive way
• Trained in the Thrive Approach, or willing to undertake training
Ideally, you will have the following experience:
• Working with primary aged children, and their families
• Successfully reaching families and communities that are less likely to access services
• Providing advice, information and guidance to all families within our school community
And you are the kind of person who is:
• Able to work purposefully and collaboratively with children, young people and families
• Well organised and able to work co-operatively with other professionals, including schools, Children's Services teams and voluntary sector organisations
• Able to lead meetings effectively and follow up on agreed actions in a timely manner
• Flexible, enthusiastic and energetic, with a strong commitment to teamwork
• Trained in First Aid, or willing to undertake training
• Confident in the use of IT, including Word, Smart boards and the internet
• Able to communicate well both verbally and in writing with children and adults alike
• Qualified in NVQ Level 3 in Teaching and Learning, or equivalent relevant qualification
Our Trust is inclusive, passionate, and principled. Children are at the heart of everything we do, and our mission is to provide Inspirational Learning for All. There are three schools in our Trust, based across four sites. They are The Mead Primary School (Hilperton), The Mead at Wingfield, Castle Mead School in Trowbridge and River Mead School in Melksham. Each of our schools work together to deliver the best they possibly can for all of our children, but are individual and have their own communities and identities. We’re proud of our exceptional team of skilled, dedicated staff and recognise that every single person makes a difference, every single day.
This post will be based at River Mead School, but as well as joining the school team, you will also become a part of the ELSA/PSA team, working with your counterparts at the other schools within our Trust.
We would like to hear from you if you are:
• Inclusive, passionate, and principled. These are our Trust core principles, and everyone who works for us embodies these in their own unique way
• Able to work under the direction of the Headteacher and Inclusion Lead, but also able use your own initiative to make things happen, be creative and problem solve
• Able to support children and their families with their learning and emotional needs
• Experienced in managing behaviour in a positive, inclusive way
• Trained in the Thrive Approach, or willing to undertake training
Ideally, you will have the following experience:
• Working with primary aged children, and their families
• Successfully reaching families and communities that are less likely to access services
• Providing advice, information and guidance to all families within our school community
And you are the kind of person who is:
• Able to work purposefully and collaboratively with children, young people and families
• Well organised and able to work co-operatively with other professionals, including schools, Children's Services teams and voluntary sector organisations
• Able to lead meetings effectively and follow up on agreed actions in a timely manner
• Flexible, enthusiastic and energetic, with a strong commitment to teamwork
• Trained in First Aid, or willing to undertake training
• Confident in the use of IT, including Word, Smart boards and the internet
• Able to communicate well both verbally and in writing with children and adults alike
• Qualified in NVQ Level 3 in Teaching and Learning, or equivalent relevant qualification
How to apply
To apply for this role, you must send the following items to office@rivermead.wilts.sch.uk by the above closing date and time. Any applications that do not include all of this information will be incomplete and we won't be able to consider them:
1. A completed application form
2. A letter detailing any additional information
3. A video (no longer than 2 minutes) or a written explanation (no more than 500 words) describing the skills and experience needed to be an excellent Teaching Assistant (Emotional Literacy and Pastoral Support) – and how you know you’ve got them
1. A completed application form
2. A letter detailing any additional information
3. A video (no longer than 2 minutes) or a written explanation (no more than 500 words) describing the skills and experience needed to be an excellent Teaching Assistant (Emotional Literacy and Pastoral Support) – and how you know you’ve got them
Other information
Visits to the school are warmly welcomed. If you would like to arrange this, please call the school office on 01225 703428.
Candidate Briefing Pack >
Application Form >
Equality & Diversity Form >
This role will involve contact with children and the post holder will be engaged in regulated activity relevant to children and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check before appointment is confirmed.
This Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exception Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.
Child Protection Policy >
Code of Conduct >
What we offer
We recognise the value and contribution every member of our staff makes to our schools, and in return for their dedication and commitment we provide:
- A clear vision with purpose and values that are supported by all our staff
- An ambitious and vibrant place to work, with enthusiastic staff and children in all of our schools
- A highly organised and very supportive team
- Dedicated weekly planning time which Teaching Assistants are paid to attend
- High quality professional development opportunities from Day One, including A National College training account, where you can access thousands of training courses online for free
- Unlimited, free access to the Employee Assistance Programme which gives all our staff confidential support and guidance whenever they need it