LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT Prep and Upper School from 1 st September 2015

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1 GENERAL INFORMATION LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT Prep and Upper School from 1 st September 2015 JOB DESCRIPTION The School The Perse School, which was founded in 1615, is a charitable company and one of the country s leading independent day schools. The Perse School s vision is to be an exceptional school of international standing. The values that define the School community are: intellectual curiosity and scholarship, endeavour, breadth and balance, and valuing one another. The Perse School Foundation is fully co-educational, educating boys and girls from 3-18 on three sites: the Pelican Nursery and Pre-Prep (ages 3-7) in Glebe Road; the Prep (ages 7-11) in Trumpington Road; and the Upper (ages 11-18) in Hills Road. Children thus progress through three different schools, but have all the benefits of being part of one larger institution with an integrated curriculum and pastoral care system. The School is academically selective and a place where bright children thrive; intellectual curiosity is encouraged and celebrated, and pupils embrace opportunities to go beyond the curriculum. The School also provides a very rounded education, with first class opportunities in sport, art, music and drama and a large number of thriving clubs, societies and extra-curricular activities in which all pupils participate. The pastoral system is strong and supportive, the student body is diverse, and the atmosphere is open and friendly. There are currently 1090 pupils in the Upper School; 280 pupils in the Prep; and 150 pupils in The Pelican. The permanent staff of the School is around 300, half of whom are academic members of staff, and in addition there are about 70 peripatetic music, sports coaching and other specialist staff. The School has undertaken an almost continuous programme of building works over the past decade. Six years ago a new Library, Art and Technology department and classroom building at the Prep and the Richardson Hall at the Pelican were completed. At the Upper School an extension to the Sports Centre providing a sports studio and further changing rooms, and a major new building providing 21 classrooms, a new library, a new ICT department and various support services were completed in Further buildings were added in 2011 and 2012, including a sixth form study centre and an outdoor pursuits centre at the Upper, and a full sized all weather pitch at the Prep. More tennis and netball courts and an extension to the Margaret Stubbs Pavilion were built in A new Upper School classroom building

2 (seventeen classrooms; seven meeting / interview rooms; departmental & pastoral offices; and a large multipurpose space) was completed in September 2014 has also seen the completion of another stage of extensions and refurbishment to existing departmental accommodation. Further works are currently in the design stage, in particular a performing arts centre which, it is hoped, will start to be built in More details about the School can be found on The Bursary The Bursary, which is situated at the Upper School, is responsible for the School s support services and in particular for the financial, HR, communications, legal, H&S, administrative, estates and facilities management work of the School. The Bursary also provides (through the Bursar and Clerk to Governors) a governance resource and is the secretariat to the Governing Board. LEARNING SUPPORT AT THE PERSE The School is committed to giving each pupil the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential. The Learning Support Department works closely alongside staff and parents to ensure that all pupils needs are identified and met as they progress during the course of their school life. Through differentiation and support, the needs of the pupils on the learning support list are met both within the Learning Support Department and across the curriculum. The Learning Support Department aims to offer a secure, relaxed learning environment to promote pupil confidence, selfesteem and independent learning. JOB DESCRIPTION Reporting to As a member of the support staff, the Learning Support Assistant s ultimate line manager will be the Bursar although day to day responsibility will be to the Head of Learning Support. Job Purpose The Learning Support Department requires another member of staff to help the Learning Support Department fulfil its aims. There is a chance to work with individuals and small groups of students. The work will be split between the Prep (7-11 year olds) and the Upper School (11-18 year olds). Key responsibilities The successful candidate will need to have a very flexible approach and the ability to prioritise tasks as they arise. He/she will: 1. Work with the Head of Learning Support (HoLS), the Prep Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) and other Learning Support Assistants to create an efficient and resourceful department that supports all pupils with additional learning needs. 2. With advice from the HoLS and/or LSC: run lunch time and/or before and after school sessions to provide literacy support/study skills support to pupils on a one-to-one or small group basis.

3 provide literacy support/numeracy support/study skills support during timetabled lessons on a one-to-one or small group basis. support pupils with additional needs in the classroom on an ad-hoc and flexible basis. 3. Produce written updates on the progress of pupils he/she is working with. 4. Regularly liaise with HoLS and/or LSC (at least once a week) to discuss the tasks that need to be achieved in the short- and long-term. 5. Assist the HoLS with administrative tasks such as ing pupils for appointments, and contacting parents and tutors to inform them of potential assessment needs and subsequent assessment results. 6. Assist the HoLS by reviewing the pupils on the learning support list. This requires individual pupil interviews and collating information from teachers. 7. Work with other LSAs to collate the evidence required for access arrangements. 8. Create resources for pupils such as picture timetables and prompt cards. 9. Help with the invigilating of assessment tests with groups of children requiring extra time or additional support. PERSON SPECIFICATION The successful candidate will have the following attributes: A good standard of English and Maths education. Excellent inter-personal and organisational skills as well as the flexibility to deal with a range of tasks. Experience working with young people in an educational setting is desirable but not mandatory; appropriate support and training can be provided. The candidate may be looking for appropriate school experience with a view to later training to be a qualified teacher/special needs coordinator. The ability to work with children of any age from 3-18, although a large proportion of the work will be with 7-16 year olds. ICT skills to conduct administrative tasks efficiently. Over and above academic qualifications, the character of the learning support assistant is crucial. The role necessitates the capability to gain the trust and confidence of pupils that have often undergone some difficulty in their school life, whether it is due to a learning difficulty such as dyslexia, or a communication difficulty that affects their social development. The type of personality that makes a good learning support assistant is someone that is supportive, non-judgemental, patient, easy to talk to, positive and flexible. OUTLINE TERMS AND CONDITIONS Working Hours, Holidays, Salary and Other Matters The post is 39 hours per week, Monday to Friday, (term time only). Two days a week will be spent at the Prep School and three days a week at the Upper School. The actual working hours will be confirmed upon appointment. The post holder will also be expected to attend meetings concerned with the business of the school that are sometimes held out of office hours. Term time comprises the published term dates plus two additional days at the beginning of the Michaelmas term and one additional day at the beginning of the Lent term.

4 Paid holiday entitlement is 6.24 weeks including bank holidays per annum, which must be taken during School holidays other than at the times referred to in the above paragraph). The starting salary will depend on relevant skills and experience, in the region of 17,623-18,143 per annum (at scale point 12 or 13 of the Perse School Teaching Assistants salary scale, based on the full time rate of 21,491-22,125 pro-rated for term time only and including paid holiday entitlement). The School operates a defined contribution pension scheme which all non-teaching members of staff are eligible to join once they have completed three months service and to which the School and the member of staff both contribute. Contributions are currently 13.75% and 6.25% respectively. The School operates a Group Life Scheme that members of staff are automatically included in on the date of appointment. Lunch is provided free of charge for all staff whose working hours encompass the time of School lunch. The School s Sports Centre is available for use by staff at various times during the week. The School is keen to help develop the skills of its staff and looks to provide appropriate training as necessary. Safer Recruitment The Perse School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including references from previous employers, and a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level and compliance with Sections of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (eligibility to work in the UK). Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates suitability to work with children. APPLICATION PROCESS Safer Recruitment The Perse School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including: references from previous employers, a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level, as well as eligibility to work in the UK (in compliance with Sections of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006). Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates suitability to work with children. Relevant Policies The following documents are available for your information on the School website, or by request from the HR Department: Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy and Procedure Recruitment of Ex-offenders policy statement Equality and Dignity at Work statement for job applicants.

5 To apply Applications are to be made on the School s Application for Employment Form which may be downloaded from the School website, or by request from the HR Department. Please complete and return the application form by the closing date 29 June at 12 noon to: recruitment@perse.co.uk HR Department The Perse School Hills Road Cambridge, CB2 8QF. Tel No: Interviews will take place on: 1 July. HAS/SMC, June 2015