Senior Early Years Assessment and Observation Specialist Learning Support Assistant - Gwynedd/Anglesey

Salary: GBP 21,142.00 - 22,934.00 per year

Details
Job Advertisement

(This is an advertisement for a Senior Early Years Assessment and Observation (ABC) Specialist Teaching Assistant (for which the ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh and English is essential).
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The Council will require a Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate and confirmation of registration with the Education Workforce Council for the successful applicant before they can start.

Person Specification

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

ESSENTIAL

• The ability to collaborate with a wide range of people. Able to deal with people in a confident, measured and courteous manner
• Effective organisational skills
• Clear communication skills
• Able to work as a member of a team
• Able to work flexibly
• Enthusiasm
• Full driving license and access to transport
• The ability to present accurate and organised work regularly

DESIRABLE

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RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

ESSENTIAL

• Meet Higher Level Teaching Assistant standards e.g. Diploma or equivalent qualification or experience.
• Excellent numeracy/literacy skills
• Specialist skills/training in curriculum or learning area
• Training in the relevant strategies to support additional learning needs and/or inclusion OR significant experience in the field.
Hearing Impairment: BSL Level 4
Visual Impairment: Braille Level 2
Communication and Interaction: Commitment to follow Level2/3 Training in a specific field e.g. Elklan
Specific ALN: Commitment to follow a qualification or Diploma in the Additional Learning Needs field
Behaviour Support: Commitment to follow a Certificate or Level 2/3 Diploma (e.g. NVQ) or specific courses in the field (e.g. Webster-Stratton)

DESIRABLE

• Specialist skills/training in curriculum or learning area
Hearing Impairment: Degree in Deafness
Visual Impairment: A good understanding of at least 5 Braille codes
Sensory / Physical / Medical: Certificate or Diploma in Rehabilitation and Mobility (Visual Impairment)
Communication and Interaction: Elklan Level 2 or higher qualification
Specific ALN: Qualification or Diploma in the Additional Learning Needs field
Behaviour Support: Certificate or Level 2/3 Diploma (e.g. NVQ) or specific courses in the field (e.g. Webster-Stratton)

• Appropriate first aid training

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

Experience of:
• Working with pupils with additional learning needs

DESIRABLE

Experience of:
• Using Person-centred Methods
• Contributing towards and implementing Individual Development Plans

SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

ESSENTIAL

• Awareness of the Gwynedd and Anglesey ALN&I Strategy
• Understanding of the ALN&I legislation and the Code of Practice
• Understanding of various needs
• Good communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with people and respect the need for confidentiality
• Good computer skills - can use ICT effectively to support learning.
• The ability to confidently present ideas and strategies to colleagues
• Working knowledge and experience of implementing national/foundation stage curriculum and other relevant learning programmes/strategies.
• Good understanding of child development and learning processes.
• Understanding of statutory frameworks relating to teaching.
• Work constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and responsibilities and your own position within these.

DESIRABLE

• Understanding of Person-centred Methods
• Understanding of Individual Development Plans

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Listening and Speaking
Able to deal with all aspects of the job verbally in a confident manner in both English and Welsh.

Writing
Able to present written information in both English and Welsh with complete confidence using the most appropriate language and style to meet the needs of the reader.

Reading and Understanding
Able to use and interpret correctly any information in both English and Welsh from a wide variety of sources in order to deal with all aspects of the post.

Describe those attributes expected of the post-holder. Assessments of all applicants will be based on these criteria.

Job Description

Purpose of the Post

To ensure that the children and young people of Gwynedd and Anglesey are central to everything we do.

Support pupils with ALN in the Early Years in specialist centres and schools in Gwynedd and Anglesey as part of an ALN and Inclusion integrated team.

Implement the Special Needs Practice Code in relation to supporting pupils.

Establish an effective working relationship with pupils, operating as a professional individual.

To complement the professional work of teacher by taking responsibility for agreed learning activities under an agreed system of supervision. This may involve planning, preparing and delivering learning activities for individuals/groups or short term for whole classes and monitoring pupils and assessing, recording and reporting on pupils' achievement, progress and development.

Provide guidance and support in order to manage other teaching assistants, including allocation and monitoring of work, appraisal and training.

Responsibility for Resources. . e.g. staff, budget, equipment

• Assist the Senior Specialist Early Years Assessment and Observation (ABC) Teacher with the line management duties of the other specialist assistants within the Team
• Undertake recruitment/induction/appraisal/training/mentoring for other teacher assistants.
• Mobile Phone.
• Laptop
• Create resources, as part of a team, to support the resources bank for schools
• ITC equipment to support the pupils' learning

Main Duties. .

Support for Pupils

• Provide outreach input for individuals and groups of children in our mainstream schools under the leadership of the Specialist Early Years Assessment and Observation (ABC) Teachers and Senior Educational Psychologist according to the requirements of the Early Years Panel/Forum.

• Provide input for groups of children in the Early Years Assessment and Observation (ABC) Centres for specific periods under the leadership of the Specialist Early Years Assessment and Observation (ABC) Teachers and Senior Educational Psychologist according to the requirements of the Early Years Panel/Forum.

• Take responsibility for a group of children in Early Years Assessment and Observation (ABC) Centres in the absence of the Specialist Early Years Assessment and Observation (ABC) Teacher providing a service in a mainstream school or ALN&I Area Forum.

• Assist with developing and operating the pupils' Individual Development Plan / Individual Communication Plan.

• Assess the needs of pupils and use detailed knowledge and specialist skills to support pupils' learning.

• Collaborate with the Specialist Teachers in the field of Early Years and other relevant agencies

• Collaborate with the Teaching Assistants in the mainstream schools to model intervention packages for the pupils receiving attention from the Early Years team.

• Support the provision for pupils with additional needs.

• Use IT effectively to support leaning activities and develop pupils' competence and independence through its use.

• Promote independence and employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement of self-reliance.

• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement.

• Establish a productive working relationship with the pupils and colleagues.

• Provide information for a composite assessment of pupils' needs and progress.

• Create and provide a specialist work programme for pupils an accordance with their Individual Development Plan / Individual Communication Plan / Medical Plan (if relevant).

• Share good practice with staff within the school and model techniques as required.

Support for Teachers

• Visit schools to support pupils with ALN.

• Support pupils' access to learning through using strategies that have proved to be effective under the leadership of Specialist Teachers.

• Work with other staff such as specialist teachers, educational psychologists and therapists to plan, appraise and adapt materials and learning activities as necessary.

• Monitor and evaluate pupil responses to learning activities through a range of assessment and monitoring strategies against pre-determined learning objectives.

• Give objective and accurate feedback to other staff on pupils' achievements, progress and other matters, ensuring that appropriate evidence is available.

• Be responsible for keeping and updating records as agreed with other staff, contribute to the systems/records review as required.

• Assist with developing and operating development strategies in this field.

• Contribute to In-post Training for teachers/assistant under the leadership of the Senior Educational Psychologist and the Specialist Teachers within the Early Years Assessment and Observation (ABC) Team.

• Supporting the role of parents in pupils' learning and contribute to/lead meetings with parents to provide constructive feedback on pupil progress/achievement.
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• Providing administrative support, e.g. dealing with correspondence, gathering/analysing/reporting on attendance, exclusions, making phone calls etc.

• Administer and assess/mark tests and invigilate exams/tests.

• Production of lesson plans, worksheets, plans, etc.

Support for the Curriculum

• Deliver learning activities to pupils within agreed system of supervision, adjusting activities according to pupil responses/needs.

• Be aware, and appreciate a range of activities, courses, establishments and individuals that are available to offer support for individuals to enrich their learning.

• Select and prepare resources necessary to lead learning activities, taking account of pupils' interests and language and cultural background.

General:

• Awareness of the policies and procedures of the ALN and safeguarding children.

• Contribute towards the general ethos/work/objectives of our integrated ALN and Inclusion team.

• Establish a constructive and communicative relationship with other agencies in order to support the achievement and progress of the pupils.

• Attend and participate in meetings on a regular basis.

• Responsible for self-development.

• Participate in training and other learning activities, as required.

• Identify own strengths and specialist fields and use these to advise and support.

• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council's Health and Safety Policy.

• Work within the Council's policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.

• Responsibility for managing information in accordance with the Council's information management standards and guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.

• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.

• Commitment to reducing the Council's carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council's Carbon Footprint.

• Responsible for reporting any concern or doubt that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.

Special Circumstances. e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.
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This job description describes the main purpose and elements of the job. It illustrates the nature and main duties of the job as it currently exists, however, it is not intended for it to be a comprehensive illustration and it is not part of the employment agreement.