Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and young people with additional needs?
We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and dedicated Teaching Assistant to join our supportive school community. Our school caters for children and young people aged 2 to 19, providing a nurturing, inclusive environment where every pupil is supported to achieve their individual potential.
As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with teachers and the wider school team to provide high-quality support to pupils with a range of primary needs, helping them to access learning, develop their independence and enjoy positive experiences at school.
You will:
- Provide one-to-one and small-group support to pupils, both in and outside of the classroom.
- Support pupils to access learning and participate fully in school life.
- Help develop pupils' confidence, independence, communication and social skills.
- Follow individual education and support plans, adapting activities to meet pupils' needs.
- Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
- Work closely with teachers, therapists and other professionals to provide consistent support.
- Support pupils with their personal, social and emotional development where required.
- Promote positive behaviour and help create a calm, safe and welcoming learning environment.
- Contribute to the wider life of the school and work positively as part of a dedicated team.
We are looking for someone who is:
- Caring, patient and compassionate.
- Enthusiastic about supporting children and young people with additional needs.
- Able to build positive relationships with pupils of different ages and abilities.
- Resilient, adaptable and able to remain calm in challenging situations.
- A good communicator who can work effectively as part of a team
- Committed to inclusion and ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to succeed.
- Willing to learn and develop their knowledge and skills.
- Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Our pupils would like someone who is:
Funny, happy, caring, keeps us safe and helps us to learn!"
We value……. Community – Resilience – Wellbeing – Respect - Empowerment
At the Russett School we seek to prepare our learners for life through prioritising skills required to meet their full potential. Through our specialist curriculum, our children and young people are empowered through a strong emphasis on the development of individual communication strategies and life skills. Our Russett team provide enriching and safe environments, where our pupils are encouraged to develop independence, whilst promoting well-being for a happy and fulfilled future.
The Russett School is a specialist setting registered for pupils aged 2 to 19 years whose primary need is associated with having a Severe Learning Difficulty (also known as SLD) and/or Complex Learning Needs. We are also part of Shaw Education Trust.
Our curriculum is bespoke. This means that it has been carefully designed specifically for learners who have SLD. It has been written to meet the varying needs of pupils who first and foremost have a severe impairment in relation to their cognitive function and or learning ability.
The Russett School also supports pupils who may have further needs in addition to their severe learning difficulty. For example; some of our pupils have severe communication and interaction needs.
Pupils at Russett undertake learning activities within classes in mixed ability groups of around 11 pupils with peers similar in age.
Class sizes are generally supported by 4 adult adults (one class teacher and three Teaching Assistants).
All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position.
At
Shaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life.
Whether you’re supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, or
leading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful.
Our
values—opportunity, integrity, community, and equity—guide everything we
do. Our vision is “Opening doors to the world through the power of
learning.” We bring this to life through our mission: working
together to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voice
matters, and every learner thrives.
We
are a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools,
proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury.
Together,
let’s make the remarkable happen.
We
believe every child has the potential to be extraordinary.
Make
a life-changing difference in one of our special schools
Our special schools are inspiring, welcoming and truly life-changing places to work. Every day, our dedicated teams help children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities to discover their strengths, achieve their ambitions and live happy, fulfilling lives.
Our pupils include children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, complex medical needs, sensory impairments, moderate and severe learning difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Every pupil is unique, and every achievement and milestone is recognised and celebrated.
Join
us and help transform lives, including your own.
Shaw
Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or
Support Staff employment:
- An
excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / Teachers
Pension (Teaching Staff)
- Support Staff only based on
working full time, all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your first
day of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’
service including Bank Holidays)
- Access
to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed to
support your well-being.
- Free
DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusive
discounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offers
from hundreds of the biggest brands.
- Free
Eye Tests
- Cycle
to work scheme
- Access to our Institute of
Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and
flourish in your role and in the Trust.
We know our people are the key to our success and so we’re
committed to ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is a
rewarding one.
Colleagues
within the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses both
in-house and professionally accredited. These courses include a variety of the
National Professional Qualifications and the Early Carer Teacher Programme
delivered by Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for Ambition
Institute.
- Experienced
leadership and subject-specific support.
- Guidance
from former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
- Access
to the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.
- Opportunities
to work with different schools within the Trust as a Professional
Advocate.
- Participating
in peer reviews.
- Access
to a suite of online courses.
- Placement
projects within our family of schools.
Actual Salary: £19,283 - £19,898
Working hours: 32.5 per week – 38 weeks plus 5 Inset Days (working 39 weeks)
The Russett School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, click here to review Safeguarding and Pupil Protection Policy https://www.shaw-education.org.uk/our-trust/key-information
This position is subject to robust vetting procedures, including an online search for all shortlisted candidates, successful candidates will be subject to a fully Enhanced DBS check along with other relevant employment checks. You will be asked to disclose all relevant unspent and, where applicable, unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions, and convictions.
As part of our safer recruitment and pre-employment checking process, all shortlisted candidates are required to provide original documentation to verify their identity, qualifications and RTW in the UK. Shaw Education Trust requires all applicants to be eligible to work in the UK with no restrictions as we are unable to offer sponsorship/work visas.
This role involves working with children and young people and therefore carries specific safeguarding responsibilities, details of these responsibilities are set out in the JD. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be required to disclose relevant criminal history information in accordance with current legislation and guidance.
Check if you need to tell someone about your criminal record: https://www.gov.uk/tell-employer-or-college-about-criminal-record/what-information-you-need-to-give
SET is an Equal Opportunities employer, we are fully committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection processes promote EDI at every stage.
In accordance with our safer recruitment policy CVs alone will not be accepted.
We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date as we review applications on an on-going basis and interviews may be arranged as suitable candidates are identified.