Teaching Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Specific duties and responsibilities include: Role with parents and children:

To provide support within the classroom, in group sessions and in 1 to 1 sessions to improve the achievement of children from all Traveller backgrounds.

When appropriate, to assist with or lead targeted intervention with children from Traveller backgrounds. To plan and deliver learning experiences well-adapted to individual childrens academic and cultural needs. To support pupils learning through encouraging motivation and building self-esteem.

To establish a supportive and trusting relationship with the children and their parents which offers an appropriate level of support through listening, advice and guidance.

To liaise with parents and education professionals about the particular needs of individual children and how they can be met.

To help parents to understand the education system, what they can expect of schools, and what schools expect of parents.

To encourage and support families in ensuring regular school attendance. To help to plan and deliver effective induction programmes for children from Traveller backgrounds. To collect and record progress data of children receiving support.

To promote understanding and celebration of Traveller culture within the wider student body. Role with school staff:

To raise staff awareness of the linguistic and cultural backgrounds of pupils.

To help schools access advice on good practice regarding EAL, diversity and equality issues.

To assist in the planning and delivery of cultural awareness training.

To keep a written record of each session and provide regular feedback to EMTAS and school staff as appropriate.

To facilitate effective partnerships between home and school, including supporting school colleagues and other professionals on visits to Traveller sites and other home visits.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Previous relevant and practical experience.
• A thorough understanding of relevant procedures and working practices.
• Good knowledge of specialist function relevant to service area.
• Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
• Practical knowledge of a range of procedures and specialist medical / equipment to support
• clients.
• Good knowledge of Wiltshire Council professional groups and external agencies as relevant to
• the role.
• Ability to build and maintain constructive working relationships with a range of people.
• Sensitivity and empathy to build trusting and supportive relationships with clients and families.
• Care skills and basic knowledge of mobility, nutrition and financial issues in order to provide
• practical, emotional support to clients and families.
• Proven ability to follow routines, carry out set care plans, record and monitor changes in client
• condition.
• Ability to manage challenging behaviour in clients.
• Good literacy and numeracy.
• Proven ability to communicate one to one and in small groups with relevant client group.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of education to NQF level 3 (e.g. A Level) or equivalent or relevant
• experience.
• Ability to relate well to children and adults.
• Experience of working effectively in a support role or similar within a school or local authority
• educational team.
• Evidence of ability to work both as a team member in schools and also on own initiative.
• Good communication skills (oral and written) in English.
• An understanding of the needs and challenges faced by children and families from Traveller
• backgrounds.
• An understanding of the cultural background of travelling communities.

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of delivering the current English national curriculum.
• Experience of working with minority communities.
• Lived experience of Traveller cultures and lifestyles.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of education to NQF level 3 (e.g. A Level) or equivalent or relevant
• experience.
• Ability to relate well to children and adults.
• Experience of working effectively in a support role or similar within a school or local authority
• educational team.
• Evidence of ability to work both as a team member in schools and also on own initiative.
• Good communication skills (oral and written) in English.
• An understanding of the needs and challenges faced by children and families from Traveller
• backgrounds.
• An understanding of the cultural background of travelling communities.

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of delivering the current English national curriculum.
• Experience of working with minority communities.
• Lived experience of Traveller cultures and lifestyles.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)