About this role
Are you a highly qualified and experienced professional ready to deliver targeted, high-level support that drives academic attainment, particularly at GCSE level? Join us as a Specialist Teaching Assistant (Literacy), utilizing your English to mentor students. This senior role involves managing complex student caseloads, providing specialist knowledge on adaptations, leading statutory reviews, and ensuring bespoke intervention programmes deliver measurable academic progress.
The successful candidate will be a keen reader who learns quickly and who is committed to their own continuing professional development, building their expertise in early reading skills. The main responsibility of the post will be to develop students' knowledge of phonics using the Ruth Miskin Fresh Start programme. Knowledge of teaching phonics is not a requirement for the post as full training will be given. More important is a good general level of education and the ability to work productively with young people in a professional context using initiative and organisational skills. The post will also involve delivering reading development activities such as using reading schemes or giving other support to students as necessary. The ability to communicate effectively with the senior leadership team and staff on the reading improvement team is essential.
This is both an important and rewarding position. The successful candidate will form a pivotal role in helping students who have so far struggled to engage with education and in doing so, have the satisfaction of knowing that their work improves these students' life-chances.
You will manage a student caseload, providing crucial specialist advice on adaptations and resources needed to support their educational attainment. A key aspect is the responsibility for meticulously tracking and monitoring EHCP life skill targets and academic outcomes. You will lead Person Centred Reviews/EHCP Reviews, deliver intensive intervention programmes to groups, and complete essential welfare documents like risk assessments and individual health care plans.
Furthermore, you will play a central role in leading the administration and provision of Exam Access Arrangements and testing, ensuring compliance, and supporting inclusion rooms like the Bridge and PLC.
It is essential that candidates meet the Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) standards or possess equivalent qualification or demonstrable experience. Candidates must be knowledgeable of the needs of students with learning difficulties and disabilities and the SEND Code of Practice.
Required skills include the ability to write comprehensive reports, risk assessments, and Individual Health Care Plans, coupled with proven experience using data to measure and monitor progress and attainment. Efficient and effective organisational skills are mandatory.