Teaching Assistant - Term Time

Birchwood PRU, Folkestone

  • Ref:KCC886-1124-82S
  • Posted:30/09/2024
  • Pay:Kent Range 4
  • Start Date:immediately
  • App Close Date:01/01/2025 at 11:00
  • Interviews:to be confirmed

Advert

Are you looking for a job where you can really make a difference?  Are you passionate about working with children and would like to be part of a team who work hard to ensure all our pupils fulfil their potential?

Birchwood is the alternative provision for Shepway for pupils who are in Keystage 3 and Keystage 4. The school prides itself on providing our pupils with much more than academic support within lessons and we are looking for someone willing to commit to providing the very best all round education for these exceptional young people.

We are currently seeking to appoint a Teaching Assistant who will  work with the pupils in the classroom to support their academic progress as well as carry out intervention work in small groups or one to one.  We are looking for somebody who is committed, flexible, reliable, hard working and enthusiastic to join our small but friendly team. 

The successful candidate will work by supporting pupils either 1 to 1 or in small groups, all our pupils have a range of behaviour and learning needs.

The post is temporary for one year, however, there is a possibility this will be extended for the right candidate.  

The successful candidate will have a good standard of education with a minimum requirement of English and Maths at GCSE (C) or equivelent and have a high level of emotional intelligence and resilience and have experience in behaviour mangement.  


If you have experience of working with challenging or vulnerable young people and want to take your career to the next level then this vacancy is one you should be considering. 

The post will be for 25 hours per week, term time only plus School Development Days.

Birchwood is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.

This post is subject to the receipt of appropriate references, a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and check against the ISA barred list for children.

 

Information about the school

Birchwood is an alternative education provider that covers the district of Folkestone and Hythe. Pupils attend our provision for a variety of reasons. Years 10 and 11 are generally more long term. Year 11 pupils undertake their GCSE and other relevant vocational qualifications during their time with us. There is a growing cohort of KS3 pupils.

Birchwood also supports students that have been excluded for more than 5 days from their home school; to equip them further for their return to their mainstream school.

Birchwood can take up to a maximum of 40 pupils at any one time; they are taught in small groups supported by dedicated staff. All of our pupils have regular, specific interventions to match their needs.

We have high expectations of all our pupils but aim to equip them with the tools and understanding required in taking ownership of their emotional wellbeing, behaviours and social developments by offering high quality learning experiences in a safe and supportive environment that meets the pupils evolving needs. We provide pupils with the skills to take ownership of their own learning.

At Birchwood every day is a new day, every pupil has as many chances as it takes to overcome their own personal behaviour challenges, working on increasing their understanding of their own mental health and emotional wellbeing. This is supported with interventions delivered by trained staff. A robust rewards and behaviour policy is in place which allows pupils to earn both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Reflection time is used when behaviour is not acceptable, this is often in the form of mindfulness work, where consequences are necessary, detentions are used.

We work very closely with the referring school, the pupil’s onward destination and alongside a variety of other agencies to ensure that we support the pupil through their educational journey. We aim to do this in a holistic way.

Birchwood advocates for the pupil throughout their educational journey, supporting them to make choices that are informed through an inclusive environment using nurturing approaches, one such approach is encouraging strong respectful relationships, with the pupils addressing staff by their first names.

Birchwood is funded under a part devolved and part delegated model by The Local Authority. We serve the local secondary schools within The Folkestone and Hythe District, with whom the management committee consists of.

Birchwood’s ethos is Learn, Believe, Achieve.

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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.