About the role: Cherry Orchard Primary Academy has a fantastic opportunity to appoint a committed and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join and support our SEN provision. This is an ideal role for someone who genuinely has a passion for helping children particularly with learning difficulties as our appointed candidate will work with pupils with SEN; we will provide full support and training from colleagues and teachers for the post-holder. The working basis for the successful candidate will be permanent, working 32.5 hours per week during Term Time and 1 week inset. We offer a wonderful working environment with the friendliest staff and pupils!

For a full list of the responsibilities associated with this role, please click here.

This is also a fantastic opportunity for candidates who are considering becoming a teacher in the future as this role gives you the experience you need. All Leigh Academies Trust schools offer teacher training and Cherry Orchard is no exception, training a number of very successful teachers every year!

What does the role involve? The main aim of this role is to support our teachers to deliver academic excellence, day in, day out, with professionalism and enthusiasm. This will involve providing a comprehensive support service to the academy including:

Assisting students with their educational and social development, on an individual and group basis
Providing support for individual students inside and outside the classroom to enable them to fully participate in activities
Assisting teachers with the maintenance of student records
Building and maintaining successful relationships with students, whilst treating them with respect and consideration
Provide expertise to deliver a personalised curriculum for each pupil’s learning
Work together with families and other agencies to ensure every pupil is valued, challenged and supported
Have the highest expectation that every pupil will make sustained academic and personal progress
Each and every member of staff, regardless of their position or seniority, is expected to participate in the overall running of the school and to act as a positive role model for our students. In and out of the classroom you will encourage and promote positive behaviour and effectively manage any situation that threatens to impact on the progress of other students.

We are looking for someone demonstrates the following:

Have high expectations of teaching and learning
To be a positive role model
To contribute to the positive ethos of the school
Be able to work collaboratively with a range of children and adults
Be keen to develop as a professional
A minimum of NVQ Level 3 in Childcare
Previous, recent experience in an education setting with further experience in an SEN capacity desirable
Being independent and able to work under pressure

At Cherry Orchard Primary Academy we will:

Inspire and engage our children so they develop a lifelong love of learning
Deliver a quality, inclusive education so all children are able to achieve to their full potential
Create a learning environment where children feel safe and happy so are confident and enthused to ‘have a go’
Ensure that all children feel valued and celebrate their success at every opportunity
Provide learning experiences that include challenge for all, producing resilient and highly motivated learners
Have a consistent, focused approach to managing behaviour, safeguarding, pastoral support and embedding British Values across all year groups
Create a culture where staff work collaboratively as part of the wider team, sharing ideas and good practice and offering support to others.

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of September 2019, our Trust is comprised of 25 geographically organised academies (11 secondaries, 13 primaries and 1 special) educating over 15,000 students, and employing over 2,500 talented staff. We also have three further academies in development phase, due to open between September 2020-2021. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North West Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training providers and a large teaching school.

As part of Leigh Academies Trust you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

We strive to offer a range of benefits that all employees can take advantage of which we regularly review and add to - click here to view what you’d receive as a member of staff with Leigh Academies Trust.

Diversity at our core: As a Trust we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals we all bring something unique to the role regardless of age, gender, race, beliefs or disabilities which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise.

We require all staff within the Trust to complete an enhanced DBS check as part of our on-boarding process in order to safeguard our students.

Recruitment and hiring during COVID-19: Despite the challenges we face, recruitment and hiring will continue for all Leigh Academies Trust vacancies with as little disruption as possible over the coming weeks and months. This is for all senior, teaching and support staff appointments. Applications will still be reviewed and interviews conducted in a timely manner, although interview activities may vary. We will still conduct face to face interviews where possible, and will abide by social distancing protocols such as no hand-shaking, using large meeting rooms, etc. Candidates will be given the option to interview via online video if you cannot attend in person - this can be discussed if your application is shortlisted. If you have any queries or concerns, please get in touch with the LAT Talent Team - talent@latrust.org.uk.