General Teaching Assistant

General Teaching Assistant - Forest Moor School

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children? We are seeking a dedicated and proactive General Teaching Assistant to join our supportive team.

At Forest Moor School, we are dedicated to transforming lives and providing exceptional, inclusive education. As part of the Wellspring Academy Trust, we believe in removing barriers to learning and ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or challenges, has equal access to an enriching education.

We are based at Menwith Hill, just outside of Harrogate and are a Key Stage 2 - 4 provision with around 96 students on role. We work in beautiful surroundings and now with a lovely building that is continuing to be refurbished to suit the needs of our students

The post of General Teaching Assistant is a key post in supporting the learning, behaviour and general wellbeing of our pupils. Working under the direct guidance of the teaching staff, you will support individuals or small groups of pupils within the classroom or other designated learning environments.

We operate using nurture principles. Our class sizes are small, giving you the unique opportunity to develop close relationships with students, which is at the core of everything we do. To be successful you will need to be able to form excellent relationships with our SEMH students, their families and the wider school team. This is both a challenging but immensely rewarding post; Unconditional Positive Regard is at the centre of our ethos, and the successful candidate must possess the personal qualities and emotional resilience to thrive in this environment.

• Learning & Behaviour Support: Assist classroom teachers in implementing positive behaviour management strategies and pre-planned learning activities.

• Observation & Feedback: Use agreed structured observation methods to provide clear feedback on student learning, behaviour and participation to help shape future planning.

• Academic & Pastoral Support: Interact with pupils using careful questioning to support their thinking skills, provide 1:1 or small group guidance and support their social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

• Community & School Life: Assist in escorting and supervising pupils on educational visits, out-of-school activities and during break times.

• Classroom Administration: Prepare learning areas and materials, undertake minor clerical duties like photocopying and support the basic use of ICT.

• Tracking & Progress: Supervise and provide access arrangements for internal and external testing, ensuring compliance with exam regulations.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience: Proven experience appropriate to working with children in a learning environment.

• Qualifications: Relevant NVQ Level 2 qualification or equivalent in English and Maths.

• Skills: Good written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to converse at ease and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Good reading, writing and numeracy skills are essential.

• Behaviour & Engagement: An understanding of child development, an awareness that children have differing individual needs and the ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

• Teamwork & Adaptability: Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility and a strong ability to work successfully within a collaborative team framework

Forest Moor and the wider Trust places a huge emphasis on professional development and invests significantly in staff training at all levels. This means that, although experience of working in an SEMH setting would be an advantage, specialist support and training will be provided for outstanding candidates wishing to make the career fulfilling move into special education.

If you would like to discuss or find out more about this post, please contact Alec Scott, Vice Principal, at Forest Moor School, via email a.scott@forestmoor.org.uk

Wellspring Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils. All posts are offered subject to enhanced DBS checks. References will be requested and an online search carried out for shortlisted candidates, prior to attendance at interview.

Further pre-employment checks, including prohibition from teaching, childcare disqualification and section 128 checks, if deemed relevant for the role, will be completed for the successful candidate upon acceptance of the post.

If you are currently living overseas or have lived / worked overseas in the last five years please be aware that you will be required to provide an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in, if you are the preferred candidate for the post.

We reserve the right to close this advert prior to the advertised closing date. Early applications are encouraged.