Lead Teaching Assistant

Job Introduction

About Us: 

The Communication and Interaction Team provide support to children and young people, public funded schools, and academies across Oxfordshire, including Communication and Interaction Resource Bases. We are a team of specialist teaching, advisory and support staff who work closely with settings to develop inclusive practice as part of SENSS (a countywide Local Authority Special Educational Needs Support Service).

About the Role:

Our Communication and Interaction Resource Bases are in mainstream schools where you will work closely with resource base and mainstream school staff, providing support to children including those who have Autistic Spectrum Disorders and associated language, interaction, learning and communication differences.

The aim of support is to enable the children in Key stage 3&4 to access the curriculum and to facilitate full inclusion in school life, supporting them to learn as independently as possible. 

The Lead Teaching Assistant complements the work of specialist teachers in the C&I Base by taking responsibility for agreed learning and administrative activities. This may include:

1. Support to Pupils
2. Support to Teachers
3. Support for the Curriculum
4. Support for the Base and the wider Host School

They will also take responsibility, in consultation with the Lead Teacher, for the deployment, management and development of the TA team within the base including allocation and monitoring of work, appraisal and training.

About you:

Our ideal candidate has recent experience supporting pupils with communication and interaction needs in a mainstream educational setting, proven ability to organise, lead and motivate others and work positively in a team, a positive and encouraging manner, highly developed communication skills and the ability to remain calm in difficult situations. You need to be open to learning and to have a commitment to inclusion for children and young people with Special Educational Needs.

Rewards and benefits

• The role is term time only (39 weeks per year) with 5.64 holiday weeks paid (i.e. 44.64 paid weeks per year)
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support.
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education, and safe spaces for all.

 Guaranteed Interview Schemes:

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Safeguarding:

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. We expect all employees, workers, and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Flexible Working:

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexitime, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

Follow us on social media.

Stay up-to-date with the latest news and featured jobs from Oxfordshire County Council by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk