Teaching Assistant Prep School required for November 2018 Recruitment Pack St Helen s School Eastbury Road, Northwood, HA6 3AS Tel: (01923) 843210 Email: recruitment@sthelens.london
St Helen s School Teaching Assistant Thank you for showing an interest in this post. We hope that the following information about St Helen s and description of the responsibilities of the post will help you to decide that this is an application which you wish to pursue. We look forward to hearing from you. The School St Helen s is an academically selective independent girls day school of more than 1100 students aged 3-18, set in over 20 acres of beautiful green space in Northwood, Middlesex. It draws pupils from a wide area of north-west London, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire with easy access by Underground from central London. We aim to ensure that every girl: is excited by learning and the opportunity to excel is intellectually curious and thinks independently is confident and able to lead as well as be a team member has integrity, celebrates diversity and respects others uses her talents, energy and enthusiasm for the benefit of the community has skills which enable her to become a leader of her community and profession Our students achieve high academic standards and we encourage them to develop lifelong skills in a diverse range of areas, both within and outside the curriculum, and to pursue their individual ambitions. The School is proud of its tradition of providing a balanced and forward-looking education through which the girls can become confident, independent learners and leaders in their fields, their professions and their communities. The School s development plan reflects the Headmistress Vision for a school which is making the journey from providing an excellent academic education to becoming exceptional in all that it does. At the heart of this is attention to the individual Child, both in the classroom and through the co-curricular programme and pastoral care.
In 2019 we will celebrate the School s 120 th birthday. This is a very exciting time to be joining St Helen s, and the successful candidate will be expected to embrace the culture of the School, which is deeply-rooted in its fine history and is also forward-looking and innovative. Our twenty-year Estates Masterplan sets out our vision to develop and transform the School s facilities to meet the needs and challenges of education in the 21st century. In 2014 we opened The Centre, a multi-purpose performing arts, lecture and sports facility incorporating The Mint Café. The exciting new Prep School building was opened in 2016 enabling us to use the former Junior School buildings to improve our Senior School learning and teaching facilities and to provide a single focal point for our Sixth Form. Last academic year our Dining Hall was redeveloped, and an all-weather sports facility added to our impressive Sports facilities. A state-of-the-art School of Music building opened in October 2018. The School was inspected by ISI in November 2016 under the new inspection regime and was found to be fully compliant with the Independent School Standards Regulations. We are delighted that the Quality of Education Inspection judged both the achievement of pupils and their personal development to be Excellent. The full report is available on the School website: http://www.sthelens.london/inspection-reports The Preparatory School The Prep School caters for approximately 490 girls aged 3-11. Our girls are taught by well-qualified primary specialists with additional contributions from some Senior School staff in Years 5 and 6. Staff are kept up-to-date with current initiatives through inset meetings and outside educational specialists. All members of staff in Prep School meet regularly and plan collaboratively, to ensure the best possible learning experience for the pupils. Phase Leaders work with teachers across year groups for this purpose and to promote best practice. Subject co-ordinators in KS2 work with all colleagues teaching specific subjects to keep teaching programmes up-to-date and extend pupils appropriately. Subject co-ordinators liaise with their counterparts in EYFS, KS1 and in Senior School to ensure progression and continuity. The girls educational experience is enhanced by outings for every year group, and by visiting speakers, complementing schoolbased activities. In Years 5 and 6 our residential courses are highly popular and very beneficial. The tradition of daily assembly is developed as a key element in the girls moral education and to promote British Values. An awareness of the ethics of community life, the environment and tolerance is celebrated through stories, hymns, speech and drama. Staff report formally to parents in writing once a year and also hold Consultation Evenings during which parents are able to discuss their daughter s progress. Parents are encouraged to visit the school frequently, attending assemblies, presentations, concerts, Christmas productions, Dance Shows and Sports Day. The School values strong partnerships with parents. Throughout the year there are various workshops and curriculum / Meet the Teacher evenings for parents to attend.
EYFS and Key Stage 1 The EYFS and KS1 section of the School is based in two buildings which have been tastefully converted into spacious, age-appropriate accommodation. Girls enter Nursery at 3+ (which comprises three classes of 16), with a further 12 girls joining at 4+ (making three classes of 20). They are housed in Little Gables. Years 1 and 2 have three classes, each of 20 pupils, and they are based in Gables. The EYFS and KS1 section consists of approximately 230 girls aged from three to seven years. The broad and balanced education which we provide caters for each girl as an individual in terms of her personal, social and emotional development and enhances academic potential through play, exploration, active learning, creativity and critical thinking. Each individual is encouraged to be self-motivated and independent, and students thrive in this secure and happy environment. Every class in EYFS and KS1 enjoys the support of a full-time Teaching Assistant. There is also a full-time Welfare Assistant in EYFS and KS1, who is part of the School s Nursing Team. Catering for the girls and staff is provided for EYFS and KS1 by a dedicated and experienced team. The curriculum provides a firm foundation on which to build in Prep School and beyond. In Nursery and Reception, the teachers follow the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage. In Years 1 and 2 the teachers follow the National Curriculum, but at a level above the girls chronological age. Girls also learn Ballet and French. There is a library in each building, containing an extensive stock of fiction and non-fiction books. We encourage the girls to develop both library skills and an appreciation and love of literature through reading and visiting the library regularly. We have recently invested in ICT provision and the girls have access to laptops and ipads. After-school and lunchtime hobbies are regarded as an essential part of the girls experience. All members of teaching staff are expected to run a lunchtime club. EYFS and KS1 also has a very active School Council and an Eco Council.
The Role St Helen s is keen to appoint an enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to support a Year 1 class, although there will be opportunities to interact with girls across the Prep School age range. Hours 8.15am-4.15pm term time only plus INSET days Salary Range 16,500-20,200 per annum Main Tasks and Responsibilities Under the reasonable direction of the Phase Leader or any other teacher having appropriately delegated authority, the Teaching Assistant shall carry out the following professional duties: Support for Pupils Promote independent learning, help build the girls confidence and enhance self-esteem Encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher Assist with playground duties as required Assist with departure of pupils, which may include Daisy Club on a rota basis Participate in Drop and Go ensuring accurate and recorded parent communication Lead 1:1 or small group support groups, and mark work in line with the year group marking policy Monitor and report students progress to the relevant teachers Ensure resources are prepared and available for support sessions Use strategies, in liaison with the teacher, to enable pupils to achieve learning goals Assist with the planning of learning activities Monitor pupils responses to learning activities and accurately record achievement / progress as directed e.g. reading records Provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on pupils achievement, progress, problems Establish constructive relationships with parents or carers Assist with such tasks as tidying cloakrooms, checking classrooms, collating and filing of children s work, putting up displays, printing, photocopying, registration of pupils for clubs, escorting pupils around the School site Administer First Aid and refer pupils to the School Nurse/Welfare Assistant as required. Undertake any other appropriate tasks as requested by the Head of Prep School. Attend INSET day(s) and any other relevant INSET training Occasionally assist in After School Club to cover absence as necessary (overtime paid) Follow individual responsibilities as defined in the Health and Safety Policy Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people and adhere to and ensure compliance with the School s Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy
Person specification The successful candidate will have: Essential: A warm and caring approach to the management of children Recognised qualification for working with early years children minimum level 3, e.g. NVQ level 3 Teaching Assistant, CACHE Level 3 Childcare & Education, BTEC Children s Care and Learning & Development Commitment to high standards of safety and the maintenance of an orderly environment GCSE English (Language & Literature) and Mathematics or equivalent, grade C or above Flexible and practical approach Ability to take responsibility and show initiative Ability to work effectively within a team Good interpersonal skills Good organisational skills An understanding of how children learn and how they can be supported with their learning Able to work 8.15am-4.15pm An understanding of Safeguarding and how to respond to safeguarding issues Knowledge of EYFS and its implementation Desirable Possession of a valid Paediatric First Aid Certificate At least one year s experience working with young children 3-11 years in a School or Nursery setting
The application process: Applications for this post close at 9.00am on Monday 15 th October 2018. Applicants should complete an application form downloadable from the School website (www.sthelens.london/staff-vacancies). Applications may be submitted by email to recruitment@sthelens.london or by post to: The Human Resources Department, St Helen s School, Eastbury Road, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 3AS The selection process: Shortlisted candidates will be observed in the classroom and playground setting, and attend an interview with members of the Prep School management team. Candidates will also have the opportunity to tour the Prep School and meet members of the Prep School team. The post is subject to various recruitment checks which will include: 1. Enhanced DBS clearance 2. A minimum of two references 3. Proof of right to work in the UK