Higher Level Teaching Assistant

The Forum School The Forum School and Residential Home is a 52-week residential specialist school providing quality therapeutic care and education for young people with Autism, severe learning difficulties, challenging behaviour and complex needs. The children and young people that attend the school range between the ages of 7 and 19 years and enjoy a school calendar closely linked to Local Authority term dates. The Forum School is currently working towards reshaping the way in which specialists support young people into adulthood and seeks to prepare them for possible employment and lifelong fulfilment. Purpose of the Role The Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) is responsible for ensuring that the learning support provided is of a high standard. The role will involve carrying out many of the tasks undertaken by a Teaching Assistant and acting as a good role model in doing so. Additional responsibilities centre upon working alongside TA’s and Learning Support Workers to provide support, coaching and mentoring. The role also involves the assessment of TA practice to enable the achievement of NVQ 3 for Teaching Assistants. A HLTA will be expected to supervise a class group for a period of time in the absence of a teacher, with assistance from a TA and support from senior teaching staff. Excellent interpersonal skills and a high degree of professionalism are essential to the effectiveness of this role. As a HLTA you will: Support students: To monitor and promote a high quality of relationships between staff team and students To provide care and support for individual students and groups in formal, informal and new learning situations. This includes responding to health problems and helping the students with hygiene and personal/intimate care matter consistent with Personal, Social and Health Education programmes. To ensure that students are supported, as appropriate for their specific difficulties, to enable them to participate in learning activities. To