Job Title: Higher-Level Teaching Assistant

Responsible to: Head of St Peter’s Senior School

Hours of work: Full Time (term time only), Monday to Friday 08:00-16:15, some flexibility when required

Salary/Scale: £23,447 p.a., (Point 5 on St Peter's Support Pay Scale prorated to working 35 weeks)

St Peter’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment by always complying with the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. The successful applicant will be required to undergo statutory pre-employment checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Key Responsibilities

Supporting Pupils

Support individual pupils or small groups in accessing learning, including pupils with additional needs or emotional challenges.

Foster nurturing and positive relationships so that pupils feel safe, valued, and seen.

Observe and respond to the needs of pupils, helping them to remain focussed and engaged.

Support pupils pastorally, responding with warmth, patience and empathy when emotional or behavioural needs arise.

Learning and Interventions

Deliver teacher-planned and guided interventions in small groups under the direction of the class teacher.

Use structured activities to stimulate engagement and deepen learning.

Monitor and share pupil progress with the teacher to inform next steps.

Assist with informal assessments and observations.

Classroom Support

Help to prepare, organise and maintain resources, displays, and learning environments under the direction of the teacher.

Support with daily prep work such as photocopying, setting up activities, and labelling.

Take part in observations and contribute to identifying next steps for learning.

Behaviour and Safeguarding

Model and reinforce the school’s behaviour expectations and charter in a calm, consistent way.

Actively supervise pupils for example during playtimes, swimming lessons, prep care and other transitions, ensuring a safe and positive experience.

Be vigilant and responsive to safeguarding concerns and follow school protocols.

Collaboration and Communication

Participate in weekly briefings when possible, with class teachers to understand the week’s priorities and pastoral needs.

Maintain clear and timely communication with the class teachers regarding pupil needs, parent updates, and routines.

Support positive home-school relationships, providing reassurance and clarity to parents while signposting queries to the teacher as appropriate.

Professional Development and School Life

Attend staff meetings specifically for teaching assistants, attend INSET training.

Contribute to planning conversations when invited, recognising your expertise while acknowledging planning remains the teacher’s responsibility.

Actively seek feedback and engage in self-reflection and improvement.

Teaching Assistants are required to attend trips that fall within the school day.

Trips that fall outside of the school day are voluntary.

Teaching Assistants are required to attend Open mornings and all Inset training.

General

1. Health & Safety - You have a legal duty to take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others and you are expected to be familiar with, and adhere to, St Peter’s School’s Health and Safety policy.

2. School values – You have a duty to ensure your work, communication and approach conforms to the school’s core values and mission. You will need to be aware and comply with school rules, policies and procedures at all times including, but not limited to, those relating to safeguarding, conduct, equality and data protection.

St Peter's School strives to be diverse and inclusive. We encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the school. The school is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and pupils. This means that employees are treated fairly, irrespective of sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, gender, marital status or other reason. The post holder is expected to always comply with the provisions set out in law and the St Peter's policies on equality and diversity.

The school is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Note: This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities associated with the post. The post holder will be expected to comply with any reasonable request to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

This job description may be amended at any time.