BCIS Learning Assistant

Purpose of role

To support teachers and help children with their educational and social development, both in and out of the classroom, actively supporting all students to access a balanced school curriculum, take part and make progress in learning and experience a sense of achievement, raising the level of attainment and promoting students’ independence, self-esteem and social inclusion.

Key tasks

Learning and teaching

• Demonstrate an informed and efficient approach to learning and teaching in alignment with the BCIS Learning Principles, adopting relevant strategies to support the work of the teacher and increase achievement of all students including, where appropriate, those with learning differences and challenges.
• Support individual or small groups as per the teacher’s instruction and according to the teacher/LA co-planning to support differentiated learning for all.
• Use ICT skills to advance students’ learning if appropriate.
• Promote, support and facilitate inclusion by encouraging participation of all students in learning and extracurricular activities.
• Help students adjust, learn and socialize and report to teachers about possible behavioural issues.
• Use effective behaviour management strategies consistently in line with the school’s policy and procedures.
• Support class teachers with maintaining good order and behaviour among students, managing behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment.
• Organise and manage learning space and resources to help maintain a stimulating and safe learning environment.
• Help prepare and present displays of students' work: teachers will make professional decisions in determining what material is displayed.
• Observe student performance and pass observations on to the class teacher.
• Supervise a class if the teacher is temporarily unavailable; (Experienced and specially-trained teaching assistants can be expected to supervise a class for a teacher who is off sick or undertaking training. While every class must be allocated a qualified teacher, higher level teaching assistants would be expected occasionally to lead a lesson.)

Planning

• Contribute to effective assessment and planning by supporting the monitoring, recording and reporting of student performance and progress as appropriate to the level of the role.
• Read and understand lesson plans shared prior to lessons and discuss and prepare with the teacher on a daily basis.
• Prepare the classroom for lessons.
• Contribute to planning to support the inclusion of all students in the learning activities.

Working with colleagues and other relevant professionals

• Communicate effectively with other staff members and students, and with parents and carers under the direction of the class teacher.
• Communicate knowledge and understanding of students to other school staff and education, health and social care professionals, so that informed decision making can take place on intervention and provision.
• With the class teacher, keep other professionals accurately informed of performance and progress or concerns about any students.
• Understand the role in order to be able to work collaboratively with classroom teachers and other colleagues, including specialist advisory teachers, e.g. (Learning Support and Counsellors).
• Collaborate and work with colleagues and other relevant professionals within and beyond the school.
• Develop effective professional relationships with colleagues.

Health and safety

• Promote the safety and wellbeing of pupils, and help to safeguard pupils’ well-being by following the requirements of the BCIS Safeguarding and Child Protection policy.
• Look after children who are upset or have had accidents.
• Ensure student safety when escorting and supervising students on field trips and school activities.
• Make sure classrooms are safe and tidy before classes start.
• Monitor the safety and well-being of students on the bus when on bus duty.

Professional Development

• Participate in the school, department and individual review process (School Self-Evaluation)
• Actively seek opportunities for CPD/ professional learning in order to keep up to date with current best practice in UK and world-wide.
• Attend such meetings, workshops and courses provided in school which support the School Improvement Plan.
• Participate in the whole school vertical meetings with primary staff.
• Provide appropriate CPD/ professional learning for colleagues as needed.

General

• Attend to bus duties when assigned by the rota and cover bus duties due to illness or leave when appropriate.
• Participate in the organisation and running of extra curricula activities, and attend and participate in the organisation of school events, productions and sporting.