Teaching Assistant with Literacy Specialism - #2102090

Harris Academy South Norwood is a mixed comprehensive school situated in the heart of South Norwood, SE25, just a few minutes walk from Norwood Junction. We serve an incredibly diverse school community with numerous languages, cultures and backgrounds represented within the school. Our staff are equally multicultural, with colleagues hailing from all over the UK and the world.

Our vision for teaching is whole school consistency, departmental autonomy. We believe that teachers teach best when supported by clear, consistent systems within which they can delve into the uniqueness of their subject disciplines. In practice, this means that we have strong whole-school behaviour systems, shared strategies well recognised by students such as for checking for understanding and teaching new vocabulary, but also expect and allow subjects to employ the pedagogical strategies, formats and routines that are right for them.

At HASN, we prioritise teacher development and commit significant time and resources towards teacher and staff development. We support colleagues to undertake professional qualifications and further study outside of the school, and encourage colleagues to plan and pursue their professional goals with our support.

Working within the Harris Federation, we are able to draw on a wealth of expertise and experience across all areas of school life and leadership, meaning that staff can draw on a wide professional network. In turn, this supports a healthy approach to workload in which leaders hold the firm belief that collaboration is our strength

Harris Academy South Norwood is looking for a Higher Level Teaching Assistant to complement the professional work of teachers by taking responsibility for activities under an agreed system of supervision. The post holder will work as part of a thriving inclusion team, delivering a combination of in-class support and targeted small-group intervention in phonics and foundational literacy skills.

This post is central to our mission of ensuring that every child, no matter their starting points, is able to thrive at Harris Academy South Norwood. If you are an experienced teaching assistant or a graduate with a strong foundation in English and literacy and looking for an opportunity to join a truly thriving school where you can make a real difference, then this may be the role for you.

At Harris South Norwood we do things differently. Nurturing the unique talents and character of each individual is at the heart of what we do, and a genuine sense of school community rooted in trusting relationships between students and staff drives our success. As the highest performing mixed comprehensive school in Croydon and Bromley (Progress 8, Summer 2024) we provide an exceptional academic education alongside a fantastic student experience. Our school ethos of Diversity, Talent, Togetherness encapsulates the kind of school community we foster here.

The actual salary for this role will be £ hours per week, 38 weeks per year).

In your role you will:

• Support students in their learning, establishing productive working relationships and providing feedback
• Support teachers by teaching groups of students, planning lessons and administering and marking tests
• Support the curriculum by delivering learning activities in line with local and national learning strategies, and selecting and preparing resources necessary to lead learning activities

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Experience working with children of relevant age
• Experience of working with students with additional needs
• Experience of delivering literacy and reading/writing recovery programmes
• Evidence of fulfilling the Higher Level Teaching Assistant standards and or ability and potential to fulfil them within the first 6 months of the role
• Relevant qualifications that help demonstrate evidence towards the above
• Excellent numeracy/literacy skills – equivalent to at least NVQ Level 2 in English and Maths
• Relevant qualifications at A level or equivalent to at least NQF Level 3
• Evidence of specialism in specific curriculum areas or areas of particular learning difficulty
• Qualifications relevant to subject area they will be based in
• Training in relevant learning strategies e.g. literacy
• Specialist skills/training in curriculum or learning area e.g. bi-lingual, sign language, ICT Qualifications and experience relevant to the subject area they will be based in

A full person specification is available in the job pack.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusi...