Teaching Assistant

Job Description – Teaching Assistant

Job Title: Teaching
Assistant
Location: Greenleaf School, Dumfries, Scotland
Department: Education
Hours: 40 hours
Salary:£27,976 - £30,447

Job Purpose

The
Teaching Assistant will play an important role in supporting the delivery of
high-quality, nurturing and individualised education to children and young
people attending Greenleaf School.

Our young
people may have experienced trauma, disrupted education, care transitions and
other barriers to learning. The Teaching Assistant will work alongside
teachers, education colleagues, care teams and other professionals to create a
safe, predictable and engaging learning environment where every young person is
supported to participate, achieve and progress.

The role
requires a relationship-based and trauma-informed approach, recognising that
behaviour is communication and that positive relationships are central to
successful learning.

Key Responsibilities

1. Supporting Learning and Teaching

• Support
  teachers in the planning and delivery of engaging, differentiated and
  individualised learning activities.
  
• Work
  with individual young people and small groups under the direction of the
  teacher.
  
• Support
  young people to engage with their individual learning programmes and
  agreed educational outcomes.
  
• Adapt
  activities and resources to meet individual learning needs, abilities and
  communication styles.
  
• Encourage
  independence, confidence, curiosity and participation in learning.
  
• Support
  young people to develop literacy, numeracy, digital and wider life skills.
  
• Assist
  with practical, vocational, outdoor and community-based learning where
  appropriate.
  
• Provide
  feedback to teaching staff regarding engagement, progress and any barriers
  to learning.
  
• Contribute
  to the preparation and organisation of classrooms, learning resources and
  educational activities.
  

2. Supporting Children and Young People

• Develop
  safe, consistent and professional relationships with children and young
  people.
  
• Promote
  a nurturing environment in which young people feel respected, listened to
  and valued.
  
• Support
  young people who may experience emotional dysregulation, anxiety,
  frustration or difficulty engaging with education.
  
• Use
  trauma-informed, relational and restorative approaches when responding to
  behaviour.
  
• Recognise
  individual triggers, strengths, communication needs and strategies
  identified within young people's plans.
  
• Encourage
  young people to recognise their achievements and develop positive
  aspirations for their future.
  
• Support
  young people to make appropriate choices and increasingly take
  responsibility for their learning.
  

3. Additional Support Needs

• Provide
  appropriate support to young people with additional support needs in
  accordance with individual plans and professional guidance.
  
• Support
  communication, emotional regulation, sensory needs and learning needs
  where required.
  
• Implement
  agreed strategies consistently across the school day.
  
• Work
  collaboratively with teachers, psychology, care staff and other
  professionals to ensure a coordinated approach.
  
• Contribute
  observations and information to reviews of young people's progress and
  support needs.
  

4. Safeguarding and Wellbeing

All
Greenleaf employees have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the
wellbeing of children and young people.

The
Teaching Assistant will:

• Remain
  alert to signs that a child or young person may be experiencing harm,
  abuse, neglect or exploitation.
  
• Follow
  Greenleaf's child protection and safeguarding procedures at all times.
  
• Immediately
  report safeguarding concerns in accordance with organisational procedures.
  
• Maintain
  appropriate professional boundaries.
  
• Support
  young people to understand their rights and how to raise concerns.
  
• Promote
  a culture where young people feel safe to speak and know that adults will
  listen and respond.
  
• Maintain
  confidentiality while recognising that safeguarding information must be
  shared appropriately.
  

5. Positive Behaviour and Regulation

• Support
  young people to develop emotional regulation and positive coping
  strategies.
  
• Use
  calm, consistent and respectful communication.
  
• Apply
  agreed behaviour support and risk-management strategies.
  
• Use
  de-escalation and relational approaches wherever possible.
  
• Participate
  in Greenleaf's approved training relating to trauma, safeguarding,
  behaviour and crisis management.
  
• Contribute
  to post-incident reflection and learning where appropriate.
  
• Never
  use punitive, humiliating or unnecessarily restrictive approaches.
  

6. The Promise and Children's Rights

The
Teaching Assistant will contribute to Greenleaf's commitment to keeping The
Promise and promoting children's rights.

This
includes:

• Listening
  to and respecting the views of children and young people.
  
• Supporting
  young people to participate in decisions affecting their education.
  
• Recognising
  the importance of relationships, belonging and consistency.
  
• Avoiding
  unnecessary stigma associated with being care experienced.
  
• Promoting
  inclusion, dignity, respect and equality.
  
• Helping
  young people understand and exercise their rights.
  
• Supporting
  meaningful participation rather than making decisions for young
  people wherever possible.
  

7. Recording and Assessment

• Maintain
  accurate, factual and timely educational records.
  
• Contribute
  observations to assessment and progress monitoring.
  
• Record
  achievements and evidence of learning where required.
  
• Support
  teachers to identify progress against individual educational outcomes.
  
• Contribute
  information to reviews, meetings and reports where requested.
  
• Ensure
  information is managed confidentially and in accordance with Greenleaf
  policies and data protection requirements.
  

8. Partnership Working

The
Teaching Assistant will work as part of a wider multidisciplinary team.

This may
include working alongside:

• Teachers
  and education staff
  
• Residential
  care teams
  
• Learning
  & Skills practitioners
  
• Greenleaf
  Psychology
  
• Social
  workers
  
• Health
  professionals
  
• Local
  authorities
  
• Parents,
  carers and other significant adults
  
• External
  education and support professionals
  

The
Teaching Assistant will communicate professionally and ensure that relevant
information is shared appropriately to support consistent outcomes for young
people.

9. Health, Safety and School Environment

• Support
  the maintenance of a safe, welcoming and well-organised school
  environment.
  
• Follow
  all health and safety, fire safety and risk-management procedures.
  
• Participate
  in risk assessments relating to learning activities where required.
  
• Maintain
  appropriate supervision of young people.
  
• Support
  safe participation in educational visits, outdoor learning and community
  activities.
  
• Report
  hazards, accidents, incidents or concerns promptly.
  
• Support
  high standards of cleanliness, presentation and readiness within learning
  environments.
  

10. Professional Development

• Participate
  in Greenleaf induction and mandatory training.
  
• Engage
  positively with supervision, appraisal and professional development.
  
• Participate
  in team meetings, training days and development activities.
  
• Reflect
  on practice and respond constructively to feedback.
  
• Maintain
  knowledge relevant to supporting children and young people within a
  Scottish education and care context.
  
• Contribute
  to the continuous improvement of Greenleaf School.
  

Requirements

Professional Expectations

The
postholder will be expected to:

• Demonstrate
  Greenleaf's organisational values in everyday practice.
  
• Maintain
  professional boundaries at all times.
  
• Treat
  children, colleagues and external professionals with dignity and respect.
  
• Be
  reliable, consistent and emotionally available to young people.
  
• Maintain
  confidentiality.
  
• Communicate
  concerns appropriately and professionally.
  
• Work
  flexibly according to the needs of the school and its young people.
  
• Act as
  a positive role model.
  
• Promote
  equality, diversity and inclusion.
  
• Challenge
  discriminatory, unsafe or inappropriate practice.
  

Person Specification

Essential

Experience

• Experience
  of working with children or young people in education, care, youth work,
  community services or another relevant setting.
  
• Ability
  to develop positive and appropriate relationships with children and young
  people.
  
• Experience
  of working effectively as part of a team.
  

Knowledge
and Skills

• Understanding
  of safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.
  
• Understanding
  that children's behaviour can communicate underlying needs.
  
• Ability
  to remain calm and professional in challenging situations.
  
• Good
  verbal and written communication skills.
  
• Ability
  to follow individual plans, risk assessments and professional guidance.
  
• Ability
  to maintain accurate records.
  
• Ability
  to work collaboratively with colleagues and other professionals.
  
• Commitment
  to children's rights, inclusion and relationship-based practice.
  

Personal
Qualities

• Patient
  and compassionate.
  
• Consistent
  and reliable.
  
• Emotionally
  resilient.
  
• Curious
  rather than judgemental about behaviour.
  
• Reflective
  and willing to learn.
  
• Able
  to maintain clear professional boundaries.
  
• Positive
  and solution focused.
  
• Committed
  to helping young people achieve.
  

Desirable

• Experience
  supporting care-experienced children and young people.
  
• Experience
  supporting young people affected by trauma or disrupted attachment.
  
• Experience
  working with additional support needs.
  
• Experience
  within residential childcare, specialist education or alternative
  education.
  
• Knowledge
  of Scotland's education and children's services landscape.
  
• Knowledge
  of GIRFEC and SHANARRI wellbeing indicators.
  
• Understanding
  of The Promise.
  
• Understanding
  of trauma-informed and relational practice.
  
• Relevant
  qualification in education, childcare, social care or additional support
  needs.
  
• First
  Aid qualification.
  
• Full
  UK driving licence.
  

Registration / Membership

The
successful applicant must meet any registration or professional requirements
applicable to the duties of the post. Greenleaf will determine the appropriate
registration requirements based upon the final duties and responsibilities
attached to the role.

Safer Recruitment

Appointment
will be subject to Greenleaf's safer recruitment procedures, including
satisfactory references, identity and right-to-work checks and appropriate PVG
Scheme membership/checking requirements for regulated roles involving children.

Benefits

Greenleaf Benefits

With greater expectations come greater rewards. If you’re selected to become part of the Greenleaf family, you’ll not only enjoy a salary that’s higher that the sector average, but you’ll also enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 29 days holiday entitlement, increasing with every two years of service
  
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with a 24/7 wellbeing line and free counselling
  
• Health Cash Plan, which includes dental and optical cover, physio therapies, and a 24/7 GP helpline.
  
• A range of savings including discounts, offers, and money back on vouchers
  
• Progression pathways and opportunities to develop and progress in your career
  
• Pension scheme with Nest Pensions