Classroom Assistant

Roles and responsibilities

A Classroom Assistant, also known as a Teaching Assistant (TA), supports teachers in the classroom by helping with a wide range of tasks, from providing additional support to students to assisting with classroom management. Classroom Assistants work under the direction of the lead teacher to create an environment conducive to learning and ensure that students are engaged and supported in their academic work. This role is common in primary, secondary, and special education settings.

Here are the key skills and responsibilities of a Classroom Assistant:

1. Key Skills of a Classroom Assistant:
   1. Communication Skills
      1. Effective Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with students, teachers, and parents, ensuring that instructions and feedback are understood.
         
      2. Active Listening: Listening attentively to students' needs and concerns and responding appropriately to help them overcome learning challenges.
         
      3. Instructional Support: Assisting the teacher in explaining concepts to students and helping them with assignments or tasks.
         
   2. Patience and Empathy
      1. Supporting Students’ Learning: Understanding that each student has unique learning needs and providing patient, individualized support to help them succeed.
         
      2. Empathy: Demonstrating kindness and understanding toward students, especially those who may have learning difficulties, disabilities, or behavioral challenges.
         
      3. Emotional Support: Offering encouragement and emotional support to students to help build their confidence.
         
   3. Classroom Management
      1. Supervising Students: Assisting with managing student behavior and ensuring that students stay on task and follow classroom rules.
         
      2. Encouraging Engagement: Encouraging active participation from students and helping to keep them focused during lessons or activities.
         
      3. Assisting with Transitions: Helping to manage transitions between activities, subjects, or classroom settings, ensuring students stay organized.
         
   4. Organization and Time Management
      1. Preparing Materials: Assisting in setting up lesson materials, arranging classroom resources, and organizing learning tools or equipment.
         
      2. Supporting Group Work: Helping to organize and facilitate group activities or collaborative projects, ensuring all students are participating effectively.
         
      3. Efficient Time Management: Ensuring that classroom routines run smoothly, and assisting the teacher in maintaining the schedule.
         
   5. Instructional Support
      1. Assisting with Lesson Delivery: Helping the teacher deliver lessons, providing additional explanations or clarifications to students who need extra support.
         
      2. One-on-One Support: Offering individual or small group assistance to students who are struggling with specific lessons or assignments.
         
      3. Providing Differentiated Support: Tailoring support to meet the learning needs of different students, particularly those with learning disabilities or special educational needs (SEN).
         
   6. Record Keeping and Administrative Skills
      1. Tracking Student Progress: Helping with maintaining records of student performance, attendance, or behavior.
         
      2. Preparing Reports: Assisting in preparing reports or other documentation related to students' academic progress, behavior, or health needs.
         
      3. Administrative Tasks: Helping with tasks like photocopying, organizing classroom supplies, and preparing handouts or assignments.
         

Desired candidate profile

1. Key Duties And Responsibilities:
   1. Planning and supervising fun and educational activities
      
   2. Managing a daily schedule that includes activities, toilet breaks, lunch, and rest time
      
   3. Observing children and taking notes of any problematic behaviour
      
   4. Feeding and changing babies
      
   5. Communicating with parents and staff members
      
   6. Ensuring the safety of children
      
   7. Helping children learn numeracy and language through daily activities
      

Qualifications, Experience And Competencies

1. Any Bachelor Degree or above with a minimum of 1 year experience in a similar position; OR a degree in primary education
   
2. Evidence of relevant training is advantageous
   
3. High level of fluency and confidence in English and/or Arabic (spoken and written)
   
4. Demonstrate professionalism, commitment, and integrity
   
5. Inter-culturally aware with well-developed communication skills
   
6. Innovative, motivated, resourceful, flexible, self-starter
   
7. Outgoing and enthusiastic