Part-Time Teaching Assistant

Birkenhead School; Liverpool City Region; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job description

We are looking to appoint a skilled and proactive Level 2 Teaching Assistant to support the teaching staff with academic and pastoral intervention for pupils in Prep. The ability to work across the full age range (Reception to Year 6) is expected. Working under the direct instruction of the Prep SENDCo and teaching staff, usually in the classroom with the teacher, our Teaching Assistants support access to learning for pupils, and provide general support to the teacher in the management of the pupils and the classroom.

Birkenhead School, founded in 1860, is an HMC independent day school providing education for boys and girls drawn from the whole of the Wirral, Liverpool and as far afield as Chester and North Wales. Situated in the leafy suburb of Oxton, the School enjoys excellent facilities. The main campus has a ‘village green’ atmosphere, with classrooms looking out over the cricket square and outdoor playing areas.

The School comprises Nursery and Pre-Prep (Early Years), Prep and Seniors and integrates their objectives and activities within a ‘One School’ concept. Birkenhead School prides itself on being a family school and this has been greatly strengthened by the opening of the Nursery in 2006. It is attractive to parents to have all their children in one school and it is a great advantage for the school to be able to establish strong, long-lasting relationships with families.

The Prep

The Prep is run by Head of Prep, Mr Harry FitzHerbert, and there are two sections, Little School (Reception to Year 2) and Junior Prep (Years 3 to 6). Mrs Stephanie Ford, Head of Little School, oversees the arrangements for Little School, and Mr Richard Halpin, Deputy Head of Prep, oversees the arrangements for Junior Prep.

The Role

• To have regard for the safety and wellbeing of pupils at all times.
• To promote pupils’ development in a safe, secure and challenging environment.
• To establish productive working relationships with pupils, acting as a role model and setting high expectations, working alongside individual pupils and groups of pupils in activities specified by the class teacher, establishing an atmosphere conducive to learning while acting as a role model.
• To listen to pupils reading, promoting enjoyment of reading, and encouraging development of reading skills.
• To develop an understanding of pupils’ specific needs in order to help them learn as effectively as possible, promoting independence and employing strategies to recognise and reward achievements of self-reliance.
• To participate in children’s play, extending and stimulating language through conversation.
• To meet the physical, pastoral and medical needs of pupils and, where necessary and appropriate, to administer medicines by mouth or carry out other medical procedures (where appropriate training has been given).
• To encourage inclusion and interaction within the classroom, engaging in activities led by the teacher.

The Person

• Level 2 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent.
• Excellent numeracy/literacy/ICT skills.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in an educational setting.
• Ability to implement policies and the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and Key Stage 1.
• Experience of leading small groups.
• A sound knowledge of child development.
• Experience of working with a variety of different child ages.

The full list of responsibilities can be found on the Information for Candidates available on the School website under Employment Opportunities.

Hours

We are recruiting 2 roles of 20 hours per week based upon EHCP funding. The hours will be spread across 5 days to provide the necessary support to the pupils. Post holders will be required to work as necessary to carry out the duties of the role.

Other Benefits

We will value and support your contribution to School life and in return provide you with excellent rewards:

• Working with fantastic young children.
• Working as part of a committed team.
• Term time is approx. 34 weeks.
• Membership of the Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free use of the fully equipped on-site gym.
• Support for your continuous professional development.

A letter of application indicating skills and experience, together with a completed application form, including the names and email addresses of at least two referees, should be sent for the attention of the Head of Prep via Cheryl Wallace, Personnel Manager.

Candidates are welcome to contact the Prep SENDCo, Mrs Claire Pye, at Birkenhead School with any questions relating to the role.

To meet our safeguarding obligations, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is undertaken as part of the recruitment process for all new staff. As Birkenhead School is an educational provider, it is permitted to ask whether an applicant has any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings which would not be filtered in line with current guidance, as defined by The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). It is a criminal offence for an individual who is barred from working with children to apply for a role which is classed as regulated activity.

The closing date for applications is 9.00am on Tuesday 22nd April 2025.