SEU Teaching Assistant Apprentice

The role of the Teaching Assistant Apprentice is to assist teachers in providing a learning environment to support the development and educational needs of pupils, to encourage pupils to become independent learners, to ensure their safety and welfare, and to support the inclusion of pupils in all aspects of school life.

The Teaching Assistant will be expected to be flexible and to provide assistance wherever needed. This will not always be within a specific classroom. Teaching Assistants may be required to work on a 1:1 basis and/or with different groups of pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. This may be in any area of the school.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Working with individual pupils and groups of pupils, under the direction of the teacher/line manager, introducing tasks monitoring pupils’ work and using a range of strategies to support their learning


• Helping pupils to access the full curriculum, at the same time, promoting independent learning


• Observing pupils’ performance and using the systems in place in the school/classroom, providing the teacher with feedback on pupils’ progress and helping to maintain individual and group records


• Contributing to the planning and evaluation of learning activities for individuals and groups, liaising with and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues


• Helping prepare and maintain a purposeful, orderly, and supportive environment for learning


• Providing care with regard to the physical welfare of pupils


• To undertake first aid training and act as a first aider as required


• Drawing on specialist skills and knowledge to respond effectively to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities with appropriate training.


• Provide first aid and administer medication as and when required.


• To provide intimate care, including (but not exhaustive), changing nappies, changing soiled clothes, and assisting pupils in using the toilet.

In addition to the above there are duties relevant to all Teaching Assistants which will be discussed and provided but will include:

• Supporting the Trust’s aims and ethos


• Contributing to planning for teaching and learning


• Supporting the teaching of the Paradigm Trust curriculum, helping pupils with activities which develop their literacy and numeracy skills


• Delivering structured intervention and catch-up programmes to groups


•  Using a range of support methods and resources, including ICT, appropriate to the needs of individuals and groups, as directed by their line manager


• Respecting the confidentiality of pupil information and responding sensitively to pupils’ needs


• Being aware of the particular learning and physical needs of the pupils supported


• Ensuring that an appropriate level of spoken and written English is modelled with pupils at all times