Chief Executive Gavin Boyd
TEMPORARY CLASSROOM ASSISTANT (ADDITIONAL SPECIAL NEEDS) – 32.50
hours per week (Required for the 2015/2016 school year with possible
extension)
ROSSMAR SCHOOL, LIMAVADY
Disclosure of Criminal Background
If you have applied for a post that involves “regulated activity” under the
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007, the Board will be
required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background.
Please note that due to proposals set out in the Department of Education’s
Budget, you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure
Certificate, which is currently £33.
Further details in relation to legislative requirements can be accessed on
www.nidirect.gov.uk/vetting or www.accessni.org.uk.
From 1 April 2015 the Education Authority (EA) took over the functions of the Western Education
and Library Board
All ongoing appointment processes completed after 1 April 2015 will be offered by EA as the
employing authority.
All posts will continue to be offered on the basis of current terms and conditions of employment, as
advertised.
Job Purpose
Under the direction of the class teacher/outreach teacher/board officer, assist with the educational
support and the care of pupil(s) with special educational needs who is/are in the teacher’s care in
or outside the classroom.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The precise duties of the post will be determined by the principal/outreach teacher/board officer.
1
Additional Special Classroom Assistant
(at least one of the three duties below should be carried out as a requirement of the post)
1.1
1.2
Undertake more comprehensive or invasive medical/clinical procedures;
Help pupils with specialist communication skills and/or sensory difficulties access the
curriculum;
Deal with pupils with very challenging behaviour as identified by the Educational
Psychology Service as requiring additional provision.
1.3
2
Special Classroom Support
2.1
Assist the teacher with the support and care of pupil(s) with special educational needs
eg enable access to the curriculum, attend to personal needs including dietary, feeding,
toileting etc;
2.2
Develop an understanding of the specific needs of the pupil(s) to be supported;
2.3
Assist with authorized programmes (eg Education Plan, Care Plan), participate in the
evaluation of the support and encourage pupil(s) participation in such programmes;
2.4
To contribute to the inclusion of the pupil in mainstream schools under the directions of
the class teacher;
2.5
Assist with operational difficulties and non-invasive medical/clinical difficulties pertaining
to pupil(s) disabilities;
2.6
Support in implementing behavioural management programmes as directed;
2.7
Assist pupil(s) in moving around school and on and off transport.
3
General Classroom Support
3.1
Assist pupil(s) learn as effectively as possible both in group situations and on their own
by assisting with the management of the learning environment through:
-
clarifying and explaining instruction;
ensuring the pupils are able to use equipment and materials provided;
assisting in motivating and encouraging the pupil(s) as required;
assisting in areas requiring reinforcement or development;
promoting the independence of pupils to enhance learning;
helping pupil(s) stay on work set;
meeting physical/medical needs as required whilst encouraging independence;
3.2
Be aware of school policies, procedures and of confidential issues linked to
home/pupil/teacher/school work and to keep confidences appropriately;
3.3
Establish a supportive relationship with the pupils concerned;
3.4
Prepare and produce appropriate resources to support pupil(s) and take care of material
for play sessions.
3.5
Supervise groups of pupils, or individual pupils on specified activities including talking
and listening, using ICT, extra curricular activities and other duties, as directed by the
class teacher/officer;
3.6
Under the direction of the teacher, and following an appropriate risk assessment, assist
with off-site activities;
3.7
Provide continuity of adult care of eg supervising plan and cloakrooms including
handwashing, toileting etc;
3.8
Provide supervision/support including the administration of prescribed medicines and
drugs for children who are ill and deal with minor cuts and grazes;
3.9
Ensure as far as possible a safe environment or pupils;
3.10
Report to the class teacher any signs or symptoms displayed which may suggest that a
pupil requires expert or immediate attention.
4
Administration
4.1
Assist with classroom administration;
4.2
Assist the class teacher and/or other professional with the implementation of the system
for recording the pupil(s) progress;
4.3
Contribute to the maintenance of pupil(s) progress records;
4.4
Provide regular feedback about the pupil(s) to the teacher/officer;
4.5
Duplicate written materials, assist with production of charts and displays, record radio
and television programmes, catalogue and process books and resources.
5
Other Duties
5.1
Attend relevant in-service training;
5.2
Assist work placement students with practical tasks;
5.3
Such other duties as may be assigned by the principal/outreach teacher/board officer
within the level of the post.
Qualifications and Experience (please refer to Appendix 1 at the back of the job description
for the list of approved qualifications)
Applicants must:




have a qualification formerly deemed to be equivalent to qualified status;
have a minimum of 6 months’ paid experience of working within a special school;
have experience of working with pupils with ASD diagnosis and/or behaviour issues;
have experience of working with both Junior and Senior pupils.
The Selection Panel reserves the right to enhance the criteria in order to facilitate a
manageable shortlist.
Please note the onus is on candidates to provide sufficient detailed information on their
application forms in order to demonstrate how they meet each of the criteria. Failure to do
so may result in a candidate not being shortlisted since Selection Panels cannot make
assumptions in the absence of essential information.
Terms and Conditions of Service
The main terms and conditions of employment are those for Temporary Part-time Classroom
Assistants (Additional Special Needs) as laid down by the Joint Negotiating Council for Education
and Library Boards (NI) and are drawn mainly from the conditions of service of the National Joint
Council for Local Authorities staff.
Salary Scale
The salary scale is £17,161 £21,519 pro rata per annum (£9.1421 - £11.4637 per hour).
Hours of Work
The hours of work will be 32.50 hours per week required for the 2015/2016 school year with
possible extension.
Your employment contract requires that you work 52 weeks less your period of annual leave.
Consequently, there will be a requirement for you to work during school closure periods either
within the school or other Board locations. You may, however, if you so wish negotiate with your
Principal for term-time working conditions.
Annual Leave Entitlement
Entitlement to annual leave is 21 days in a full holiday year in addition to 12 public and extra
statutory holidays. Entitlement to leave in the first year of employment is pro-rata to the number of
months completed.
General Conditions of Appointment
Appointments are subject to:
(a)
the Contracts of Employment and Redundancy Acts 1975 as amended and in particular the
statutory provisions relating to termination of employment and the period of notice;
(b)
the provisions of the Local Government Superannuation Act (NI) for the time being in force;
(c)
satisfactory completion of all pre-employment checks;
(d)
probationary period of six months.
(e)
the condition that no other employment is entered into during the period of employment by
the Education Authority and that no employment by or in the service of another person or
body should be undertaken except with express approval of the Education Authority.
Canvassing and Referees
Canvassing directly or indirectly will entail disqualification. Referees should not include any officer
or member of the Recruitment and Selection Panel.
Posts involving work in educational institutions are subject to the provisions of the
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007
JUNE 2015
COURSES OFFERING QUALIFIED STATUS TO CLASSROOM ASSISTANT IN ALL SCHOOLS
Current Course Title
Awarding Body
Previous Course Title
BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning
and Development
Edexcel
Level 3 Diploma, Children’s Care Learning and
Development
CACHE, City & Guilds, BTEC,
Edexcel, EDI
NVQ 3 Early Years Care and Education
NVQ3 Childcare and Education
NVQ3 Children’s Care Learning and Development
Diploma in Child Care and Education
CACHE, City & Guilds
NNEB Certificate in Nursery Nursing
NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing
Advanced Diploma in Child Care and Education
CACHE, City & Guilds
NNEB Diploma in Post Qualifying Studies
BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Early Years
BTEC, EDEXCEL
BTEC Nursery Nursing Certificate/Diploma
BTEC National Certificate Caring Services (Nursery
Nursing)
BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Childhood
Studies (Nursery Nursing)
HNC/HND Advanced Practice in Working with
Children and Families
BTEC
BTEC High National Certificate/Diploma in Early
Childhood Studies
HNC/HND Child Care and Education
HNC Early Education and Childcare
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Teaching qualification, in a nursery, special, primary
or post-primary school, recognised by GTCNI
Teaching qualification, in nursery, special, primary
or post-primary school, approved by the Teacher
Training Institution, formerly DENI
Foundation Degree, Early Childhood Studies
Stranmillis College, Queen’s University, Belfast*
BA Early Childhood Studies
Stranmillis College, Queen’s University,
Belfast *
Level 3 Diploma/Certificate Supporting Teaching
and Learning in Schools
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel OCR
NVQ3/SVQ3 Teaching/Classroom Assistants
NVQ Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning in
Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching
and Learning in Schools
Schools
NVQ Level 3 Support Teaching and Learning in
Schools
-1-
Revised C37 Certificate in Early Years Practice
Open University
Certificate in Early Years Practice
Level 3 Certificate for Classroom Assistants
CCEA
Level 3 – Certificate for Teaching Assistants
BA Honours Degree in Special Needs and
Education Studies
Liverpool Hope University
National Vocational Certificate Level 5 Community
Care (DCHCC) – (Special Needs Assistant)
FETAC
Certificate (iii) in Education Support
Bremer Institute of TAFE, Queensland, Australia
Level 5, Major Award, (DCHSC) in Childcare,
(Childcare & Early Education for Childcare Workers
and Carers of Children with Special Needs)
FETAC
HNC, Additional Support Needs, Supporting the
individual
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Childcare and Youth Worker Course
(Fachschulababschluss)
Oberstufenzentrum, Berlin
Level 4 HPD (Higher Professional Diploma) in Early
Years
City & Guilds
*NB Delivered in Further Education Colleges in NI over 2 years full-time and 3 years part-time
ADDITIONAL COURSES OFFERING QUALIFIED STATUS TO CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS WORKING IN
SPECIAL SCHOOLS/CLASSES OR WITH STATEMENTED CHILDREN
Current Course Title
Awarding Body
Previous Course Title
Diploma in Social Work
CCETSW
Certificate in Social Services or CQSW
BTEC Extended National Diploma in Health & Social
Care
BTEC, Edexcel
AVCE Health and Social Care
GNVQ Advanced Health & Social Care
BTEC National Diploma in Health Studies
BTEC National Diploma in Care
BTEC National Diploma in Caring Services
BTEC National Diploma in Health & Social Care
Level 4 BTEC HNC in Health and Social Care
Level 5 BTEC HND in Health and Social Care
BTEC, Edexcel
BTEC HNC/HND in Caring Practice
BTEC HND in Caring Services
BTEC HND/C in Care Practice
SEN/SRN/RSCN (Registered Nurse/Registered Sick
Children’s Nurse)
UKCC, National Board for Nursing, Midwifery &
Health Visiting
COURSES OFFERING QUALIFIED STATUS TO CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS IN NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS ONLY
Current Course Title
Awarding Body
NVQ Level 3 Playwork (City & Guilds) & Transitional
Award in Early Years
City & Guilds
Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary
Schools (C60)
Open University
Level 5 Certificate in Childcare
FETAC
Previous Course Title
National Vocational Certificate, Level 2 Childcare,
prior 2005
COURSES OFFERING RECOGNISED STATUS TO CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS IN ALL SCHOOLS
Current Course Title
Awarding Body
Previous Course Title
Level 2 Diploma Children’s Care, Learning and
Development
CACHE, City & Guilds, BTEC, Edexcel, EDI
NVQ2 Early Years Care and Education
NVQ2 Childcare and Education
NVQ2 Children’s Care Learning and Development
Level 2 Diploma in Child Care and Education
CACHE/incorporating CEYA & NNEB
NNEB Preliminary Diploma in Nursery Nursing
Level 2 Certificate in Child Care and Education
Level 2 Diploma/Certificate in Supporting Teaching
and Learning in Schools
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, CCEA, OCR
NVQ2/SVQ2 Teaching/Classroom Assistants
Level 2 Certificate for Teaching Assistants
NVQ2 – Supporting Teaching and Learning in
Schools
Level 2 – Teaching and Learning in Schools
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
NVQ2/SVQ2 Teaching/Classroom Assistants
Personal Development Award/Classroom Assistant
Award
South Lanarkshire Council
COURSES OFFERING RECOGNISED STATUS TO CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS WORKING IN
NURSERY SCHOOLS/CLASSES ONLY
Current Course Title
Diploma in Pre-School Practice
Appendix to JNC Circular No. 34 – revised May 2013
Awarding Body
Pre-School Learning Alliance
Previous Course Title
Certificate or Diploma in Pre-School Child
Development and Practice