About JESS
JESS is a well-established, high performing ‘not for profit’ school. We have full-time position available from August 2024 within our Primary school at Arabian Ranches.
Primary Stage Learning Support Assistant
Job Scope
Learning Support Assistants play an important role at JESS. Their core responsibilities include fostering and supporting JESS’s Core Values, policies, and guidelines; contributing to academic provision of the highest standard of teaching and learning; meeting regularly with colleagues, adopting a culture of continuous collaboration and improvement; effectively using resources to support teaching and learning and demonstrating and applying knowledge and understanding on inclusive educational values, principles, and practices. He/She should always conduct themselves in an appropriate professional manner to support and foster the aims and Core Values of JESS.
Safeguarding Statement
Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. All staff working at JESS will have some contact with children and young people and will therefore be in a position of trust. Staff with teaching duties will be responsible for the students that they teach and may also have additional specific pastoral or other responsibilities for other students they do not teach. In addition, all staff will regularly interact with students who may seek assistance or otherwise interact with them whilst moving around the school. In all cases, the staff’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the students is to adhere to and always ensure compliance with the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policy and procedures to include whistleblowing ensuring all concerns are immediately passed on to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Officer(s) (DSO).
Main Duties and Responsibilities
This not an exhaustive list of duties/responsibilities. Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the Learning Support Assistant will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the Headteacher. The responsibilities outlined may be modified by the Headteacher, upon mutual agreement, to reflect or anticipate changes in the role:
Supporting students:
- To develop an understanding of learning differences and the needs of individual students with additional educational needs.
- To ensure students’ access to the lesson through appropriate clarification, adaptation, and resources under the guidance of the Class Teacher, Year Group Leader and SLT.
- To work with individual or groups of students as directed by the Class Teacher or under the Class Teacher’s supervision.
- To apply current best practices and strategies for supporting student progress and wellbeing.
- To display proficiency in inclusive educational techniques, personalisation of learning objectives and assessment strategies.
- To assist students who may require personal care support.
- To give appropriate support to any students with additional learning needs, either physical, behavioural, or educational, as guided by the Class Teacher or Oasis department.
- To ensure good management, sense of order and tidiness of the working areas so that students may develop a sense of responsibility and pride in their learning.
- To ensure implementation of the school's behaviour policy.
- To carry out supervision with vigilance and high levels of care and support for students and overall safety.
- To facilitate student independence.
- To give timely feedback to students to scaffold learning and support progress.
Supporting the Class Teacher:
- To support individual and group work.
- To perform routine tasks, for example, preparing materials and setting up required resources to assist in supporting teaching and learning.
- To collaborate with the Class Teacher.
- To record observations of students regularly and communicate this to the Class Teacher.
Supporting the curriculum:
- To support individual students or groups of students as directed by the Class Teacher.
- To plan and deliver appropriately targeted support programmes in accordance with specified learning targets for individual/ pairs /small groups of students.
- To help organise resources to assist students in teaching and learning.
- To participate in, and contributing to, inclusion team planning, self-evaluation and training in assigned areas of the curriculum and in the provision of pastoral care.
- To provide examination access support where appropriate.
- To support the school with the use of assistive technologies.
- To collect and analyse data related to progammes of support.
Wellbeing of students:
- To promote and safeguard the welfare of students.
- To comply with the school’s safeguarding & child protection policy and ensure that any concerns relating to the safety or welfare of students are reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
- To facilitate peer interactions based on guidance of the Class Teacher.
Other:
- To complying with the Staff Code of Conduct, Ministry of Education Code of Conduct and school policies.
- To attend staff year group, foundation stage, primary, or whole school meetings, induction, professional training days/workshops, and other school events, as required
- To provide effective supervision of students out of class (e.g. morning, gate, break and lunch duties).
- To participate in school trips (local or international) and school events outside of the normal school day e.g. Jess Fest/Festive Fete
- To communicate in a timely and appropriate manner with parents, as and when necessary.
- To participate in any arrangements that may be made for appraisal.
- To undertake other specific duties which may, from time to time, be reasonably requested by the Class Teacher, Year Group Leader or SLT.
Key Relationships
Internal – Students, Teachers, Leaning Support Assistants, 1:1 Learning Support Assistants, Oasis Team, SLT, Director
External – Parents, KHDA, IB, third party agencies
Candidate Profile
Education:
High School Diploma or Degree
Experience and Competencies:
- At least 2 years experience in an educational setting (primary school)
- A positive, flexible, ‘can do’ work ethic
- Be enthusiastic, patient, and empathetic when working with children and young people who come from a diverse range of cultures.
- Have confident and warm communication skills.
- Be practical and keep a cool head in an emergency
- Be tactful, discreet and a good listener
- Be firm but fair
- Ability to multitask and prioritise, planning own workload to fit around the needs of the students
- Be a team player who demonstrates maturity and professionalism
- Have a commitment to ensuring high standards of care and support
- Strong collaboration skills to foster partnerships with children and young people and parents
- Commitment to ensure the safety and welfare of children and young people
- Excellent standards of personal presentation
- Enjoyment of working in a positive, collaborative team environment with the values of honesty, integrity, and mutual support at the core
- An enthusiasm for engaging with diverse cultures tempered only with high levels of patience and adaptability
- Inter-culturally aware with well-developed interpersonal skills
Salary & Benefits – Competitive remuneration
Visa Status – Candidates must be on their Spouse visa or sponsored.
Application:
Candidates are requested to submit ALL of the following documents:
- Cover letter of one page, explaining your strengths as a candidate and why you are interested in this position
- Current CV not to exceed two pages
- 3 professional references with current contact details (position, phone number and e-mail address) not older than 5 years. One must be your current or last Line Manager
- Completed JESS application form
Please email your application to:
