Teaching and Learning Assistant N5

Pay/ Salary Range: N5 SCP 13-17 FTE: £28,163 - 30,060

£24,182 - £25,811 actual salary pro-rata (£14.60 - £15.58 per hour)

Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, term time + 5 additional training days (We welcome both full-time and part-time applicants)

Are you looking for a new challenge?

Gilbert Ward Academy is delighted to announce an exciting opportunity for a Teaching and Learning Assistant to join our team. As a brand-new, state-of-the-art secondary age special school that opened its doors in September 2023, we are at the forefront of providing exceptional education for pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

This role is perfect for a positive and professional individual with:

• A Level 3 qualification related to education (e.g. Teaching Assistant or Nursery Nurse)
• Experience of advancing progress of pupils within a learning environment or relevant experience of working with vulnerable adults or children
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Sounds like the role for you? Read on!

As a valued member of our team, you will:

• Work in close collaboration with teachers, other school staff and supporting professionals to support the delivery of high-quality teaching and learning for our pupils
• Help pupils to overcome barriers to learning, develop their social and emotional skills, and achieve their full potential
• Contribute to the development of a positive and inclusive learning environment that meets the needs of all our pupils

The successful candidate will need:

• The ability to manage their own time well to meet competing demands
• High motivation and to show resilience and reliability
• Experience of working in a team with a flexible approach
• A positive attitude and commitment to learning and equality

Located in Blyth, Northumberland, Gilbert Ward Academy currently serves 60 pupils, with plans to expand our capacity to 80 pupils by September. This expansion represents a unique chance for the successful candidate to play a crucial role in shaping our school’s provision and establishing a lasting legacy in the field of special education.

If you are ready to make a significant impact in the lives of our pupils and be part of a vibrant, forward-thinking community, we would love to hear from you.

This is a chance to be at the heart of something truly special. Be part of our journey at Gilbert Ward Academy, where together, we can create a brighter future for our pupils.

To learn more about Gilbert Ward Academy and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit the websites.

Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds. Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Kindness. We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.

The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region: 

• Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years) 
• Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years) 
• Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years) 
• Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years) 
• Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years) 

Prosper Learning Trust was also recently named as the lead partner in the opening of a new Free School in Jarrow, South Tyneside. This school will be a Special School academy for pupils with SEMH (4-11 years).

The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Gilbert Ward Academy but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.

Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust

The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:

• A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another 
• Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes 
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group 
• Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates. 
• Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace 
• Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs) 
• Cycle to work scheme 

The successful candidate will be welcomed into the Trust, so if this sounds like the job for you please don't hesitate to apply.

For more information on why we think you should work for us see our Trust website, where you will also find videos of what our current staff think. 

Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.