Early Years Teaching Assistant

1. Supporting Learning and Teaching in class:
- Show an understanding of early childhood development and how young children learn through play
- Support students in understanding lessons and answering teachers' questions
- Encouraging the children to develop independence (using materials and equipment, eating, drinking, washing themselves)
- Guide students in how correct grammatical and other language errors
- Support vocabulary development for young children
- Engage in active play with the children, modelling high quality language
- Work with individual students or small groups independently, as directed by the teacher
- Lead activities with small groups of no more than 5-6 to provide support for lower ability students or to extend more able students
- Observe and report students' achievement and progress to teachers
- Help the children set up for and clear up after lessons
- Encourage children to keep the classroom environment clean and tidy
- Work professionally at all times alongside another teaching assistant/s and the class teacher as part of a classroom team
1.1 The class teacher will endeavour to discuss the planned work with the teaching assistant prior to the start of the activity.
1.2 The class teacher will explain:
- the aim of the activity
- the activity procedure
- the expected time that the activity should take
2. Classroom support, planning and preparation:
- Contribute ideas to planning classroom activities that are suitable for children age 2-5
- Suggest strategies to teachers that will assist students to meet learning objectives
- Develop and create teaching resources (fine motors skills, physical development, social skills, art and craft etc.)
- Prepare equipment, materials and resources requested by the teacher for lessons
- Setting up for or clearing up after lessons
- Assist with observing children's development and progress in activities
- Mount and put up displays of children's work, including make titles and backgrounds for display
- Take care of routine classroom jobs (sharpening pencils for young children, ensuring the environment is safe, making resources, etc.).
- Looking after classroom resources - keeping resources organised and tidy
- Completing general support tasks such as filling, labeling, making resources etc.
- Collect and deliver photocopying
- Take photos for special events in the department/class
3. Supervision and monitoring students:
- Understand and adhere to the school's 'Good Behaviour Policy'
- Supervise children moving around the school to work areas outside the classroom (specialist lessons - PE, swimming, music, EAL, VS, LS, library, clubs)
- Supervise children during break and lunch time as per the established rota
- Supervising groups of children in other areas of the school, e.g. library, hall, etc.
- Control the class in the absence of the teacher
- Cover for the teacher for short periods as necessary
- Escort sick children to the school nurse
- Assist the teacher with the supervision of children on trips
- Act as a bus escort if requested by the Principal or Head of Section
4. Other Duties:
- Present a professional and welcoming image in the classroom and around the school
- Show patience and consideration for young children, especially when they are distressed
- Participate in relevant training being provided in the school programme
- Be involved in performance management process aimed at improving performance in the role
- Attend staff meetings, and other school events as deemed appropriate by the Principal or Head of Section
- Liaise with, or translate for, parents as necessary to assist the teacher
- Act as a translator at Parents Evenings
- Not to get drawn into conversations with parents regarding their child's progress
- Help create the annual School Yearbook
- Help the department plan and run events applicable for the younger chidlren
- Support of teaching and administrative staff at all times and in areas as requested
- Work with different section/departments as required
The teaching assistant may be asked to do additional work by the Principal or Head of Section providing that work is consistent with the normal duties of a teaching assistant.