Reading Support Practitioner
St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 6LZ21 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2025
Closing date
18 June 2025 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
21 May 2025
Job details
Job role
- Learning support or cover supervisor
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 37 Hours per Week - Term Time Only
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Level 5 SCP 7 - 12
What skills and experience we're looking for
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- To be responsible both for existing book stock and the selection of new stock which will support the curriculum at all key stages and will promote literacy and reading for pleasure.
- To encourage, promote and manage the students’ use of the library and all its resources both as a source of leisure activity and a more formal study tool. This will include assisting students in accessing resources and giving appropriate advice and assistance.
- To develop and maintain a centre of excellence that is vibrant and seen as an integral part of the school and its educational and Lasallian ethos.
- To supervise pupils in the library both before and after school hours and during break and lunchtimes, ensuring that pupils conduct themselves in line with the St Margaret Ward Way.
- To be available to promote the library at open evenings and other events in order to enhance the public perception of the school as a dynamic provider of educational opportunities. Also, co-ordinate and promote special events such as competitions, World Book Day, Poetry Day, book fairs and author visits to promote reading.
- To organise and deliver library induction sessions for pupils and staff on the use of library resources and provide support to post-16 students with research, referencing and general study skills.
- In liaison with the Literacy Lead, to support the school’s Reading Curriculum and Literacy Policy and the whole school drive to promote and improve literacy. This will include the administration and supervision of NGRT Assessments.
- To undertake necessary training in the delivery of the Lexonik reading intervention and deliver this to groups of pupils.
- Have a willingness to engage with professional bodies to stay abreast of professional developments in School Libraries and develop links with other school libraries/librarians and the LA library service.
- To make valued contributions in the evaluation of the library as a learning space and to suggest ways to develop it further.
Reading Support Practitioner- PERSON SPECIFICATION
We are ideally seeking to appoint someone with the following attributes:
- Relevant experience of working in a library or similar environment.
- Relevant experience of working with children/students.
- Appropriate academic qualifications
- Willingness to support and contribute to the ethos and mission of our Catholic Academy.
- Willingness to take an active part in Academy development.
- Confidence to consult and use initiative.
- The ability to inspire confidence in both staff and pupils.
- An enthusiasm for Reading and Literacy in all its guises which is transmitted to students via a positive approach and demeanour.
- Ability to work independently and as part of different teams.
- Willingness to work hard and show resilience as a professional.
- Personal flexibility and good humour.
- Willingness to take part in extra-curricular activities
What the school offers its staff
Reading Support Practitioner
Required for September 2025
Term Time Only - 37 hours per week
Level 5 Point 7 - 12
Actual Salary £22,376 – 24,232
This is based on the April 2024 pay rates, April 2025 has not yet been agreed. The increased hourly rate will be back dated to the start date of this post.
St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy is a very popular, oversubscribed and thriving school serving the Catholic community of the North of Stoke on Trent. The Academy has an impressive record of success, acknowledged in our inspection in September 2021 (full report on school/Ofsted website).
. The Academy is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic individual who can work alongside our Leader of Literacy to promote a love of reading across and throughout the school. The successful applicant will also play an integral role in the organisation and delivery of our highly effective reading intervention programme, Lexonik as well as helping to develop our students’ study skills, including how to access and research information to supplement their learning. The school has a purpose-built library from where the successful applicant will be based and, as such, there will be the opportunity to aid the strategic development of this bespoke space to ensure it serves the needs of all our students.
We are extremely proud of our enthusiastic and ambitious staff who are committed to helping our students become the very best they can be. We are therefore seeking an ambitious and dedicated individual who can help us in our mission and this highly important aspect of our school development.
The Academy are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all of its employees to share this commitment. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Amendment Order 1986 and, as such, it will be necessary for a Submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous convictions.
Commitment to safeguarding
The Academy is committed to the safeguarding and welfare
of children and young people and expects all of its employees
to share this commitment. This post is subject to the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Amendment
Order 1986 and, as such, it will be necessary for a Submission
for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring
Service to check for any previous convictions
Applying for the job
Please complete the online application.
CVs are not accepted.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy
- School type
- Academy, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1162 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy website
- Email address
- chollins@smwca.org.uk
St Margaret Ward is a happy, popular, oversubscribed 11-18
academy with an impressive record of success, acknowledged in
our inspection in September 2021 (full report on school/Ofsted
website).
We are extremely proud of our enthusiastic and ambitious staff
who are committed to helping our students become the very best
they can be and, as such, the Academy Directors are seeking an ambitious and dedicated individual who can help us in our mission
Arranging a visit to St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email chollins@smwca.org.uk.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Learning Support Assistant (Learner Specific)
The JCB Academy
Mill Street, Rocester, Staffordshire, ST14 5JX
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Stoke On Trent and Staffordshire and Stoke