Teaching Assistant (Special School)
Oakfield Park School, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF7 7DT28 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
28 February 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
28 January 2025
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Part time: Monday to Friday, 29 hours 25 minutes a week.
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Grade 5
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking to recruit 3 full time Teaching Assistants to work in this “Outstanding”school. The successful candidates will commence their employment as soon aspossible.
It is essential that the successful candidate is:-
- Committed to providing children who have severe and complex learning difficulties with the best possible educational opportunities.
- Enthusiastic to work alongside the teacher to contribute to supporting and implementing learning programmes to meet the pupils’ needs.
- Able to demonstrate a willingness to contribute constructively to our whole school aims and values.
- Committed to the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Willingness to undertake medical training and development in identified areas of need if required (i.e. first aid, administering of medication, suctioning tracheostomy, enteral feeding, administering oxygen, ventilation).
- Willingness to undertake training to support students with complex needs including Autism and behaviours that challenge (Team Teach, Autism training).
- Confident enough to be able to work independently and to use their initiative in order to provide the best outcomes for students who may display a wide range of emotionally and/or physically challenging needs.
- Willing to undertake a process of self-evaluation resulting in a commitment to partake in appropriate training.
- Prepared to be flexible and to work in a wide range of settings within school.
- Experienced in working within the SEN field.
The following would be beneficial but are not essential as training can be provided:
- Relevant qualifications including Team Teach, Moving and Handling accreditation, First aid at work, MIDAS (Driving)
- Experience of using a recognised form of sign language.
What the school offers its staff
We are dedicated to providing a safe learning environment for all of our students as well as ensuring the well-being of our staff. We offer a wide range of training and in-house CPD to support staff to up-skill and meet the needs of all our learners. We also aim to support staff where possible to pursue further external qualifications.
We have a team of over 130 staff supported as part of smaller class teams. Our three Assistant Headtheachers provide in and out of class training to all staff within their Key Stage and are available throughout the school day to advise and support.
Commitment to safeguarding
Oakfield Park is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Governing Body has a duty of care to students and all members of the school community. There is a comprehensive Safeguarding policy in place which, along with a policy for Health and Safety, is regularly reviewed by the Governing Body.
Our Safeguarding policy can be found on the school website under the Policies section and is also available upon request from the school office.
Applying for the job
Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to recruitment@oakfieldpark.wakefield.sch.uk
CVs are not accepted.
Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Oakfield Park School
- School type
- Special school, ages 11 to 19
- School size
- 162 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- Oakfield Park School website (opens in new tab)
- Email address
- recruitment@oakfieldpark.wakefield.sch.uk
Oakfield Park School is a Local Authority maintained school situated in the pleasant village of Ackworth, near Pontefract. We provide a high level of specialised education for young people aged 11 to 19 years who have severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many of our pupils have additional complex needs including ASDs, sensory impairment, challenging behaviour and physical difficulties. We provide high-quality specialist resources across the school, including a hydrotherapy pool, a sensory room, activity and soft play area, a food tech room, and a variety of outdoor resources.
We aim for all our students to develop a ‘voice’, to be as independent, social, and healthy as possible, enabling them to become citizens who engage positively with society while leading happy and fulfilled lives.
In October 2019 we received our second consecutive Ofsted judgement of “Outstanding”. The inspectors found that:
• The quality of education at Oakfield Park is outstanding.
• Oakfield Park is a remarkably friendly and welcoming school.
• Pupils work hard and achieve highly at Oakfield Park.
• Pupils say they love coming to school
• They (pupils) feel happy and safe because they know that adults care about them.
• By the time students leave school, they are exceedingly well prepared for adult life.
• Sixth form students get precisely the right support to help them to get ready for when they leave school.
• [There are] exceptionally strong relationships between pupils and staff
Pupils attend from across the Wakefield Metropolitan District. The school is well equipped providing excellent accommodation for pupils with disabilities including those with physical and complex needs. It is a single-storey construction allowing access for wheelchairs. We have:
- A heated hydrotherapy pool which is used by school pupils and hired out for community use.
- Activity soft play room
- Sensory Room
- ICT Suite
- Specialist Food Technology Room
- Independent Living flat
- Adventure playground
- Horticulture area including a large poly-tunnel
- Sensory garden
- Large wildlife area
- Spacious playing fields
- Well resourced specialist classrooms
- 3 adapted minibuses and a people carrier
Our Aims
We are a school which provides a centre of excellence through:
• Working in partnership with parents, families, staff, governors and other professionals to ensure the right of every person who has special educational needs to access the quality of education to which they are entitled.
• A shared commitment to building on knowledge and skills to develop independence in preparation for lifelong learning.
• Having high expectations of pupil standards, achievements and behaviour.
• Ensuring the care, safety and welfare of all of its pupils.
• Valuing every member of the school community.
• Providing a highly trained, professional staff team who are committed to delivering quality learning experiences that are challenging and rewarding.
• Celebrating progress, success and achievement through building on ability rather than disability.
• Being inclusive and promoting equal opportunity for all.
“All Different, All Valued, All Equal”
Arranging a visit to Oakfield Park School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@oakfieldpark.wakefield.sch.uk.
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