This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Teaching Assistant to join the Sensory Needs Service supporting children with hearing needs in a mainstream environment.

The person appointed will work for the Sensory Needs Service as part of the team who support hearing impaired pupils in the school. The post holder will be under the daily direction of the Head of Hearing Support Facility (Teacher of the Deaf) and will assist in the support and inclusion of pupils who are hearing impaired in lessons in the mainstream school and where appropriate for individual and small group sessions. The person appointed is responsible to the Lead Advisory Teacher for Sensory Needs.

This role requires a working knowledge of British Sign Language.

The role comprises three main areas: Support for the child, the staff in the HSF and the school;

-  To develop knowledge of a range of learning support needs and to develop an understanding of the specific needs of the deaf pupil to be supported.

-  Taking into account the learning support involved, to aid the child to learn as effectively as possible both in group situations and on his/her own.

- To establish a supportive relationship with the children concerned.

- To support social and academic inclusion of the child with special needs.

- To develop methods of promoting/reinforcing the child’s self-esteem.

- To assist, with teachers (and other professionals as appropriate), in the development of a suitable programme of support.

- In conjunction with the teacher of the deaf and/or other professionals,

- To maintain a system of recording children’s progress.

- To contribute to the maintenance of children's progress records.    

- To participate in the evaluation of the support programme.

- To provide regular feedback to the teacher.  

- To develop a relationship to foster links between home and school.

- To liaise, advise and consult with other members of the team when supporting children where directed to do so.

- To contribute to reviews of children's progress, as appropriate.

- To attend relevant in-service training.

- To be aware of school procedures and promote safeguarding

- To be aware of confidential issues linked to home/pupil/teacher/school work and to keep confidences appropriately.