Job Description

1:1 SEN Learning Support Assistant - January 2025

33 hours per week, 40 working weeks per annum

Scale 3, points 5-6

Closing date13/12/24

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in this post. The Hawthorns School opened its doors in January 2023, for children with autism. We are in temporary accommodation, and expanding ready to move into the permanent purpose-built school in Spring 2025 when we will expand our provision to 50 pupils in KS2 and KS3. Then, in September 2025 we will complete our final stage of growth to 70 pupils which will include KS4.

We have already established a therapeutic, dedicated, tight-knit and supportive team who prioritise the needs of the pupils through an evolving curriculum with the development of social communication at its core. However, we have an opportunity for a 1:1 LSA to join us . Could this be you?

This is a unique opportunity to join us in providing a holistic education and environment for pupils with autism, appropriate for their specific needs.

Pupils will be supported to achieve a range of individual, personal and academic goals by a team of teaching, support and therapy staff. We are committed to developing pupil achievement through the aims of personal growth, participation and preparation for adulthood.

·Are you a thoughtful, compassionate and reflective practitioner who is a team player?

·Do you share our ethos of kindness, curiosity, integrity and participation?

·Do you have bags of energy who thinks, watches, listens but also takes initiative?

·Do you have an interest in, or experience of, working or living with young people with autism?

We are looking for resilient and collaborative team members to join our school community who work hard, have a desire to learn, are adaptable and have a 'can do' attitude. Are you someone who embraces a challenge, has a sense of humour and can laugh at the daily absurdities that we face in a new school facing new demands.

Come and see us and think about helping us continue the setup of a new school to nurture the potential of young people with autism. We can offer you professional fulfilment, development, care and attention to wellbeing and a lot of fun.

The Hawthorns is one of a community of Special Schools, supported by the well-established and highly regarded SEAX Trust. The Trust respects and trusts each school to evolve its unique identity, whilst providing layers of support and networking at all professional levels. Together, in close partnership with Essex Local Authority, The Hawthorns School could not be in a better position to continue fulfilling its aims of personal growth, participation and preparation. Do consider joining us in achieving our goal. At least come and see us!

Best wishes

Diane Rigg

Headteacher, The Hawthorns School

Information about the School

The Hawthorns School is a brand new school for autistic young people in Chelmsford and is the fifth school in the SEAX Trust. The Hawthorns School opened in temporary accommodation in January 2023, and will move into a brand new school building on the old St Peter’s School site, in January 2025.

The provision at the school will cater for pupils who have a diagnosis of autism and will offer a full-time education with a focus on social communication, emotional regulation and relationship-building while, at the same time, offering a broad and balanced range of curriculum subjects, including literacy and numeracy.

Pupils will be aged 7-16 and will have an EHCP. There will be ten residential places available for pupils from Monday to Thursday each school week. These will be managed by the school and will enhance the day curriculum offer.

Our Vision and Ethos for The Hawthorns

We have established a school which embodies the ethos, vision and values of the SEAX Trust and the other schools in the Trust (Thriftwood School & College, Langham Oaks School, Grove House School and Kingswode Hoe School).

The Hawthorns’ mission:

Our mission is to provide a personalised and imaginative curriculum designed to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to build the basis for a purposeful and fulfilling adult life for young people with autism. Through outstanding teaching and secure relationships, pupils will gain the confidence to communicate effectively, acquire appropriate accreditation for next steps forward, learn core skills for life, develop healthy relationships, self-advocate, contribute to their community and keep themselves safe.