Learning Support Assistant at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi is responsible to play an essential role in the success of any school and at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi. They share a responsibility to ensure the children are safe, happy, and properly supervised at all times.

Responsibilities of Learning Support Assistant

Core Purposes:

• To help children make as much progress with their learning as possible.
• To ensure that children feel happy, safe, and supported at all times.
• To help children gain the confidence to work independently to a high standard.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Ensure that Learning Support provision is an integral part of school life.
• Be an advocate for students with special educational needs.
• Work closely with the Learning Support Team, Heads of Year, Class Teachers, and Subject Teachers to ensure effective communication, both oral and written, concerning lessons, pupil progress, and learning.
• Support pupils with special educational needs to help develop their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual skills.
• Develop an understanding of the learning needs and the importance of raising achievements among students.
• Support individuals and small groups of students in their Maths and English lessons within the classroom.
• Work with individuals and small groups for Phonics, Maths, and social skills interventions.
• Collaborate with staff on how best to support the needs of students.
• Devise a termly timetable, in consultation with the Pre Prep SENCo and Head of Year, that meets the needs of the students.
• Assist with updating Learning Passports, as required.
• Assist in skill development, work on differentiated activities with individuals or groups of students, help pupils record their work in an appropriate way.
• Assist with the implementation of Learning Passports (IEPs) for students and help monitor their progress.
• Carry out classroom observations/assessments and feedback outcomes.
• Be involved in record keeping and evaluating individual student’s progress, including their strengths and weaknesses.
• Assist in target setting for raising achievement for pupils with special educational needs.
• Listen to teacher introductions/teaching to pupils and use the same techniques/way of working to help pupils.

What Will You Do More

• Encourage independence – e.g. helping the children to achieve their objectives through questioning, engaging in dialogue, demonstrating, and modeling.
• Demonstrate a sense of when either the teacher or a pupil needs assistance.
• Help children to develop their language skills by engaging them in meaningful communication at all opportunities.
• Build positive relationships with the children, demonstrating enthusiasm, patience, and understanding and treating them in a respectful, responsible, and fair manner.
• Contribute toward the CCA programme offering 2 CCAs a term.
• Manage students’ behavior and act as a positive role model.
• Relay any concerns that you have about the students to the class and/or Learning Support Team.

Standards and quality assurance:

• Support the aims and ethos of the school, follow the school policies, and be proactive in matters related to health and safety.
• Set a good example in terms of dress, punctuality, and attendance.
• Attend team and staff meetings as well as INSET training.
• Model good behavior, supervise and control students, encourage good social skills, and adhere to defined standards.
• Attend department meetings and other meetings, where appropriate.
• Identify personal training needs and attend appropriate internal and external INSET, as appropriate.
• Participate in the school appraisal system.
• Ensure confidentiality at all times, both in and out of school, as unauthorized disclosure is a disciplinary matter.
• Undertake any other professional duties that may be reasonably required.

Learning Support Development & Training:

• Keep up to date with current practice and development, attending relevant courses and training.
• Be aware of government initiatives and developments that impact on the teaching and provision of students with additional needs.
• Help increase the awareness and understanding of children with specific learning difficulties within the school.
• Evidence continuous professional development.

Ability to:

• Create a happy, challenging, and effective learning environment.
• Establish a rapport with students, engaging them, keeping them focused and motivated.
• Respond effectively to the students and adapt teaching approaches.
• Demonstrate teaching and learning taking place.
• Be good humored and enthusiastic.
• Have strong communication skills, both verbal and written, to a variety of audiences.
• Be well organized with good planning and teamwork skills.
• Be able to stay calm under pressure.
• Have a smart and presentable appearance.
• Be innovative, creative, flexible, and resourceful.
• Be empathetic to the needs of students with additional needs.

Job Requirements of Learning Support Assistant

• Bachelor Degree in Education.
•  2 years experience in a similar role.
• Experience of having worked as a Learning Support Assistant or Teaching Assistant with children aged between 3-7 years old.

Skills & Knowledge Desired

• Excellent written and verbal communication in English Special Skills & Abilities.
• To be able to develop positive working relationships with all members of the school community from children to teaching staff to administrative staff to parents.
• To be able to use initiative, be flexible and have a positive attitude.
• To be able to support children in all aspects of school life and help them to become independent learners.
• Remain calm and work well under pressure.

Working Conditions

• The working school day is 07:15 until 16:00 Monday to Thursday and 07.15 until 12.00 on Fridays.
• LSA’s need to ensure that they arrive earlier than this to be fully prepared for the start of the school day.
• LSA’s will be asked to be at school before the start of each academic year for preparation and to attend INSET training.

Learning Support Assistant GEMS Royal Dubai School Dubai

Receptionist Cranleigh Abu Dhabi

MoE Curriculum Director Cranleigh Abu Dhabi