Learning Support Assistant (Specialist)

Orsett Heath Academy is seeking a Learning Support Assistant (Specialist) to join our SEND department. The core purpose of the role is to assist in the support and development of students throughout the Academy. The role may also involve supporting students with learning, behavioural, communication, social, sensory or physical difficulties, including intimate care and toileting needs if required. This is a great opportunity to support students to gain the academic skills, social skills and knowledge needed for future success. Working in our Trust you can benefit from a wealth of experience, training opportunities and a supportive, collaborative spirit. The role is for 26 hours, 40 minutes per week, and the working times are set at Monday to Friday, 8:35am to 2:50pm, term time plus INSET days.
We are looking for:

An engaging person with the ability to interest, encourage and motivate children when supporting their learning and development;

An excellent team worker, who can work closely with class teachers and support them with their planning, preparation and assessment activities;

A person with the ability to support individual pupils, groups or whole classes to help them make excellent progress.

Why Orsett Heath Academy?

Orsett Heath is a thriving mixed 11-16 comprehensive school. As a new school, we opened our doors to welcome our first students in 2020. Since then, the school has proved popular with parents and students, and we are oversubscribed in all year groups. We have created a successful school of which students and staff are incredibly proud.

In the summer of 2024, we moved into our new £37m school building adjacent to our previous purpose-built accommodation. When full, the new building will have 1200 pupils and be amongst the largest in Thurrock. We are looking for highly-motivated, talented and ambitious staff who share our inclusive ethos and who want to help us grow over the coming years.

Our pupils have a ‘can-do’ attitude, and the school has focused heavily on character education alongside its academic offer since the school first opened.

Why SWECET?

At South West Essex Community Education Trust, we are passionate about providing the best start in life for our pupils. We are united in the belief that every young person needs and deserves an education that will maximise their future life chances.

We place our pupils’ needs at the heart of everything we do and support our colleagues in delivering high-quality education. Our vision is to establish a national reputation for the quality of education we provide.

Our academies are united by the things that make us both similar and unique - the DNA that ties us all together. The SWECET DNA is made up of the following components: Developing our people, nurturing our differences, and aspiring for excellence.

We believe that our colleagues are our most precious resource to provide high-quality learning experiences for all our pupils. Our colleagues work hard to support teams in their own schools and across the Trust and in return, the SWECET Wellbeing Charter sets out our actions to support our colleagues.

If you have energy and passion in abundance and would relish the opportunity to be part of our team, we look forward to hearing from you.

If interested in this vacancy, please submit your application for the position as soon as possible, as we may close the advertisement early.

South West Essex Community Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants for this post must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including reference checks with previous employers, online checks and an enhanced DBS check with the Disclosure & Barring Service