PMLD Teaching Assistant

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Teaching Personnel are currently recruiting for a PMLD Teaching Assistant for a Special Needs school in Sittingbourne. The role is full time and will start immediately on a long-term basis for the full academic year and will most likely become permanent for the right candidate.

The school is an Outstanding Ofsted rated school providing for students with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties and autism (SLD, PMLD and autism ASD / ASC) aged between 2 and 18 years old. Students can also have physical disabilities, medical and care needs, sensory and behavioural difficulties.

The main responsibility of this highly rewarding role is to support the class teacher in all lessons with the educational and social needs of pupils in different year groups with complex PMLD, assisting in the practical organisation of class activities and performing 1:1 and group work with students to keep them engaged and making progress.

Students are engaged in a variety of ways in and out of the classroom from swimming in the school's hydrotherapy pool on site, physio sessions to inclusive floor play for students who require the use of wheelchairs. For these students, experience and training is beneficial with moving and handling and or hoisting, although if you have not done this before the school can provide training.
Students at the school have a range of abilities including many who are on the most severe end of the ASD autism spectrum and are nonverbal, communicating through Makaton and PECS. Experience with this is beneficial but training may be an option for less qualified staff.
Many students have sensory needs so often benefit from messy play and other sensory learning which provides children with a tactile and sensory experience which enhances learning, communication and creativity. Some students are also on a sensory diet so you will be supporting and encouraging them in their daily scheduled activities to help students stay focussed, organised and calm at the right times.

A key responsibility will be to attend to the needs of pupils throughout the day which includes their personal care, physical mobility including physiotherapy and also eating/drinking needs.

Essential requirements:

• Experience supporting young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties, PMLD.
• Experience or training with moving and handling, hoisting and or Team Teach.
• Experience using PECS, Makaton, ABA, Intensive interaction.
• Positive and friendly approach.
• A caring and professional manner, willing to support with the personal care of pupils.
• Must have legal right to work in the UK.

Click 'Apply Now' to be considered for this great position as a PMLD Teaching Assistant in Sittingbourne, or for more information about the role, contact Ashley Arnold at the Teaching Personnel Kent Branch.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see teachingpersonnel.com/faqs for details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

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