Lady Joanna Thornhill’s (Endowed) Bridge St, Wye, Ashford, TN25 5EA tel: 01233 812781 email: [email protected]

TEACHING ASSISTANT

Thank you for your interest in Lady Joanna Thornhill Primary School.

We have set out below the specifications of the post being offered, however, should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Job Specifications We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to provide support for designated classes in from Early Years to KS2 (4-11yrs). The post advertised is part- time working for a minimum of 16 hours and a maximum of 26 hours which may be worked over 5 days a week, term time only (38 weeks).

School Aims At Lady Joanna we aim to prepare our children to take their place confidently in an increasingly complex and challenging world. To create a happy, caring, secure learning environment in which all children have equal opportunity to reach their full potential and to educate the whole child, believing that education should encompass their academic, spiritual, moral and social development.

Background of the School Wye is a popular two form of entry village school. The school provides, “a safe, warm and welcoming environment in which pupils flourish,” Ofsted report of 2006. “Excellent relationships within the whole school community create a special bond of shared values and expectations” Ofsted report of 2009. “All staff work exceptionally hard to ensure the environment, both around the school and in classrooms, stimulates pupils’ enthusiasm for their learning,” Ofsted Report of 2015. All inspections reached a judgement of ‘outstanding’. The school has recently been accepted as a National Support School for the National College for School Leadership and is also part of the Ashford Teaching Alliance Teaching School providing outreach to other schools.

Children are encouraged to take part in a variety of school activities and are provided with sporting, musical and creative opportunities throughout the year to enrich our curriculum.

Tennis is taught to all of our Junior children as part of their PE lesson with professional coaching provided by Wye Tennis Club. We have been awarded ‘Tennis School of the Year’ by the LTA and our girls and boys have continued to win County Tournaments in 2013, 2014 and 2015. We have always participated in the Ashford and District Primary School Sports competitions in Football, Netball, Rugby, Hockey, Cricket and Athletics. In 2015 winning Netball League, Netball Ashford Schools and then Netball County Championships; Cricket Ashford School Champions; Athletics Ashford School Champions.

The school has a strong and long tradition for teaching, promotion and enjoyment of music. The school runs an orchestra, two choirs, recorder club and Djembe drumming club. Many of the children also have individual or small group music lessons provided by Kent Music tutors who come into school currently providing guitar, piano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, oboe and brass tuition. To ensure that all children have the opportunity to experience learning a musical instrument: All the Infant classes are provided with Djembe drumming workshops in the Spring Term; Year 3 receive recorder tuition as part of the music lessons for the year and Year 4 are provided 20 weeks of group violin or trumpet lessons using Kent Music staff. At the end of the Year 4 sessions there is an opportunity to continue lessons in small groups into Year 5 & 6.

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After a successful Artsmark project with Highworth School in 2014-15 will now embark on getting our Arts Award in 2016 this will further enhance our provision for our children within ‘the arts’.

Community Links The Lady Joanna Thornhill School Foundation is a registered charity, which spends its income in two ways. As well as providing funds for items required by the school, it assists children and young people by awarding grants towards the cost of books, equipment, tools and clothing.

The school has strong and lively support from parents, who through the Friends’ Association provide much needed financial support to the school and arrange a number of social events.

There are good relationships with the community and regular involvement with Wye Gardeners' Society and Wye Historical Society. We also visit Luckley House, a sheltered housing for the elderly and Bramble Care Home.

Child Protection Lady Joanna is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and check against the ISA Barred List for children; health clearance; receipt of satisfactory references and verification of your entitlement to work within the UK. Copies of professional qualifications will need to be provided at interview stage.

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions and bind overs, including those regarded as spent must be declared. Providing false or misleading information could result in the application being disqualified or summary dismissal if in post.

References will be taken up prior to interview/offer. Referees should be able to comment on your professional suitability for the post you have applied for. One referee should be your current or most recent employer.

Equal Opportunities We value diversity in our workforce – fair treatment for all is vital to the quality of services to the public. Kent County Council has an equality policy to ensure that all groups and individuals within the community are given full opportunity to benefit from the services and jobs we provide. To assist in the monitoring of equalities we ask that you complete the monitoring form. This will be removed prior to shortlisting.

Application Details You should ensure that you address each of the points within the person specification in your application. Whether or not you are selected for interview will be determined solely on the information provided in your application form. Please limit any additional information to 2 single sides of A4 paper.

Please ensure your envelope contains the correct postage. If you would like us to acknowledge receipt of your application form, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope with your application.

Closing Date: Monday, 14th September Interviews Date: Tuesday, 22nd September Visits welcome to school: Tuesday, 8th September, Wednesday, 9th September and Friday, 11th September between 1-3pm

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