[240227C] Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Location

Wiltshire | United Kingdom

Job description

Reach South Academy Trust is seeking to appoint an inspirational Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) to join SAIL Academy from April 2024. The details of this opportunity are:

Post: Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Location:  Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learners (SAIL)

FTE Salary Range:  Grade F £25,119 rising to £26,421 per annum pro rata

Actual Salary Range: £18,879 rising to £19,858 per annum

Hours/Contract Type:  Permanent, 31.25 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term-time only)

About the role

To assist in the support and inclusion of children with autism/SEMH and a wide range of SEND within the Academy. The ages of the pupils involved will be from 4 to 19 range.

To support the development of pupils’ emotional literacy and social skills through specific and targeted intervention.

To support pupils’ academic and social communication needs (linked to diagnosis) and to support positive social and emotional well-being, enabling them to engage in learning in and out of the school environment.

About the School

SAIL (Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning) is a newly commissioned day specialist provider of education in Salisbury, Wiltshire. This new Academy will be a school that offers full time special education, care and therapeutic support to vulnerable children and young people with Education and Healthcare Plans. SAIL will be welcoming and working with a neuro diverse population of up to 150 children aged between 4-19 with a primary diagnosis of autism or a SEMH (social, emotional, mental health) profile.

The school is planned to open September 2023, in temporary accommodation split across two sites. One site is currently in operation and houses 50 pupils with a diagnosis of autism, a further site for 25 pupils will open in September 2023. Once the permanent site has been completed, children from the temporary sites will each commence their transition period [in accordance with their personal requirements] to move to the permanent SAIL school site on Wilton Road, potentially from January 2024.

Our substantive premises is currently being converted to specifically meet the needs of its neuro diverse population. Meanwhile, the design of the building and SAIL’s curriculum will ensure that, where appropriate, pupils who are different ages or have different diagnosis are able to be educated and cared for separately. There will be different specialist environments within the buildings e.g., appropriate to the needs of 4-6 years olds (primary classrooms and play equipment) and post 16 pupils (‘life skills’ –independent areas) that ensure the curriculum meets the needs of different identified cohorts. The school will be effectively ‘zoned’ so that whilst all can have access to all areas, there is no unnecessary mixing of ages or populations and that all transitions are carefully managed to meet pupil need.

SAIL’s aim is to build safe independent lives for the autistic and SEMH population through a process of understanding, support, and enablement. To achieve this goal the school will look at the unique impact autism and social, emotional, and mental health experiences has on the individual child. From this we aim as a school to personalise the child’s curriculum, care, and therapeutic package to ensure every child achieves and experiences success and independence.

About the Trust

Reach South is a young and developing Trust which operates across the South West of England with the aim of delivering all through 3-19 education.  We operate 17 academies in Bournemouth, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.  We are building this Trust on a clear set of values, behaviours and curriculum principles. At the heart of those values and principles is a belief in our young people and a determination to support them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become the successful citizens for today and all of their tomorrows.

Our core business is delivering exceptional education for children and young people with a mission to help all pupils aspire to achieve beyond the expectations that others put on them.  We do this through the development of a talented and committed workforce. In order to deliver exceptional opportunities for learning, we need highly motivated staff across all parts of the organisation. 

Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues, within and beyond their school, to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence.

Next Steps

If you think this role may be for you and want to be involved at this exciting time in our development and have any questions about the position, please get in touch by calling the Recruitment team on 07759365064 or emailing us at  [email protected] .

Closing date: for applications is 17 March 2024

Interview Date:  Interviews are provisionally booked for  the week commencing 25 March 2024

We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised.

To apply:  for this opportunity, click ‘apply now’ on the vacancy advert page.

Opportunities and Benefits 

We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits. 

We’re proud of how we support our staff in order that you have high levels of job satisfaction, are aware of the difference you are making for the children and families you work with and can see your contribution towards our community. There are regular opportunities for professional development and training, and a wider community of staff to network with within Reach South Multi Academy Trust. You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application form before submitting. 

Please note that Reach South Academy Trust is a licenced Sponsor for CoS applications and therefore can consider applications from candidates eligible to apply for Teaching and Teaching Leadership roles (only). For all other roles applicants are required to provide the required documentation where a candidate does not need a Skilled Worker Visa.

Job tags

Salary