Closing date: Friday 10 January 2025
Interview date: week commencing 13th January 2025
Job Type: – Full-time (Monday - Friday)
Pay: 19K - 25K dependent upon experience
Start date: 24th February 2025 or ASAP
Normal hours: 8.30-4pm
Strive for Education (Strive) is a small Independent Special School in Harrogate town centre that provide education for those who do not attend mainstream school on a full-time basis or who have a specialist provision named in their EHCP.
Strive started its life as Alternative Provision in 2020, set up by Andy and Sonja Brown. Andy has previously worked in local secondary schools and whilst Assistant Headteacher he saw a need for a setting such as Strive in the Harrogate area. Andy is Headteacher and Sonja manages the Operations and Business side of things. In February 2023 Strive achieved its Independent Special School status, this was a huge milestone for the team.
Full details about Strive can be found using the following link www.striveforeducation.co.uk Strive is looking to employ a member of student support for the practical construction curriculum. Strive seeks applications from applicants with integrity, imagination and energy for this exciting and unique role.
The role would require supporting students in a 1:1/small group environment across 2-sites. Monday-Wednesday would be based at our Construction Centre in Pannal working with up to 10 students with 3 staff. The curriculum for this group is focused on trades and multi-skills subjects such as building, bricklaying, joinery, plumbing, flooring, roofing and possibly electrics. Sessions would be planned and delivered by our lead tutor with additional support in all aspects from the support staff member. This will include preparing materials and equipment.
Thursday and Friday would be based at our North Park Road site but taking our core class groups to complete short sessions of practical activity at the workshop. These classes are 6 students with 2 staff.
All sessions are designed to develop key skills in the particular practical areas in addition to meeting personal objectives outlined in their EHCP. Experience in working with young people with ASC/SEMH would be beneficial.
The role may also involve additional support for core classes on a Thursday/Friday to assist with sports, OAA, woodwork, bike mechanics and cookery. Experience in these practical subjects would be beneficial but not essential and having the ability to drive would also be desirable.
This will be a challenging but rewarding environment, working with young people who may struggle to regulate their emotions at times. Students will at times present challenging behaviours and staff must have the confidence and emotional resilience to deal with this. Strive offers a nurturing environment, small class sizes and high staff to student ratios in order to best support out students and staff.
Student Needs
All students will have some form of SEND needs. Most will either be categorised as Social Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) or Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC). Most need extra support to access their work and help and guidance to manage emotions is often needed. Some students experience difficulties that regularly interfere with their social and learning development and have been directed to access specialist provision to receive this support.
At the discretion of the lead tutor, you will support:
· The course set-up, structure, delivery, and assessment methods.
· The delivering, assessment in a range of the following areas:
· Bricklaying, woodwork and joinery, plumbing, roofing, flooring, plastering, electrical work, painting and decorating.
You will demonstrate enthusiasm and motivation, be a “hands on” person who can encourage young people to engage in this project and develop valuable skills to help them progress into employment in the construction sectors and/or into further training.
This will be a challenging but rewarding environment, working with young people who may struggle to regulate their emotions at times. Students will at times present challenging behaviours and staff must have the confidence and emotional resilience to deal with this.
Key Responsibilities
Strive operates in a demanding and often changing environment. Members of staff must be flexible, adaptable and willing to face up to changing circumstances and new opportunities. The following list of duties and responsibilities must therefore be taken as a guide and is not to be regarded as fully comprehensive:

• Support the tutor to plan and facilitate well-structured, high quality learning experiences to meet student needs.
• Motivate and inspire students establishing positive and respectful working relationships, use interactive and engaging approaches to teaching, promoting timely achievement and enabling positive progression.
• Apply appropriate and fair methods of assessment, provide constructive verbal and written feedback that ensures students know how to improve and make progress
• Maintain effective links with employers, provide good levels of support and guidance and effective workplace training.
• Maintain up to date and accurate records of individual learning and progress through the programme, provide swift support and help provide intervention for students who start to fall behind.
• Maintain safe learning environments, effectively promote Health and Safety,
• Safeguarding and Prevent, ensuring students are aware of strategies for staying safe online.
• Ensure inclusive learning environments, effectively promote equality, diversity and inclusion and British values.
• Support students with SEND to meet their specific needs and overcome individual barriers to learning, where appropriate collaborating with learning support assistants and SENCo.
• Embed English, maths and ICT in vocational sessions and make effective use of initial and diagnostic assessment to support student progression up to and including Level 2 functional skills
• Contextualise employability, and maths and English in sessions enabling students to effectively apply their knowledge and skills in the workplace.
• Contribute to and participate in quality improvement activities.
• Take responsibility for keeping up to date with appropriate sector and educational developments, including industrial updates and participate in appropriate training and development activities that support your performance.
• Operate with flexibility around location and programme
• Carry out duties in accordance with the Quality Systems and Procedures currently in place throughout the organisation.
• Ensure the operation of efficient and safe environments and perform with due regard for the health, safety and welfare of all within the guidelines of Strive’s Health and Safety Policy
• To undertake other such duties which are commensurate with the post as may be required from time to time, by the leadership team.

Key Areas
Support for Students:
· Establish good relationships with students, acting as a role model and being aware of and responding appropriately to individual needs
· Attend to students’ personal needs including social, health, physical, hygiene, first aid and welfare matters
· Supervise and support students ensuring their safety and access to learning
· Use specialist knowledge and experience to support students to learn in line with their individual learning plans or targets
· Provide feedback to students in relation to progress, achievement, behaviour and attendance
· Encourage students to interact and work cooperatively and employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement of self-reliance
· Develop 1:1 mentoring relationships with students and provide appropriate support at times of crisis
Other:
· Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of Strive
· Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other professionals to support the progress of students
· Be aware of and support difference and ensure all students have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
· Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others
· Attend and participate in relevant meetings and training as required
· Assist with the supervision of students on off-site activities
· Supervise students at lunch and break times
· Be responsible for maintaining and updating records, information and data in line with policies
Responsible to: Lead Construction Tutor/Headteacher
Expectations
All staff members are expected to adhere to and promote professional standards including Strive’s code of conduct and values.
General
The post holder will be expected to undertake any other duties, commensurate within the grade, at the discretion of the Senior Leadership Team and develop and promote high standards of professional conduct throughout the school.
You will be expected to carry out your duties in line with policies, procedures and relevant legislation. You will be made aware of these in your appointment letter, statement of particulars, induction, ongoing performance management and development through school communications.
You will be required to work at any premises which Strive has or subsequently acquires or at which it may, from time to time, provide services.
There may be a requirement to transport students from time to time, subject to appropriate risk assessments being in place.
You will be expected to attend and participate in a wide variety of meetings as well as training and development activities to support Strive and your own professional development.
All staff, regardless of their position, are expected to undertake Team Teach and de-escalation training and work within "good practice" guidelines using a range of positive handling strategies, gradual and graded, involved in holding, guiding and escorting safely, from least intrusive to more restrictive holds.
As part of your wider duties and responsibilities you will be required to promote and actively support the school’s responsibilities towards safeguarding. Safeguarding is about keeping people safe and protecting people from harm, neglect, abuse and injury. It is about creating safe places, being vigilant and doing something about any concerns you might have. It isn’t just about the very old and the very young, it is about everyone who may be vulnerable.
References
For all roles we require a minimum of two references. References provided must cover the last 3 years. We will need to request all references from where you have worked with either Children or Vulnerable Adults. Please be advised that references will be requested prior to interview for all roles.
Disclosure
Strive for Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Recruitment is carried out following safer recruitment principles. All applicants must be willing to undergo safeguarding screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and disclosures with the relevant body at an enhanced level. All staff are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Strive is an equal opportunities employer.
Data Protection
Strive for Education Ltd is a “data controller”. This means we are required under data protection legislation to notify you of how we will, collect process and store your personal data during the application and recruitment process.
How to apply
Register interest via Indeed platform by sending CV and covering letter. Once reviewed an application form will be emailed to you.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £19,000.00-£25,000.00 per year
Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Harrogate (North Yorkshire): reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Do you feel you can build relationships with young people who may at times present challenging behaviours?

Experience:

• Teaching Assistant: 1 year (preferred)
• SEN: 1 year (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 10/01/2025
Reference ID: TASEPT24
Expected start date: 24/02/2025