THE POSITION
The role of the Learning Assistant is to support student learning by working collaboratively with teachers to develop and implement strategies to allow students to access the curriculum across Key Learning Areas.
The Learning Assistant is an effective communicator with strong literacy and numeracy skills that enable them to support students in a range of subject disciplines. They are a key member of the Diverse Learning team that supports our inclusive education model and they are responsible to the Leader of Learning –Diverse Learning.
The Learning Assistant should be able to build strong relationships with students that enable them to provide all students with effective support and therefore contribute to the effective management of the classroom environments that they work within.
St Edward’s College maintains a strong commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff and students and promotes a culture where all members of the community feel safe and cared for. In keeping with this, members of staff must maintain a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) and teacher accreditation.
Ultimately the Learning Assistant is responsible to the Principal, who may vary the duties and responsbilties outlined in this position descrption from time to time.
VISION & VALUES
The role of Learning Support models the vision and values of the College by:
• Demonstrating support for the philosophy and Catholic ethos of the College.
• Fostering the charism of Edmund Rice, demonstrating active leadership and promotion of the EREA Charter and its Touchstones.
• Modelling high professional standards which accords with the EREA Code of Conduct and the Colleges commitment to child safety and wellbeing.
• Actively promoting leadership and the implementation of the Learner Profile and the College values of respect, compassion, forgiveness, inclusion, resilience and commitment to personal growth.
• Contributing actively to the leadership of the Learning Agenda.
• Contributing actively to College life and extra-curricular programs.
• Supporting, promoting and engaging in the social justice initiatives of the College.
• Supporting College policies and programs.
• Demonstrating loyalty to professional colleagues.
• Engaging in the development, monitoring and implementation of the EREA Cultural Audit process.
• Participating in the EREA Formation programs.
Learning Support at St Edward’s
St Edward’s is strongly committed to an inclusive model of education. Classes are structured to allow learning in mixed ability environments to allow for peer learning and maximise opportunities for growth.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Carrying out tasks as determined by the Leader of Learning – Diverse Learning and class teachers to assist students and staff.
• Assisting in the integration and management of students with learning and behavioral difficulties in a variety of classroom settings.
• Taking direction from the Leader of Learning –Diverse Learning class or specialist teachers as to which students require assistance and how this assistance should be delivered.
• Supporting students in developing a growth mindset and a commitment to improvement and personal growth.
• Guiding students in managing classroom expectations, both in terms of academic performance and behaviour, as determined by the class teacher and College policies.
• A willingness and ability to be trained and run small group literacy / numeracy intervention programs.
• A commitment to understanding student’s Personalised Learning Plans and to support teachers implementing individualised adjustments within the classroom.
• Providing a change of environment or respite to some students as required, by supervising rest breaks of different kinds, as directed by the teacher and the Leader of Learning – Diverse Learning.
• Liaise with parents when necessary under the direction of teachers and the Leader of Learning –Diverse Learning.
• Accompany high needs students on outside activities and camps.
• Carrying out individual and group diagnostic testing of students as directed.
• Supporting the development of adjusted assessment to support student learning.
• Supporting the provision of Disability Adjustments to students in Years 7-12.
• Assisting teachers with the development of differentiated learning resources for students as directed.
• Assisting teachers in the delivery of computermediated programs and interaction as directed.
• Ability to contribute effectively to a collaborative team.
• Strong information and communication technology skills.
• It is expected that the successful applicant would have the ability to develop a natural rapport with staff and students.
• He/she would have a commitment to ongoing professional learning.
• He/she would be a team player who is keen to work with colleagues to best meet the learning and wellbeing needs of individual students.
• The successful applicant will be a member of the College community and as such, will participate in the regular life of the College.
WORKING WITH THE LEARNING SUPPORT TEAM
• The Learning Assistant is under the direct supervision of the Leader of Learning – Diverse Learning and is a member of the Diverse Learning team.
• Work closely with the Leader of Learning - Diverse Learning who may vary the above duties from time to time or may ask the Learning Assistant to take on other duties commensurate with their position in the College.
ABOUT ST EDWARD’S COLLEGE
The College was founded by the Christian Brothers and has been educating boys on the Central Coast since 1953, and is governed by EREA NSW Colleges Limited. The College provides a wonderfully rich education which is authentic to the values which underpin the touchstones for schools conducted in the traditions of Blessed Edmund Rice the founder of Christian Brothers schools worldwide. These touchstones being: Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Justice and Solidarity.
St Edward’s first and foremost is a Catholic School which provides students with relevant and engaging opportunities to deepen their faith and spirituality. Students are encouraged to look beyond themselves
putting their faith into action. Through involvement in our social justice program students are challenged to become socially conscious, counter-cultural in their thinking and empowered to contribute positively to society through the promotion of inclusivity, justice and solidarity.
Our Aspiration Statement articulates the type and quality of educational experiences that we offer our students. We aim to provide students with opportunities to develop skills of critical and creative thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration, in a safe learning environment in which they are challenged, nurtured and inspired to be the best that they can be.
“A learning community in which young people are challenged, nurtured and inspired to be the best that they can be.”
info@stedwards.nsw.edu.au
